Nat Ross sets new course record at Temecula 24-hour

Ten hours into this weekend's 24 Hours of Temecula, Nat Ross had crossed ten laps off his stated goal of twenty laps. And by 8am, Ross commanded a six-lap lead over second place Dale Blankenship and could have called it a day but he wanted to take a shot at Tinker Juarez' (Cannondale) course record for the most laps in the Men's Solo category at Temecula (19 laps). Despite an early morning downpour that brought on some chills, Ross neatly finished 20 laps in 24:06:11.

Ross says he attributes some of his success to recent eye surgery since, up until the weekend, he had been legally blind during every night lap of the 29 solo 24-hour races he's done so far. "It's given me so much more confidence and ability to ride at night with speed," explained Ross. "I actually have definition and peripheral vision on top of everything else so I was really looking forward to this season. Being able to go into the night - that eight or nine laps with extra confidence, it sure pays off." Ross' right eye is scheduled for surgery in October.