I’ve had a couple days now to recover from the stage race and associated time in the car and wanted to add this report.
Final GC: Ben Miller (globalbike composite rider) 12th overall.
Last stage fireworks: The last stage was the hardest crit course I have ever ridden. It had a big hill and then an additional steep hill on a 2k course. Our race split into 2 main groups. Ben and Alan maintained in the lead group, and the rest of us ended up in the second group. With one lap to go, Ben was sitting perfect 4th-5th wheel when he crashed hard in one of the corners. The officials applied the 3k rule and gave him the same finishing time as the group he was with, preserving 12th.
Afternoon at the hospital: Ben’s crash resulted in some deep gashes in his elbow and a shoulder which may have been dislocated. We spent the afternoon in the hospital getting some stitches and x-rays. With the holes fixed and no broken bones, we were on our way - the long drive home. Ben will need a few weeks for his shoulder to heal before racing again. No real damage, but some sprained ligaments to deal with.
Overall impressions: The team raced well for Ben and suffered a lot. We underestimated how difficult this race would be. Both the competition and the course. In the end it was good experience for the team, one on which we can build on in the future.
Josh
