Recapping the Gentleman's Ride - (H)Updated

MegA did a great job of recapping her experience at the Rapha Gentlemen's Ride

http://www.newenglandcross.com/http%3A__www.newenglandcross.com/blogit/Entries/2009/5/26_new_paltz_new_outlook.html

We all share the same grand sense of accomplishment and pride as Meg. Way to push your limits MegA!

I've also added a bunch of photos to flickr in case people would like to see what it looked like for HUP United on Sunday.

Bonding

Six strong NE Hupsters came, saw and conquered the first ever Rapha Gentlmen's Race (seven actually- but PVB was racing with Rapha Continental) in Upstate NY yesterday. They didn't win, in fact they came in last, but that doesn't matter, because they finished, didn't get lost, and Meg rode an amazing 122 hilly miles. Not bad for someone who hasn't ridden beyond 100 miles before, especially not hilly-ass miles like this race.

Are you up for some base?

July 20. The second rest day of the TdF. 100+ miles. 15000+ ft of climbing. Eastern PA. Only 17 people who have attempted this ride have finished it (and only one did it in combat boots.) The tradition of 2-5-10. HUP riders- contact dan-at-rsdmag.com for more info.

Get on the effing Ball! (please)

Everyone is asking about Blanco care. Here you go! Apparently men don't do their own laundry in this country. And, note the wicked Midwest use of the word "huge"....as in EUGE. WICKED!!!!!

Blue Legs, New BLANCO

The weather has been decent here in Hup HQ-land. Decent meaning legs weather. New kitty has finally landed in full, and it's some serious Distro-action time. Check out the new legs, and Staples Center rocking the blanco pre-Mem day!

Why yes, that is Blanco that you see.

And, that guy on the left couldn't make it on HUP, so suck it JD.

Hoogerheide: U23

Everyone expected German, Philipp Walsleben to win the U23 race. He did, by 21 seconds, but for the first few laps of the race, Walsleben was near, but not at the front of the race.


Zac, Slate and I spent the race wandering around the course, checking it out and scouting for good spots to watch the races on Sunday. Here's Walsleben alone out front. Lots of spectators, but there would be at least twice as many on Sunday.


Bombing down the one steep descent.


If you look closely at the photo above, you can pick out Zac and Slate at the top of the hill.


At the bottom of the steep descent was a tricky little 'S' turn.


As you can see from the photos above, it was sunny with clear skies (but cold) on Saturday. Here is a photo of the Antwerp train station on Monday morning (about 30k from Hoogerheide, NL). The course would have been spectacular, this hill especially, had the weather shifted just a couple days....


The chasers.


Third (#34, SZCZEPANIAK Pawel, POLAND, +00:21), fifth (#24, WEBER Sascha, GERMANY, +00:24) and second place (#25, PFINGSTEN Christoph, GERMANY, +00:21).