Prattsburgh, NY – Scott Stewart tackled the Prattsburgh Gravel Classic solo this weekend, racing in the intermediate men’s category. He was rewarded with intense crash on a descent, but finished with only minor cuts, bruises, and a newfound appreciation for quality eyewear. Stewart shared with the rest of the team his recollection of the race:
The start was fast out of the town square, about 50 riders with a couple of guys driving up the pace on pavement for the first 8 miles. On the first gravel climb, I had no issue riding up at the front. Continued this for a few more miles until there was a steep descent with a hairpin right at the bottom, I took the inside line and was 4th or 5th.
Did the monster climb and told the others that the descent is sketchy, to watch out. I should have heeded my own advice… I went over the top of the climb and got passed by Kevan Edwards, so we jumped on his wheel. I was bombing the descent and got caught in a deep rut, there was nothing I could do. Fell to the side, face first. Wearing Oakleys paid off. They took a hard hit and got scratched badly but didn’t break and blind me. I got up and assessed the damage. The handlebars were spun, the rear derailleur hanger was bent and my bell was rung.
Half way through the race on the side of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, Stewart managed some makeshift roadside repairs to his bike. Unrelenting, he continued the race and even managed to take back a few lost places along the way.
I tried to get everything bent back straight and kept riding but I only had the bottom 6 gears. I realized my pedal had hit my calf muscle in the crash and it was getting painful. It was just survival to the end, but I managed to pass half a dozen or so riders on the way. All in all, I was feeling great until the crash and think I could have managed a top 5 finish if I had not gone down.
