Cyclocross Race #6, 2003 -- Harms Helps Finn Take Title!!

by Finn Ryan

Beautiful fall day in Delafield. Temps in the 40s and sunny. 16 racers on the line – 3 Dropouts: Mark H., Andrew G. and myself.

The race starts and a UW Whitewater fella takes off and quickly establishes a 50 ft. gap on the field. I consider trying to bridge, but I simply was not feeling the love. I must’ve eaten one too many pieces of Kringle or maybe it was the 6-pack of New Glarus Supple forced me to take home and drink. We cruise for a lap and the flyer is losing his gap so I bridge up on the "run-down" and the rest of the field is not far behind. Unfortunately, the UW Whitewater dude loses a piece of his bike flying down the bumpy-ass hill so he retires (he does get props for being the only person I saw hop the logs).

I solo for a few laps, but can’t find my rhythm. A Speedgoat guy, who is 2nd in the points series, catches me. We take turns leading, and then I see someone gaining on us in my rearview mirror. I turn to check out who the brave soul is, and it’s none other than Mark Harms!! This is a relief as I was really starting to feel it in the old legs. The three of us turn the screws until we have one to go, where Mark puts in an attack and I follow. We establish a gap and haul the last lap to stay away. Mark did an awesome job keeping the pace high on the last lap and with his 2nd place, he grabbed enough points from the Speedgoat guy to give me the series title!! Thanks Mark, you were awesome.