Rock Creek Battle Plan

3-Sector Attack Strategy: Practice & Race Day

COURSE CONDITION: SUPER DUSTY. The Elites are dealing with it, and so are we. With 11 DNFs in Pro Men, the technical sections are "bitey." The goal for Saturday practice is finding the "Blue Groove"—the hard-packed line hidden under the dust.

1. Individual Rider Attack Specs

Conf: 3/5

Miles

Hardest: Start → Split 1 Easiest: Split 2 → Finish

The Mission: You feel fastest in the middle rock drop, but the start is your hurdle. Since your TTC report highlighted "Earlier Run Commitment," we attack the start gate tomorrow.

Drill: The Sprint-to-Tech. 3 gate starts into the steep chute. Goal is to enter the woods with 5% more speed than feels "comfortable."

Target Split 1: 27.0s

Conf: 3/5

Xavier

Hardest: Split 1 → Split 2 Easiest: Split 2 → Finish

The Mission: You've got the momentum for the finish, but the technical middle (S1-S2) is the challenge. In the dust, "Smooth is Fast" applies to you more than anyone.

Drill: Line Choice Challenge. Session the rock garden. Find a line that keeps the bike flatter so you don't lose speed to compressions.

Target Split 2: 1:21.0s

Conf: 2/5

Pearse

Hardest: Start → Split 1 Easiest: Split 2 → Finish

The Mission: "Rocks are very much there." At TTC you showed "Smooth Technical Consistency"—trust that. The rocks don't change, only the dust on top does.

Drill: Follow the Fast Line. Follow Druid or Lawson through the chute. See their braking points; it will show you that you can carry more than you think.

Target: Clean S1 with zero dabs.

Conf: 4/5

Druid

Hardest: Start → Split 1 Easiest: Split 2 → Finish

The Mission: You had the fastest closing sector on the team at TTC. If you can survive the chute (Start-S1) with your confidence intact, you will pass people in the lower half.

Drill: Late Braking. In the chute, practice braking 2 feet later each time. Use that confidence to move the "rhythm point" earlier.

Target Split 1: 26.4s

Conf: 4/5

Lawson

Hardest: Split 1 → Split 2 Easiest: Start → Split 1

The Mission: You are comfortable with the speed (S1), but the technical middle is the puzzle. You are an "Elite Finisher"—don't let the middle exhaust you.

Drill: Exit Speed Drill. Focus specifically on the last 3 turns before Split 2. Carrying speed out of the tech into the flow is your ticket to the podium.

Target Finish: 2:25.50

Conf: 3/5

Rodri

Hardest: Split 1 → Split 2 Easiest: Split 2 → Finish

The Mission: You're here for the fun! Use that relaxed vibe to stay loose in the middle tech. A relaxed rider bounces over rocks; a stiff rider hits them.

Drill: No-Brake Flow. Practice the bottom section (S2-Finish) without brakes to see just how much "Free Speed" the course gives you.

Target Split 3: 1:53.0s

2. Sectional Timing Targets (Cat 2/3)

Based on the 18.5% speed increase at Rock Creek compared to TTC, these are the targets for a competitive Bandidos run:

Course Section	Pro Baseline	Bandidos Target	Technical Focus
Section 1 (Start → S1)	20.8s	26.5s - 27.5s	Commitment in the chute; high vision.
Section 2 (S1 → S2)	42.0s	54.0s - 56.5s	"Blue Groove" hunting in the rocks.
Section 3 (S2 → Finish)	50.2s	1:05.0s - 1:08.0s	Jarrod's Place pump & sprint finish.
Full Run Total	1:53.0s	2:26.0s - 2:32.0s	Potential Podium Pace