Winds of 70 mph ripped through central Oklahoma March 14, downing power lines and causing brush fires across the dry landscape surrounding Stillwater. It was the type of chaos that made racing feel like an afterthought as nearly 130 wildfires were reported in 44 counties, including Payne County where the start for The Mid South was to take place just hours later.
In an instant, I went from obsessing over every race-day detail to realizing just how small cycling is in the grand scheme. There was a letdown for all the focus and preparation in a gravel race - dialling in my Factor Ostro, 100 grams of carbs per bottle, spending an hour carefully positioning the No. 1 race plate as the defending champion - only for it all to disappear. One look at the sky, however, and I knew.
