Claro Brazil Ride Blog Post 2: Brian and Jenny Smith

Messages, Music and racing the Prologue
Last night in the Claro Brazil ride village I had one of the best miscommunications. In the center of the village is an open air tent, bar and music area with bean bags, couches and flax mats. I was using a grid rolle and stretching when one of the race doctors came over introduced himself, asked my name, where I was from. He asked if he could give me a message. I was befuddled but okay?...(racking my brains for what the message might be) we walk over for the message and he said we can use the couch. I was still foggy, it must be a serious message if I have to sit on the couch. I did have medical forms in my bag required by the race that I hadn’t faxed in. Meanwhile Brian was laughing behind his book at me. message. MASSAGE! Oh well yes of course I want a massage! It was great.

The Claro Brazil racing kicked off at noon today with a short and t.e.c.h.n.i.c.a.l 13km prologue around the town of Mucuge.

The course had three double track + single track sections joined by pavement, road and the cobbled streets of the village. It was an excellent course of sand, round boulder rocks, slick rock. The riding was a bit like Fruita, Colorado and Moab’s Sovereign trail.

Everyone was super excited for the race to get underway and all morning the place had been buzzing with teams getting their bikes ready and warming up. A 40 minute race is a pretty intense way to start such a long event, and it created an atmosphere in the town of Mucuge with local support and spectators.

Brian and I had pre ridden the track yesterday and knew to expect a fast and furious race.

We started in 3rd off the line behind Sonya Looney and Jeff Kerkove of Topeak/Ergon and they made a great carrot to chase. It took us a bit to our pace dialed. I think to race short and furious was hard for both of us, as I was trying to go as fast as possible and it took Brian a bit to get used to what that pace was. But we got better it felt like as the race went and I felt I was riding better technically too.

We don’t have the results yet, but where pretty happy with how it went.

Tomorrow by contrast is 139km. It’ll be a completely different style of riding! The race is starting very early at 6am.  It is Sunday night here tonight and we are hoping that means a quieter night in Mucuge. Brasil is known for its music and the weekend held true. Friday night and Saturday rocked with Music from a town party that got louder and louder until 3am. It sounded great but was a bit on the brutal side for us racers sleeping in the tents.  Tomorrow is Brian’s birthday so wish us luck as we celebrate Claro Brasil ride style!

Thanks for reading

Cheers
Jenny Smith