Post date: Jul 18, 2010 2:53:42 AM
The day started off chilly with a wind that was bearable, but would not be much fun to ride in. As the B's
starting time approached, rain blew in and soaked the coarse, making the conditions even less enjoyable for a
bike race. I kitted up and sat in the trailer, dreading starting the race in the cold rain. As the womens B/C race
came to an end, I rolled to the start line, completely cold, other than a few quick sprints in the parking lot. The
race started quickly and I was falling off the back of the pack, working hard to pick people off, one by one, until
about 10 minutes in, I got with a group of 4 others working to catch the peloton. We were trading pulls to catch
the pack, but we werent catching the pack as quick as I would have liked, so I attacked the small group on the
hill leading to the start/finish, bridging the small gap solo. I spent the next 15 minutes or so, trying to hang on
to the back of the pack before I told myself that Ive done this before and I know I just need to be more
aggressive. This is when I made my next move, and hammered on the downhill to move up to the top half of the
pack. With 3-4 laps to go, a Marian rider had attacked and was about 75 meters up, solo, looking like he was
able to stay away for the win. I looked to the front of the pack, hoping someone would turn the pace up a bit, in
order to reel the solo break in. No one was interested in making and effort, so on the back twisting section, I
jumped on the front, with the intent of kicking up the pace and getting some people interested in bringing back
the break. After a 30-45 second effort, just at the start of the small climb, I look back and saw that the only
guy on my wheel, was another Marian rider with a substantial gap between him and the pack. Knowing that he
would do nothing to help me catch his team mate that was off by himself, I dug down and hammered up the hill,
catching the solo break just in time for the descent. After taking a pull in the break, I told the Marian riders that
I was not going for the win, knowing I didnt have the legs to attack them, or be able to give a decent sprint,
hoping that they wouldnt work together to drop me. Keeping this pace of the break was starting to take a toll
on me and I was falling back on the climb, but catching up on the descent and flats. Looking back on the last
lap, I knew I would be able to finish a head of the pack. I kept pushing, careful not to blow up in the last
seconds of this race. I finished the race with the 2 Marian riders about 10 seconds up after the final climb into
the finish.
This was a great finish of a race that I was dreading so much, and worked so hard to catch the peloton, and
then join a break.
The 4/5's race started a few hours later, and I lined up on the front line in the now beautiful weather with the rest
of my team mates behind me somewhere. As the race begun, I was the first to clip in, thanks to the
cyclocross pedals, and decided I would go ahead and take the first pull. I was feeling very excited about my
earlier podium, and kept downshifting and kicking the pace up a little bit more. I led the first lap solo, and
traded pulls on the second lap. By the third lap, the hill was starting to take its toll on my legs and I decided I
would fall back and help some team mates. What I did not realize by my initial pull was that the 4/5 pack was
virtually destroyed and was strung out completely. I would float back until someone would catch me, take a
pull to help them catch another rider, and floating back, searching for a team mate to ride for. Finally, Dan
caught me, with 2 other riders. I did a few laps with them, doing my best to stay in front of Dan going into the
head wind, before I decided to just end the race early and ended the day with a DNF.
I was probably underestimated, being that I was on a cyclocross bike, and that I had never really shown my
face yet this season, but this race got me fired up. I am ready for this weekend. Queen of the American
Classics. Tour of the Battenkill.
-Chase