White House Road Race
- May 2, 2009, White House, Tennessee
This would be our team’s first TBRA race of the year. Who will do what, who feels like going early, who’s nervous? We got to the race plenty early thanks to TEAM Freeman (Rachel, Audrey, and Tina). I got registered, pined on the #’s, put wheels in the truck, only got a short warm up, time to go. At 10:10am we lined up. Bob asked if I was going early and I replied, “NO”. Then Tim Valentine (40+Cat 2) shared with me his results from the Rock Hill, South Carolina Road Race...a 3rd place in a 90 mile RR, “Congratulations!!! I’ll be following you around today.” About 4 minutes into the race I found myself with Tim in a break with Shawn Hirt and a Memphis Motoworks guy. We were flying, with no TriStar rider in the break. A few minutes later here comes Jason Tatum and 3 other guys, this was the break of the day. I was in the unlucky position of being on Jason’s wheel when was laying down stupid strong pulls, so I missed a rotation just to save a few matches and reshuffled the deck. Everyone else was rolling through and then the first time up the hill came. Steady, no attacks, but 500 watts for 2 minutes up the climb had me gassed. The next 24 miles seemed like a long way once we passed the start/finish but we were flying. The next thing I know and we are back at the climb. This time a little chit chat and Jason attacks. I had nothing or should I say I did nothing. I should have responded, but once the gap was opened up my eyes fogged over and I began to tell myself I would catch them before the finish, “What a lie.” If a gap opens, close it down immediately...in other words stop the bleeding. So I rode in by myself for 7th overall and 5th 40+. My best finish in a Road Race in 15 years, the future looks very bright.
- Kevin Freeman
