Well, today ended up being shorter than I was expecting, so unfortunately I don't have much to write. Today's stage was about 100 miles with epic climbing, starting just outside of The Dalles at Petersburg School. The race started on the same circuit race course that I got 7th place on in 2006. The weather was scorching (At 6pm tonight it was still 100F!).

The first excitement of the day was seeing my name highlighted in pink on the sign-in sheet. Had I won a prize? Nope, I was the recipient of a $20 donation request to those ever so nice folks at USA Cycling due to having a single number on for the TT stage on Friday. As we were only required to use a single number for the prologue, I figured that it would be the same for the TT. Quite similar events other than the start and finish being spaced 16 miles farther apart? Evidently, two numbers were required and none of the 3+ officials at the TT start ramp brought the single number issue up to me. Thanks.

The race rolled out of the school parking lot at 10am, with an attack right from (...maybe even before) the gun... A group of about 15 riders formed and the race was on. The next 1hr 45mins were blistering. I had a 12t on thinking that the stage was all climbing, but as it turned out it was very up and down in the beginning. I ended up spinning out the 53 x 12 quite a bit and it didn't make life any easier. I witnessed Phil Zajicek surf the gravel shoulder for a bit then flip over the bars and land in the grass at the side of the road (He managed to continue and finished in 11th - Hardcore!!!) Anyway, after trying my best to save my legs and avoid the tail end of the peloton, after 1hr 45mins the elastic snapped. A gap of about 15ft opened up... Fu... I chased back on and made it... Phew. Next the race took a right turn onto a relatively flat section of road with a bit of a cross wind. The race was strung out in the gutter, a gap opened up... Back to chase mode! I had a bit of a frantic chase for a mile or two, trying to get out of the race caravan and back to the peloton, but it just wasn't happening. I saw one pro rider eat shit and maybe breaking his collarbone. I rode another 5+ miles on my own before calling it a day. Not quite the stage I was expecting, but that's life.

I spent the rest of the day helping out volunteers in the feed zone, feeding Cat 2/3 and Masters riders. I've never seen riders to grateful to get a feed. It would have been nice if the organizer has setup a neutral feed for the Pro/1 guys at the first feed zone, but they decided to not provide neutral. WTF were they thinking?

David stuck out the 2/3's race and finished the stage. Quite an impressive ride. They're only letting 100 riders into the final stage criterium tomorrow. All the remaining 2's, and whatever is left of the 3's. Hopefully he gets to race the crit... The course is epic and I wish I was doing it!

Anyway, I just found out that my grandmother passed away on May 15th... My mum's birthday - She decided to not tell me the news until she knew my race was done. Damn... I don't think my racing is quite THAT important...

I'm still on Hawaii time and it's 2:45am, so I should try and sleep. Still feels like 100F.