Manda Butterball Style

Manda is as close to a Belgian day race that there is in Central Texas I suppose. Set in rural, working poor country, settled by Swedish immigrants.


There are long flat stretches along treeless wind swept fields. It's seems to always be windy and overcast.


Generally the race gets strung out as the wind plucks riders off the back like a John Deere combine harvester or something like that, and comes down to a survivors finish. I had the luck to be a survivor and finish in the top 10 this year.


P.S. All the other 2011 spring classix were marred by mediocrity:

Tour of NewBraunfels
Survived the winds and finished with the selection.
Allsatian
Formerly a classic road race turned suburban sprawl circuit race.
Recklessly lead the charge up the finishing hill. Swallowed by the pack across the line
PaceBend/Walburg
Did about 5 minutes of each due to injury from improperly carrying heavy objects by bicycle.
LaPrimaVera
Pack finish both days.
Fayetteville
Saturday; Pack finish for RoadRace and middle of TT (6.6miles@16:20) sitting top 20 in GC at the end of the day. Following the advise of my director's sportiff's to be more aggressive this season, I cursed the entire field for passing me over the yellow line, while I elbowed my way to the front before the final turn.
Sunday; I found myself in a 5 man break for 2 laps with 2 min on the field which eventually caught us and spit me off the back before the finish.
Manor
Woolly Mammoth and Party Time animated this race. Lots of attacks and a 5th field sprint, 12th overall. The last K's covering the talented Jaime Dayo, who did not disappoint, with a bike throw for 4th. Party Time took the win in a 2 man break ahead of Jaime's 5 men.

P.P.S.
A clean machine.

Alsatian Country Omnium

SATURDAYS CRIT:

Spanish racing sensation Nicolas Andres Ibarra, "The Old Man", stormed off from the gun apparently in an effort to lap the field before the first lap was over. Nico was pulled back after loosing time shaving his legs in the Medina River.The Grizza tried to hide out and go for the sprint, but the sprint teams couldn't miss the young stars 8 foot frame weaving through the pack. I was no help at all since I abandonded the race to sign autographs for the star stricken tifosi. Handsome young Grizzaldo was 1st across the line, but his front wheel was 5th.

SUNDAYS RR:
The pro cat four Team Wooly Mammoth squad made the start red eyed and groggy from a late night sponsorship party that ended us entertaining the the podium girls in Mathew O'Morreys pop up trailer. Wooly Mammoth Betty "Bellissimo" Hodges showed up with T. Boonen and the party kicked into high gear. The team Soigneur is prepared for just such "incidents" and we were ready to go by morning. Of course Nico being a traditional naturalist refused any "enhancements". He struggled just to stay awake. I broke away into the wind early and took 3 with me. Grizza and Nico blocked the pack by joining hands and jamming on the brakes. I could have easily gone away solo, but I'm working on pack sprints. Griz, having been informed of my intentions, dropped the beaten down pack and chased on to the lead group for nearly 100 miles solo only to blow himself out for me 2 meters from the line. My Rival is as cunning as a grey fox and as ferocious as a cornered possum and he nipped me at the line by a beard hair. The day was his, but we will soon meet again meet again.