Shoot Out Group Bike Ride Commentary for 1/19/08, Tucson, AZ
It seems as though the Shoot Out during January and February keeps getting bigger and bigger from year to year. Professional cyclists and Triathletes from all around the world are discovering what a great place Tucson, Arizona is to train during the winter months. Todays ride was one of the bigger Shoot Out packs I have seen.
The cool thing about training in Tucson during the winter months is that the temperature change from the morning low to the afternoon high can be a temperature swing of 40 degrees. Today just happened to be one of those cold mornings in Tucson. When the packed rolled out from University and Park at 7:30 AM the temperature was in the low 30’s. Most people would wait to ride in the afternoon when the high for the day will be in the mid 60’s but not when it comes to the Shoot Out because it is such an awesome group ride!
We are really lucky to have a bike ride like the Shoot Out in Tucson. The ride is a very unique group ride. You would be hard pressed to find another ride in the country like the Shoot Out, if so comment below.
Today’s ride had some big named riders in the peloton. Native Tucsonan Phil Zajicek who rides for Navigators Professional Cycling Team recently moved to Boulder, Colorado. Phil flew in for the weekend to get out of the cold for some training. I think he just missed his mommy. So to our surprise Phil Zijicek was out on the ride.
Phil had a great ride today and put the hurt on the peloton along with other pros in the group Curtis Gunn and some Canadian triathletes.
Phil took the sprint at the top of the hill. So if the Shoot Out would declare a winner it would have been Phi Zijicek. Pictured above Phil Z.
For the most part today’s Shoot Out was fast and steady with not many aggressive attacks. It took the group a little while to warm up. For us Tucsonans 30 degrees is cold.
Coming back into town there is a sprint at a city limit sign. By this time, many of the pros had turned off to do Madera Canyon adding miles to their day. So it gives the local amateur riders a chance at the sprint coming back into town. Waste Management and GST Racing lead the sprint out. Scott Baker and Peter Brown of GST Racing did a couple monster pulls off the front along side the Wast Management train. Unfortunately other GST Racing team members could not pull off the victory and Tim Doud of WM won the sprint.
For the history of Shoot Out visit: http://www.gstracing.com/shootout.php
Map of the Shoot Out: Map of the Shoot Out
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