Bobs-Bicycles.com found the podium yet again in the King’s Valley Road Race near Portland, Oregon in addition to two more in the top ten. 

About 80 guys lined up in a freakishly warm day to tackle the 75 mile race.  The course was mainly flat with a couple power rollers and a 1 mile finishing climb up about a 4% grade.  Just prior to the race starting, an official asked team captain Rob Campbell to move one of his race numbers to the other side of his jersey.  Matt Weyen went to help and just as he put in the first safety pin, the starting whistle sounded.  As the 76 other races rolled out, the team in blue, also including Kevin Rowe and Justin Rose waited as Matt simply removed the troublesome number.  Fortunately the race began slowly and the four were able to rejoin without much effort. 

About ten minutes into the race, the attacks began.  However, due to recent car/cyclist accidents in Oregon, the race official was enforcing a zero tolerance policy for anyone who so much as was bumped across the yellow line.  After two immediate disqualifications, and while Rowe was in a break 20 seconds up the road, the official stopped the entire peloton to emphasize that if the line was crossed again, the race was over.  It worked, and there were no more violations. 

Back to the attacking with the whole Bob’s team being active at the front, 4 guys finally rolled off the front in a move that was to never be brought back.  It contained Weyen, Doug Ollerenshaw (Rock Racing), Seth Hosmer (CMG Racing), and Zach Winter (Guiness Cycling).  For the next 55 miles, the four exchanged pulls until the final 500 meters when the sprint commenced.  As Ollerenshaw and Winter began the sprint, Weyen cramped, but he was able to muster enough juice to hold onto third.  Back in the peloton, a group of about 10 got off the front on a roller, including Rowe and Rose.  Logan Hunn (Rubicon) attacked with Rose on his wheel.  The two built up about 20 seconds on the peloton at which time they caught Jacob Rathe (CMG).  As the trio hit the final mile climb to the line, Hunn attacked.  Rose brought him back and countered, but was beat at the line by Rathe, giving Rose 6^th.  As the rest of the field hit the climb, Rowe drilled the first half to bring back a few guys who had gotten off the front while Campbell surged to the front.  Campbell then opened up his monstrous sprint at about 350 meters to go, taking 9^th on the day. 

With three guys in the top 10, the team was very pleased with the day.  This will be the final road race tune up before defending their Tour of Walla Walla title this weekend.  Full Results