A win at Ravensdale!!

I got my first ever big road race win today at Ravensdale, Wa. It was a beautiful northwest day on a rolling course - 4 laps for a total of 40+ miles, field size 64. Ben Collins, a pro triathlete turned out for our race, and we spent most of the first 2 laps trying to bring him back as he continuously attacked on his own. After that the race settled a little and I tried to conserve as much energy as possibe for the finish. The finish was, for the most part, a gentle uphill for about 2000m, however it was less than straightforward. In the last 3 or 4 miles we had a big crash, which I avoided by being wide, and at the front (my usual tactic - long may it keep me out of trouble). Then, in the last mile, we passed the women's field, which made sprinting for the line intersting (that wheel in front of me is one of the lapped women). Still, I got a good lead out, and found myself all on my own with 100m to go, and won fairly comfortably in the end.