hills. After walking portions of
the course, he compared sec-
tions to Romaniacs and Erzberg's
Motorex Highway. His prediction
was blunt: simply finishing could
become the real contest.
He was right.
The Pro and A riders faced a
13.5-mile, two-lap course with a
five-hour limit. Early on, clean air
and first choice of lines offered
little advantage. Instead, the
rider in front often became the
one cutting the path for everyone
behind.
Hart and Webb spent much of
the race together, with Petrie and
LeBlond close enough to capital
-
ize whenever the leaders stalled.
On the hardest climbs, competi-
tion occasionally turned into co-
operation. Riders pulled, pushed
and steadied one another, and
Hart and Webb even teamed up
to conquer one particularly dif
-
ficult section.
"I kind of realized that being in
first wasn't necessarily the best
because the line was getting
better," Hart said. "I was happy to
be in second a couple of times
because Cody was making a
line and you could get on it and
actually ride it better. When I
was leading, I was having some
struggles. I couldn't break away
because [Branden] Petrie was
right on us that whole time, too.
It was much easier to follow,
which is not normal. When we'd
get to a hard section, we'd have
to cut a line in, and then it gets
easier and easier."
The second lap reflected that
evolution. With the route burned
in and usable lines established,
Hart estimated it was nearly an
VOLUME ISSUE AUGUST , P37
Cody Webb kept Hart honest in the
main event, finishing second.
Ryder LeBlond (left), third in the
race, chats with Webb.
