I'm out in Baker City cheering Kristin on in the Elkhorn Stage Race. It's really been interesting to see the sheer brutality of a stage race in person. The first stage was an 80 mile road race. A few huge crashes that took 3 or 4 people to the ER. Just talking to one of the guys who crashed at that race. Had 4 broken ribs, a broken clavicle, and ruptured an artery in his leg (don't forget your barends!). 85 degrees and sunny. Tons of people crossing the line on the verge of tears. A dozen people throwing up on the side of the road.

Time trial was boring and uneventful.

Tonight was the crit. It was raining and the downtown has cobblestones and it wasn't pretty. A teammate went down in the 4/5 race on his face and got taken to the ER. Women's field had a massive crash taking down 8 riders. Rest of the race was cancelled as 2 of the women were taken away in an ambulance on back boards. Luckily Kristin was able to avoid the crash even though she was in the main group.

Tomorrow will be a 105 miles with 9000 feet of climbing.

I'm beginning to think that people who race bikes are completely insane.

Wow.
I must say Ive had some 'isnt this supposed to be fun? well it f*ck in sucks.' moments ding racing, but ive also felt more alive doing it. A stage race sounds like agony.