Pete Morris (Team Clif Bar) takes a pull with Jared Kessler in tow (Marc Pro – Strava) during their race-long break. Photo Copyright Alex Chiu
Welcome to Copperopolis Town Square
Embracing its proud heritage and cherished way of life as a once thriving 1800’s mining town, Copperopolis Town Square has been reborn as an all new blend of shops, restaurants and residential lofts.
Designed around a traditional, pedestrian-friendly town square, the timeless architecture and covered walkways harken back to another era, yet provide all the luxury and convenience of a modern retail setting.
This place kinda felt like a Disneyland attraction. A super manufactured, eerily clean, pre-fab town. With no one in it. Except a couple hundred bike racers. Seriously, I have no idea what was inside all of those buildings. They coulda’ been quaint, kitschy shops. Coulda’ been secret government robot weapon factories. Who knows.
The buttery-smooth pavement and very non-technical nature of the Coppertown course made for a fast race. Representing Marc Pro – Strava were Willie Myers, Nick Schaffner and 2014 recruits Jared Kessler and Josh Carling. Our only plan going into the event was to pedal our bikes hard. Despite racing together for almost the first time, there’s was enough experience between the four of us to handle the race on the fly.
We took to the front at the start of the race, and by the end of the first lap had successfully launched Jared into a winning break with Team Clif Bar’s Pete Morris. Marc Pro – Strava is also fortunate to have Clif Bar as a nutrition sponsor, so we all knew that between Jared and Pete, they would not run out of food.
From that point on it was all about covering the front and blocking like a bunch of jerks. However, the crosswinds helped diffuse any chasing, and the break stayed between 30 and 45 seconds for the rest of the 90 minute race. Jared jumped Pete with 1k to go and soloed for the win.
Jared Kesller wins the 2014 Coppertown Circuit Race. Photo Copyright Alex Chiu
Back in the field, with 2k to go, Josh and Nick pulled Willie up to the front, with Josh cranking the final lead-out to the line. Willie handily took the field sprint for 3rd.
Cash rules everything around me. C.R.E.A.M. get the money, dolla-dolla bill y’all.
Ok, smile and flex your legs. Jared Kessler (Marc Pro – Strava) 1st, Pete Morris (Clif Bar) 2nd, Willie Myers (Marc Pro – Strava) 3rd. Photo Copyright Alex Chiu
