Written by: Lindsay Blount
2026 Pine Flat RR 65+,
62 miles, 4000ft, first 26 miles out and back with rollers overlooking Pine Flat Lake, then 2-mile fast descent leading to 16 of mostly straight flat. Then 8 miles of rollers leading to 3 miles main climb with last 1k averaging 8.5 %. Then mostly downhill with some rollers 51/2 miles leading to 1 k uphill finish.
Kenny and I had combined field of 15 riders with the 60+. The 60 + was stacked with the likes of Jeff Konsmo, Emilio Cervantes, George Tomasich, 3 Thirsty Bear strongmen and others. Our 65+ field included 4 riders from the very strong Clean Power Team led by Frank Winters out of Susanville, Ca. (Palmares include 2nd at 2022 Master’s Nationals RR and 2023 Masters National Gravel Champion). We also had “monster” time trialist and super strong repetitive surge attacker Brad Wiggs.
Our plan prior to the race was for Kenny to cover the expected multitude of surge attacks so that I would hopefully have some reasonable climbing legs for the main climb and the finish. These expected attacks from both 60+ and 65+ riders started at the 29-mile mark and continued relentlessly for about the next 30 miles. Kenny rode like a “god” covering almost all the attacks. I still found it exhausting…looking back at my post-race computer data, I counted about 10 separate times I was at around 400 watts for short spurts with all the surging. Kennys post-race data showed he reached high of 799 watts without getting out of the saddle (no upward rounding up to 800 allowed in this report, only factual data). Nonetheless, entering the Chris Hahn stratosphere!
The last critical major last surge I believe instigated by Konsmo was shortly before the main climb just as I was opening a Never 2nd Gel trying to not cut my lip. Kenny and I got gapped and now it was all up and down to the main climb and even Kenny could not close it. There were four 60+ riders and now Frank up the road with them with about a 40 second gap when I hit the main climb. The first part is stair step with a few flatter sections, so Brad and I worked together trying to bring Frank back…interesting who can become an ally on the road. Meanwhile the front group had splintered on the main climb with Konsmo, and Emilio dropping the other 3. I did not catch Frank until the top of the main climb, now with 10 k to the finish. Frank and I were now working together with hopes of staying away from Brad, another in race switch of allies. Brad still caught us, and the 3 of us passed the 1 k to go sign together. I had been feeling some quad cramps coming on during the approach to the finish climb. Somehow, I miraculously fought off the cramps and attacked when it got steeper 600 meters to the finish and held on for about a 30 second gap at the finish to Frank, Brad 3rd, and Kenny despite all his previous work for the team crossed the line for a strong 4th. The bottom line is that I don’t think we would have won the race without Kenny’s amazing help. In the combined field I ended up 3rd overall behind 60+ers Jeff and Emilio.
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Footnote: The finish spotter somehow managed to miss me even though I finished solo. So, I was initially listed in the results DNP. We got the results corrected with the Velo Promo promoter before the podium, but not before they went online with OnTheDay.net. Oh well…
Another fun fact, Lindsey modestly left out of his report that he has won the 65+ division of this special race 4 years in a row. That’s a dynasty!
Going fast & having fun 
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