Swami’s sent a few riders up to the challenging out and back course at Rosena Ranch in late Feb to mix it up with the SoCal locals.
Andy McClure lined up having just finished 2nd place in the Masters 50+ and Rob and Nate lined up having just finished the 30 mile Cat 3 race having finished in the group.
FoS Karl Bordine (Monster Media) went off the front from the gun and help a small gap for the first few laps around the course. The heavy presence of Cat 1s and other strong riders became evident as the early laps ticked by and guys were shelled off the back with a bunch of DNFs stacking up by Mile 15. The race hit full gas when Phil Tintsman (Monster Media) and Thurlow Rogers (Davis Phinney Foundation) attacked towards the bottom of the course on Lap 9 and the race broke up with seven riders including Swami’s Rob Rigg going off the front with Andy McClure chasing in a similarly sized group just behind.
With about 5 laps to go Rob Rigg attacked through the start finish trying to get rid of the uncooperative “hangers on” but the group came back together at which point Karl Bordine launched himself up the road with Ruben Meza (S2C/Bosch) glued to his wheel. Phil Tintsman shut down any attempt to bring his Monster Media teammate back and, with a lack of work from some of the other members of the breakaway, the two leaders built up a one minute lead which they held to the line. On the final lap Chase Group 1 started playing cat and mouse which allowed Steve Klasna (Davis Phinney Foundation) and Eric Wright (Best VIP/Mazda) to bridge up from Chase Group 2 and make the finish a bit more interesting. Karl Bordine took the win out of the lead break while Phil Tinstman was “best of the rest” coming across the line in 3rd place and Rob Rigg following in 7th. Andy McClure finished with what was left of the peloton in 16th with Nate Hakken following in 20th.
All three of the Swami’s paid the price for putting 30 miles into their legs before the Masters 35+ race but it was still a fun day with some intense and tactical racing despite missing out on the podium.
Congrats to Andy McClure for finishing on the second step in the 50+!!!
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