Leelanau ROCKED!!!

In one word, HOLY SHIT, ok so two words, haha. Well I haven't been on lately because I was sick and was unsure of how my form really was, but it came around in time. Friday night Dave and I headed up to his great aunts cottage and previewed a bit of the course with a narly descent. It was narly due to the fact that it was all tree covered and it was 8 pm so you really could not see going into the corners, not to mention the damn bird that flew at me on the way down, so needless to say I was worried about the race and what was going to happen.
Race day was full on, we suited up, hooked up our radios and got to the line really early and we were ready to go. I got lined up next to last years winner Nick Reistad and had a few Jokes with him. Thats the funny thing about cycling, everyone can chat and get along pretty well.
The race rolled out of town and up the climb out of Leeland, which was much easier than last year. Really the race did not get hard till the first KOM and I easily made it over there. Then I see a hand up, which means someone had a flat, and to my dismay it was Jeff our team captain. Me being the teammate and caring person I am I pulled over and told him to take my wheel, but the wheel truck was right there, so myself, Jeff and Jason Brake had to chase back on to the group which was rather easy. I was super pissed that the guys on our team watched Jeff roll back with the flat and no one offered a wheel to him, thats not team riding.
Anyways the race went over KOM number 2 and I was still feeling well, but at the third KOM, which was Tower Road ( named so for good reason) I found myself grinding up it in my easiest gear only to find I was the last guy over with the main group. Next thing I know a West Michigan Coast guy just sits up right in front of me. DAMN IT!!! I chased hard at 36 MPH (slightly downhill) for a good 8 minutes only to explode after not catching back on.
On the way up Tower Road I saw the LION OF FLANDERS flag and all I could think of was this was exactly like a European hard mans climb. For the rest of the race Jay myself and Rob Iser sat in and made a little tempo, but at one point "papa Tony" started yelling at everyone to work, but all the major players were up the road and we had no chance of catching them so I said, " Sorry God I am below you and I don't want to work anymore" as a joke. He got uber pissed at me and started berating me and at the 4th KOM he took off from the bottom. I bided my time and nearing the top I just shot by him like he wasn't moving. His reply to that was, "oh now you are gonna start working". All I told him was, "I know who is up the road and where all the Horsepower is and its not in this group." He commented something about him being a man and not a pussy. Needless to say, I didnt seem him after that. So we came to 80 miles and I started to look at my computer a lot on my bike. The last 25 miles were dragging ass, so I told Jay with 2 miles to go I was going to jump and make an effort. Finally that chance came and I went for it immediately getting a gap and blowing by Ben Renkema(National Champ and State Champ) after he got spit out of the main group. Well with about 1 kilometer left I got caught, but stayed right near the front. The sprint was more like a slow motion grind and I came in right behind Jay, around 35th place out of 158 starters. I was so tired, but I still managed a victory salute for the crowd just for fun. Thanks for the great commentary today Joe. This was the BEST and HARDEST thing I have ever done in my life. I can not wait for another go at it next year.
So my season is all but over now, there is still a criterium in KZOO on my birthday and I am going to do it for fun and enjoy the last dig for the season. I have learned so much from many people this year and proven to myself that I do belong in the field I am racing in. The only problem is that I want to train harder than ever and be a REAL factor next season. Thanks Sunrise boys for a great second half of the season. I would not trade it for anything. Also thanks to Ada Alltel boys for making me love this sport and still being friends when we see each other. Now I am off to sleep and work for a few hours before a three hour recovery ride tomorrow. Hopefully I will have some pics in short order. Also a huge thanks to the Sunrise support team for the great Feed Zone work today, other than the one dropped bottle I had it was PERFECT. Adieu!