It was a complete surprise. I've been racing him all season, and he's never really been in contention.

It is really tough. It feels like there is an elephant on your back, you feel flat, your legs feel weak, you're really tired, you have a hard time breathing and it's painful. At this altitude everything is so much more painful. If you overextend yourself just a little bit, especially when you're in a technical section and you have to put out a lot of effort just to get over something, the moment you're over it you're in trouble and it takes a very long time to recover.

We started climbing together and the moment he started riding I realized that he meant business today. So he made 4:30 on top, and I couldn't believe it.

What I know about auto racing could be inscribed with a dry Magic Marker on the lip of a Coke bottle.

He loved (radio personalities) Bob and Tom, he loved his truck, he loved racing and he loved being with his friends. He was a crack-up, always cracking a joke and having a good time. And he loved Cathedral. He loved this place. It was (a) challenge for him, but he was up for the challenge.

Ocean racing is like standing under a cold shower tearing up ?5 notes.