Written by: Lindsay Blount
Chris Hahn, Kenny Slaught, and I (Lindsay Blount) raced the Pine Flat RR together Sunday, 2/15. The course is in the foothills east of Fresno, 62 miles with 4000ft of climbing mostly end loaded in the last 12 miles.
We learned that having three teammates with a combined racing age of 178 years without a younger brained 40-49 year old chaperone teammate (like John E. Danny S. or Carl P); along is a setup for pre-race mishaps. Examples included leaving a front through axel in Santa Barbara, pinning numbers upside down (like 969 becomes 696), issues with navigation resulting in arriving 30 minutes later than planned, initial inability to inflate Chris’s tires because of sealant obstructing tubeless valves, reading glasses clipped to jersey noted just prior to start, etc. Embarrassing and better discussed on a group ride when it is more difficult to hear details.
Our pre-race priority was to attempt to stamp the 805 authority on the race by trying to win the overall combined 60/65+. Our main competition was thought to be strong climbers Jeff Konsmo, Emilio Cervantes, and George Tomasich. The Thirsty Bear Cycling Team also had 4 strong riders in the field.
The first 25 miles involved an out and back over rolling terrain with a scenic view of Pine Flat Lake…beautiful! Chris did not disappoint in his National Championship Jersey attacking off the front three separate times, which kept the overall pace elevated and made our competitors expend some energy. He had some sizable gaps solo but never was completely out of sight and was gradually brought back by the group each time with Jeff Konsmo often at the front. Kenny and I sat back in the pack conserving energy.
After the field had regrouped following a fast twisty 3k descent, our strongest 65+ competitor William “Brad ” Wiggs (multiple SoCal District ITT Champ.,and strong climber) flew of front with about 3 riders on his wheel quickly achieving about a 15-second gap. I told Chris about my concern, and he immediately unleashed one of his “Genghis” near power-meter destroying bridges which seemed like only took him seconds to get across. Then Kenny who also knew of the danger of Brad went to work towing me and the rest of the field (basically man versus man), and was able to bring the Brad powered break back within a few K. We need to get Kenny on a TT bike!
Shortly after the field had regrouped again, a Thirsty Bear Rider took off solo and the field let him go. We were now on the pancake flat 13 mile stretch cruising along at relatively rapid speed. My nemesis, Brad, who never seems to run out of energy once again took off and bridged up to the Thirsty Bear Rider. Our team’s “in the race Director Sportif”, Chris commanded me to get off the front, and says “I got this covered”. The next thing I know Chris and Kenny are up the road on their way to join the break, now with 4 riders. This is when the team tactics got interesting. Chris and Kenny knew that the three aforementioned main competitors for the overall victory were all back with me in the field and would likely be forced to work at the front to maintain a reasonable gap prior to the start of the main climb. So, Chris and Kenny were pulling through hard. We made the sharp right hand turn onto the 10-mile rolling hill section prior to the main climb. I was able to sit 4th wheel while Konsmo, Emilio, Tomasich rotated doing all the work at the front. The foursome up the road with my 2 teammates were able to keep the gap at 50-55 seconds. The field blew apart on the final two short climbs prior to the main climb, and Jeff Konsmo, George Tomasich and I caught and passed the break at the base of the 4 1/2 mile main climb. Emilio had already come off. Jeff seemed to be the strongest climber of the three of us left, so I dug deep to stay on his wheel. We lost George about 2/3 of the way up. Jeff and I summited the main climb together, and we worked well together for the last 7 miles prior to 1k climb to the finish. George amazingly was able to bridge back to us solo a couple mles from the finish, but then fell off again on the final climb .I attacked at 1/2 mile to the finish (average 9.5% gradient). Thanks to our team tactics and my earlier energy conservation I felt like I had great legs, and open up a quick gap which I was able to maintain to the finish.
A team tactic orchestrated 805 overall win! Congrats to Kenny who improved from last year’s 5th place to 3rd on the podium and Chris who despite all his attacks, bridges and having the field chasing after him for half the race just missed the podium in 6th in the 60-64
Going fast & having fun 
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