Members of xXx Racing-Athletico and Get-a-Grip Cycles took a trip to Traverse City, Michigan and raced as a unit in the Cherry-Roubaix Criterium and Road Race

Saturday-Hard, Cobblestoned, Cold Rainy Crit... Thankfully no crashes to report, 5 of us rode as a unit, it was beautiful, Race starts, Luke strings it out for 4 laps, I had a terrible clip in and had to fight thru 30 riders opening giant gaps and tentative riding in the rain. by the time I got back to the front Brian Hill was already into a 4 man break post prime, we blocked perfectly, nobody had a chance with myself, Liam and Ben Laforce covering everything, fast forward 3 to go Liam flew up the right side after turn one like a Bearded Rocket, humiliating everyone and I laughed to myself, "go ahead and chase that" a team from the Detroit area tried but he stayed off for 4th, just getting by one that fell off the break, I got second in the field sprint, Ben took third, half the field DNF'd, the Chicago crew took 2/4/7/8...4 in the top 10, Booo Ya...Rain Schmain, Good Times !!

Sunday-We thankfully wake to a perfect cool and sunny morning. We arrive at the Sugarloaf ski resort in Leelanau County 45 minutes before our race and the vibe is great. This Road race was a 60 mile rollerfest, a no joke course, 6 climbs a lap + 5 laps =30 climbs. I had no expectations other than doing my best riding for Luke. I patrolled the front chasing down early breaks and thankfully climbed pretty well, I tried to get to the front every climb and slide back thru, but more times than not I dictated tempo and rolled over the top first...Thank you SLO !! "The Move" went off at the KOM hill on lap 3 of 5 with Luke, Brian and Ben in it, I blocked my Arse off, we had 3 of 9 in the move and I felt I had done my job, as we came around to the KOM 4th lap, I saw Brian on the side of the road badly cramped and DNF'd. On the 4th lap Liam put in another monster effort to bridge but was stuck out in no mans land for more than 8 miles and was a bit cooked when we hit the final climb on course for the Bell lap.. so now 8 in the break and I'm in the second group of 7. I'm out numbered 3 to 1 by a team from the Detroit area, they George Hincappie'd me into a hot mess in the middle of last lap I cramped baaaaad from all the work I did, my legs locked up the final climb and I had to settle for 15th, Luke got 6th and Ben landed 7th..

I'm proud of the way we all rode and the way we watched each others backs

More importantly, I'm incredibly proud to call these guys my Friends