championnats provincial de cyclocross

Day one in Quebec City, 'cross provincials! Drove up Friday night after work crashed at the HoJo for a good sleep, then up in the morning to head over to the race venue. It would have been nice to check it out the day before, but work beckoned, and hey, my mantra has always been - First lap is a warmup!
I got parked, registered, changed, situated, sort of warmed up and so on.. made my way over towards the start, pitted the spare and looked for the start. I'd gotten a chance to ride some of the course, but not very much. Mostly the grassy stuff. So I was going to go into it a bit blind. Not a good plan for a big race. I had a poor start, missing the jump. We'd fly into a set of barriers really early, catching the tail end of the Elite race, so I got wedged in, fell back a few more spots and before you know it, I'm in about 5-6th place 15+ seconds off the lead. Not the best scenario, but it is just the first lap. I decided to remain calm, and play the hand as given.
By the second lap I was able to work up to 3rd, and managed to dump off a few riders leaving a cleared contact to the leader, but was now 20-25 seconds off the lead, but calm. Lap three, I'd regained a few seconds to the lead, but was contently sitting in second place, feeling good. I though it best to start a move, as we were nearing the halfway mark, so I gave a good push through the start/finish, cleared the rock steps nicely, and gassed it on the backside gravel climb. By the top I'd worked my way up to the leader and was within 5 seconds. We'd come through together with 3 to go. From here out it was looking too familiar, with thoughts of Laval setting in. Michel and I rode away in Laval, and were doing an even better job this time. The lead was traded off a couple of times a lap. We had a good chance to feel each other out, I felt he was weakening, but whenever I put in a dig, he was always right there. With two to go, pretty much the same as previous, although I was having a tough time on the steep grass climb. Michel was clearing it, I had to dismount, he'd get around to lead through the start/finish. This was looking all too key for the final lap. After the hill there was a fast open section, into a narrow down/up, across an impossibly narrow bridge, followed by a right turn onto a paved section for the final 150m, of course with a (bigger than) 90degress left turn with about 75m to go. So, first man onto the bridge would be likely winner.
I started the final lap on Michel's wheel, passing him on the rock run up. Over on the gravel climb I went full gas to the top, he would hang in as we descended down into the slick switchbacks. I cleared the sand hill (another narrow section, slightly sandy steep climb) and notice Michel was off, so went for broke. He caught back on down by the flat section (through the straights and grassy turns) and I would lead into the super steep hill. Deja-vu, I was usually in first, but he was getting me every time. It was a do or die moment, I grunted myself over the hill, and cleared it for the first time of the day, got to the top, and again full gas. We hit the narrows, then crossed the bridge. As soon as we hit the pavement I began the set up for the corner and sprint. It can be sketchy railing a paved corner on a cross bike. We rolled through and instantly sprinted out of the corner.
I had no problem holding the lead out to the line, clinching my third consecutive provincial title! An excellent race. It was the toughest of the three to win, but will likely be the most remembered! (so cliche LOL) One day down, one more to go, the next day would be the series finale. I'm not in for the series, as I'd only done one other race in Quebec this year, so I'll get some good rest, then enjoy another day in the blue and white!

(photos thanks to sharron harrison)