Day 5

That's a wrap for the last year of the Mt. Hood cycling classic. As a team, we went in with lofty goals: stage wins, podiums and high general classification positions were all on the list, and as team, we came away with very little. The only top ten to really mention was Trevor's sixth in the Cat 3 TT with Bryan's 19th in the P12 the best GC placing. While there is disappointment, there is also a lot of gained knowledge. This was by far the hardest stage race that any of us has ever done, and we learned what and what not to do when pushing oneself to one's physical and mental limits. If all goes according to plan, nationals should seem like a walk in the park now.

As an avid photographer I was itching to take pictures of the epic course that is stage four of Mt. Hood. I got my opportunity and was rewarded with a beautiful sunset. The photos below are the best ones from that evening. Thanks Trevor for putting up with my need for perfection.

Part of the "long road to nationals" is the physical length of the journey: we're heading a good chunk of the way across the country, and not in the most direct way by any means. Our bodies are screaming rest right now, and they'll get just that with two twelve hour days in the bromobile (read: team van) on tap.

Sadly, we have already said adieu to on-the-road director, relationship advice giver, and chief smack talker Rob Evans, as he claims he has something called a job to go back to on Monday. All I've been able to glean about this mysterious work is that it seems to involve a lot of time spent sneaking onto Facebook and Instagram. Doesn't really seem too bad to me.