Battle Mountain - Day 6

Today is the last day of the WHPSC. We have to get up early and that gets more difficult as the week progresses. Everybody is noticably tired. After breakfast we get everything in the car and leave for the track. The weather appears to be good. It is really busy, because no runs were made the last couple of evenings, and because there are only two chances left, this morning and tonight. Most riders usually skip the morning runs, but it still isn't sure if the weather tonight will be good enough to ride.

Jan-Marcel makes a good run in the second heat, but isn't pleased with the result. He gets out of the bike completely exhausted, but it's just too cold and damp for (personal) records. The weather is improving though. The warmth of the sun gets more strength. Thomas has a good start in the fourth heat, but moves over to the left side of the road after about a mile. He appears to have problems. Our procedures in case of problems works perfectly without any discussions. This results in a beautiful mid-course catch. Thomas is covered with bits of rubber, but the tire had not gone flat yet.

Within 5 minutes the tire has been changed and we are ready again to go back to the start. We only have to wait for the road to be reopened. We can use the on-deck position that Jan-Marcel had put in name on in the fifth heat for Thomas, so he can mske a run of 70.4 mph.

We go straight to the Civic Center for the riders meeting. The riders of the University of Toronto have made excellent runs and Team Cygnus falls a bit back in the statistics. David and Jan-Marcel both put their names on the list for the evening sessions; David for the first heat, Jan-Marcel for the third. Quickly back to the hotel for lunch, have about 5 minutes of pedalling as aa cooling-down and a powernap. Then we head back to the Civic Center for the traditional photoshoot.

State Trooper Arthur Aten is also present again and he issues a number of tickets again.

Again we go back to the hotel. Thomas and David will adjust the break lever; Jan-Marcel will try to his legt to feel normal again by pedalling a bit and having some powernaps.

The wind is pretty strong when we go to the track. It isn't looking good. David decides not to ride. The wind is far too strong. A lot of riders from the second heat also decide not to race. They all realize that the run won't be legal anyway because of the wind. Just before the third heat the windspeeds fall. Will we have a good evening session after all? Everybody in the last session decides to ride. It is sarting to get darker as the sun sets, but with our cameras we do not have any problem with that. Quickly behind eachother the riders get started and Jan-Marcel also has a good start. A bit leisurely, but that could be expected after the ride he made this morning. With a speed of over 78 mph he gets to be third in this competition. He is extracted from the bike with aching muscles. He will have to pedal some more the next couple of days.

It turns out that Sebastiaan Bowier has set a new world record of 83.13 mph and he is closely followed by Wil Baselmans who also has made excellent runs. Team Cygnus want to congratulate both of them again with their results. On to Battle Mountain 2014?