Canada Cup finals-Canmore

Canmore was the finals for the Canada Cup circuit, fifth race of the series with three of the events being held in the east and two in the west. In the Elite mens catagory we would do 4 laps with 2 big climbs each lap and fast technical descents. The weather was also much mellower compared to the previous weekend and we were treated to a nice 23 degrees. At the top of the first climb I was sitting in about 9th and feeling great. Well I was probably redlined but who isn't when you have just completed a 2km climb in less than 10min with the final pitch being steep enough that a 22 tooth chainring was used by most of the elite men! By the end of the first lap I had moved into 6th position and was riding strong on the climbs and could occasionally see 5th. I wasn't riding the best in the singletrack though and was losing time there. About three quarters of the way up the first climb on the third lap I exploded. Sometimes people ask what it means to "explode" or "Blow" Basically you've built up so much lactate acid in your legs and muscles that your body stops functioning at the level you would like and it becomes difficult to even turn the easiest gears. Or for me I knew I had exploded when I felt like there was no way I could pedal any harder and was standing up to attack the flat sections but was riding in the easiest gear I had in the back (32 tooth cog). So with one lap to go I was struggling and slowly moving backwards to finish in 11th for the final Canada Cup of the season.
This year has been super consistent for me in the Canada Cups with three 10th place finishes and two 11th places. Better then any past season but I am definitetly looking to improve.