We started our GSSR journey with team time trials! The boys (Derek, Mason, and Seamus) led the way, donning their fancy Imperial Trooper helmets. Despite some mishaps like Seamus dropping out and Derek accidentally activating the blindfold setting on his helmet visor, they gave it their all. While they couldn’t keep up with the New England Devo kids, they still managed to secure possibly 3rd place out of 3 teams.
Tatem and Hannah were up next, with Hannah opting for a slower pace to save energy for the road race later. Tatem struggled with the leisurely speed, jokingly comparing it to being on a leash. They ended up placing 2nd out of two teams.
The road race followed, with Tatem and Seamus giving their all. Tatem finished 4th in the Women’s C/D race, while Seamus overcame a flat tire mishap to place 4th in the Men’s B/C race, complete with a photo of him playfully sticking his tongue out.
Derek and Mason took on the Men’s A field, each approaching the race in their own unique way. One enjoyed a relaxed ride, while the other decided to sit this one out. The details are best left to them to share!
Hannah took on the Women’s A/B race, planning for a short ride due to feeling under the weather. Things didn’t go as intended, with a possible overcooked corner mishap (who let her cook?).
The day wrapped up with a fusion dinner, some playful banter about shaving legs for aerodynamics, and Tatem hilariously receiving the “most aggressive rider” jersey (which turned out to be Hannah’s jacket).
On Sunday, we headed to Rutgers for the criterium race, tackling a course with a technical corner filled with potholes.
Seamus started the Men’s B/C race, impressing the intro clinic audience with his crit racing skills. Despite some confusion with the breakaway, he managed to secure 5th place, amidst more mix-ups with the results.
Tatem aimed not to get dropped immediately in the Women’s C/D race and succeeded, with Seamus cheering her on from the sidelines. She even channeled Seamus with a playful tongue-out pose for the photographer, finishing 4th.
Finally, Derek and Mason competed in the Men’s A race, finishing 6th and 10th respectively. Mason even snagged a cool start-line photo, now his Strava profile picture.
To cap off our trip, we embarked on a drive back to Cambridge, making a pit stop at Five Guys for dinner, and snapping a team photo while Tatem handled logistics for the upcoming race weekend. #Candid
Race photo credits: Luis Bastardo
