Le Tour de Mont Plesant Criterium – 6-9-13

Sunday morning started early. I woke up around 4 a.m. to drive 2.5 hours to Mount Pleasant, MI for Le Tour de Mont Pleasant’s criterium. The category 5 race started at 8 a.m. and was 25 min. + 1 lap. I got in a good warm up and was able to get in a couple laps of the course. It was a technical loop with 7 turns and a round-a-bout.

I got to the starting line early because I wanted to get a good starting position so I could be in front to avoid any first lap mishaps/crashes. The whistle blew and I jumped to the front. I stayed in the top 3 for the majority of the race because I knew it would be hard to move up with all the turns. Every once and a while a racer from behind would attack, but we would just pull him back in. Right before the last lap I did my turn pulling and then got settled in third position. Going into the second to last turn I was still in third position. As we approached the last turn I swung around the two people in front me and hit the gas. I finished about a bike length ahead of second place and did a victory salute to complete my first win. Along with a big trophy I also received a $50 Amazon gift card, chain lube, bar tape, and a free massage! It was a really great day!

-Gabe Rice

Gabe is a fairly new racer but one who has shown a lot of talent and passion for the sport.  Though technically a junior, he's been putting in his Cat 5 races in attempts for an upgrade (and has been doing very well).

CMS Race Team on Facebook