2 WheelSports deserves a lot of credit for putting on a class A event. The To Tell and Back stage race was among the best stage races I have attended. TTAB ranks right up there with the Tucson Bicycle Classic, Highland Rim Classic, Green Mountain Stage Race and Tour de Toona with good course variety, challenging terrain and plenty of prize money. But, catering specifically to cat 3/4s, TTAB takes it up a notch with 5 stages - more than any other 3/4 event I know of. In my book, this event is a must-attend for next year.
Unfortunately in TTAB's inaugural year only 18 riders attended. Despite the low turnout, Mike and Sam went ahead with the full event - and the FULL payout. That meant pay day for everyone since GC went 25 deep! Also despite the low turnout the racing was particularly good and surprisingly strategic as teams laid it out for the G.C. battle.
The prologue was a 2.5 ITT. The course started down in a valley by an old wooden bridge. The first two miles of the course followed a gently rolling 1 lane road through the woods. The road was FAST with pristine new blacktop. In the last .5 miles the course kicked out of the valley and wound up a long climb to the finish in the little town of Leavenworth Indiana.
