Spring Classic

I raced the 3's with the 1 - 2's. Sixty miles in 28 degrees at the 11:00 A.M. start. Northwest winds were at 25 mph gusting to over 30 mph. After coming off the 2 mile lead-out and onto the 5 lap section we turned north to climb a long 3 tiered hill. Near the top of the third part of the first long climb four riders rolled off the front, two teammates Ian and Matt, cat 1 and 2 respectively and Jay T. and Eric K. cat. 2's. By the time I got to the front to give chase a large gap had formed. I was able to bridge up about a 1/4 mile later just after the first corner turning east. I took my turn in the rotation trying to recover. When I rotated to the back after about three times at the front I came off the back about 6 feet and couldn't catch back on as the distance grew. I was running on adreline from catching on, but the sling shot of reality got me from behind. Chasing hard turning west after crossing the dam, people were running all over the place, hollering and yelling rider down. I saw that it was my teammate Ian who had crashed. As I went by I could tell he was in a lot of pain, holding his leg mumblings with "broke" coming through loud and clear, dang, he's out for a while. There was a reflector/light on the yellow line that Ian hit at 25 mph which he didn't see in the pace line. I chased for the rest of the lap and to the base of the same long climb I originally got dropped on. Running out of energy I looked back to see a chase group closing in on me. I thought it was best to save my energy and try and hang on when they came by. The lead group now consisted of three riders. I worked together for part of the the 3rd lap. The lead groups time was coming down and since me and the Horizon Organic rider had representation in the break we stopped working with our group and our speed dropped. We consisted of Marc W. Kevin B. Horzion Organic, and Tom P. After deciding that the break had a safe gap, we began to work again. We caught up with Jay T. who now longer could hold the pace of the break after recovering he joined in the rotation. At the top of the first long climb at the beginning of lap 4 Jay had a "oh $%&@" and abandoned the race . After turning east at the top of the long climb Ian who had crashed caught us. He had just time trialed for two laps. After about 3/4 of a lap Ian launched a beautiful attack heading west with a strong crosswind. I had just come to the front of the rotation half way up a short steep climb when I saw Ian out of the corner of my eye attacking strong. I jumped hard and got separation from the group. Ian had the lungs to keep the effort up, and I hung on. We got a nice little gap and I pulled for the rest of the race about 40% of the time. I did not contest the finish line and Ian crossed first taking 3rd me 4th and Eric K. and Matt first and secound.