50 miles race (8 laps of a circuit slightly over 6 miles) with one "big" hill (1.5km @ 9%) and lots of undulation. According to the topo data, we did about 5,000 feet of climbing total over the course of the event. Adding to the fun is some lovely wind for extra crosswind goodness.
Topo map of course.
First two laps, not much happens. I ride tempo on the climb in about 10th wheel just waiting for my legs to open up since I've been off the bike for two days. Second time up, a guy pins it and strings the group out. We mostly come back together into the start/finish, but that one guy's still dangling and I see someone bridging to him. It's early, but the pack seems lazy so I kick it up over one of the smaller climbs and catch the two leaders within a few miles.
I get my wind back and then we start trading pulls trying to get our gap up over the main pack and (hopefully) get out of sight. We get up to about 30 seconds, but then the group drives it back down to 16 by the top of the climb. I tell my companions that the group is drilling the climb, but being lazy on the flats so we agree to ride hard tempo on the climbs but basically team time trial on the flats and downhills.
Sure enough...our gap goes back out to :30....and then about :50...and finally 1:18 with three laps to go.
Next time check we get is 2:00 so we know we've got the podium covered. We all agree to ride together until after the last time up the climb to insure we stay away. There's a small hill about 1km out from the finish and I'm sitting third wheel at the bottom. Guy in front of me attacks and this gets rid of the guy in the front. I cover his attack and immediately counter over the top of the climb as soon as he slows a bit.
I'm flying down the hill to the finish thinking I've got the race in the bag when I hear gears behind me. Turns out I didn't go hard enough to get rid of the second guy. Doh.
Knowing the third guy is a really good sprinter, I have no choice but to lead things out. I stay to the left side of the road to force the other guy to come by on the windy side (we have a right-left crosswind), and give it everything I have in my 53x11, but he ends up getting me by about half a wheel.
Overall, not a bad day. Made some cash, got upgrade points (I'm now over halfway to a Cat 2 upgrade) and ended up taking the KOM jersey for the overall series. 🙂
Couple pics:
Waiting for the start.
The "podium" (or lack thereof). 😛
Topo map of course.
First two laps, not much happens. I ride tempo on the climb in about 10th wheel just waiting for my legs to open up since I've been off the bike for two days. Second time up, a guy pins it and strings the group out. We mostly come back together into the start/finish, but that one guy's still dangling and I see someone bridging to him. It's early, but the pack seems lazy so I kick it up over one of the smaller climbs and catch the two leaders within a few miles.
I get my wind back and then we start trading pulls trying to get our gap up over the main pack and (hopefully) get out of sight. We get up to about 30 seconds, but then the group drives it back down to 16 by the top of the climb. I tell my companions that the group is drilling the climb, but being lazy on the flats so we agree to ride hard tempo on the climbs but basically team time trial on the flats and downhills.
Sure enough...our gap goes back out to :30....and then about :50...and finally 1:18 with three laps to go.
Next time check we get is 2:00 so we know we've got the podium covered. We all agree to ride together until after the last time up the climb to insure we stay away. There's a small hill about 1km out from the finish and I'm sitting third wheel at the bottom. Guy in front of me attacks and this gets rid of the guy in the front. I cover his attack and immediately counter over the top of the climb as soon as he slows a bit.
I'm flying down the hill to the finish thinking I've got the race in the bag when I hear gears behind me. Turns out I didn't go hard enough to get rid of the second guy. Doh.
Knowing the third guy is a really good sprinter, I have no choice but to lead things out. I stay to the left side of the road to force the other guy to come by on the windy side (we have a right-left crosswind), and give it everything I have in my 53x11, but he ends up getting me by about half a wheel.
Overall, not a bad day. Made some cash, got upgrade points (I'm now over halfway to a Cat 2 upgrade) and ended up taking the KOM jersey for the overall series. 🙂
Couple pics:
Waiting for the start.
The "podium" (or lack thereof). 😛
