Even with the forecast for severe storms, Big D cyclists showed up and raced in several categories, including Men’s Cat 4, Men’s Master 40+, Men’s Master 50+, Men’s Master 65+, and Women’s Master 50+. You can see all race results at the KCA website! Considering the forecast, this was a great turnout, yielding another good result for our title sponsor, Keen Wealth Advisors.

In the Men’s Master 40+ race, good team tactics, proper positioning and powerful efforts were able to keep the larger teams of 360 Racing and Oklahoma City Velo Club in check during several attacks made by those teams. The race started out at a quick pace over challenging, rolling hills, with a lead group that formed within seven miles, containing Paul Aldeguer, Kurt Wilson, and Joe Kleidosty. Wilson countered the initial attacks and even attempted to get into a break, but he could not get with the correct group of cyclists to make anything hold.

After the peloton turned north, the speeds increased. Eventually, two racers from OKC Velo Club and 360 Racing got away. Wilson had put in a lot of work up to that point, and he indicated he needed help countering the attacks. Kleidosty took that as his cue to wake up, and he shot up the right side at a critical point in the race, just before a 5% average gradient climb, to bridge up to the breakaway.

Aldeguer saw that as an opportunity to make his move to get with the breakaway. He shot up the climb, whilst earning a Strava KOM on that climb segment, indicating the high pedigree of his climbing ability. He joined the lead group of two riders, while Kleidosty slowed down considerably during the climb, in hopes that Aldeguer could stay away for a podium finish. Since 360 Racing and OKC Velo Club had racers in the breakaway, they were not doing any work at that point, as well.

By the time the racers reached the feed zone, Aldeguer and his breakaway buddies were no longer in sight. The chase group, which was not really chasing, was dealing with gusty cross winds before the turn to the south onto Highway 7. Everyone knew headwinds were in store for the latter half of the race.

After turning to the south, an OKC Velo Club racer shot off the front. Wilson turned to Kleidosty and asked him if he wanted to chase this one down. Kleidosty responded and gutted it out in the headwinds to catch the OKC Velo Club racer. They started working together and eventually made contact with Aldeguer and the other two racers in the lead group. Kleidosty and Aldeguer were the only Masters 40+ racers in the successful breakaway of five racers, earning first and second in that category.

Thanks again to Greg Vaught for hauling the trailer to the races.