The official start of the 2012 Cascade Cycling Classic was today, the 2.8 mile Tethrow Prologue.

My day started just after 10 as I met the guys of Kenda Pro Cycling to do some course recon. A number of the other teams participating in the race this year were out there as well checking out the pavment, the corners and figuring out the best line through the roundabout which was about a kilometer from the finish. After a couple of laps the guys headed back to their host houses and I went for a few more miles before heading back in myself.

Next up for me was packet pick up at the host hotel and the manager’s meeting which is pretty much just like every other manager meeting at just about every other bike race. Roll call, thanks for being here, don’t litter, a few notes on the stages, see you tonight, good-bye.

I then headed over to the host houses to give the guys their numbers and start times, discussed the up coming week with Tenny our mechanic and Paige our soigneur and hung out until it was time to roll over to the course around 5pm.

Tenny, Paige and I got there early and set up the tents, chairs, trainers, etc and proceeded to hunker down for the next 3 hours. Time trials are funny, you do a lot of scurrying around and then wait. I usually head up to the starting area with a set of wheels and some water and make sure that the riders are there on time. Every team was able to follow 2 riders around the course and I ended up following our last two off: Andy Jacques-Maynes and Phil Gaimon.

As it turns out, Bobby Sweeting had the ride of the day for the team. Bobby was our 3rd rider off at 7:21:30 and by the end of the evening after all 192 riders had completed the prologue he had the 3rd fastest time of the night!

Finally after the podium presentation wrapped up around 9 we headed back to our respective host homes to try and recharge before setting off at 0:butt:early tomorrow for the McKenzie Pass Road Race.

Thanks for reading.