Hugo RR - 6/17/06

So, Hugo was a good learning experience. I learned that if the terrain is not going to be a factor in splitting up the race, then my chances of winning are pretty slim. I just don’t have a finishing kick. And I’m not patient like the best pure finishers are and need to be. I also learned that whatever kick I do have – whether I’m trying to use it for my own benefit or for that of the team sprinters – I need to start it a lot later than the “1k to go” marker.

All in all, I felt very strong on the day. The rectangular course meant the wind would wreak its havoc on various legs. It was soon evident that the final 12-mile leg would be aided by a cross- and tail-wind (more cross) and a general loss of altitude. In a drag race, I count my chances as less than stellar and halfway through this race, it was evident this would be nothing but a drag to the end.

The team, on the whole, did great. There were some early breaks. I recognized some of the rabbits as those who did very well at Deer Trail, who were in that final selection of 12 with me, so at some point I knew we would have to chase them down. Halfway through the race, toward the beginning of the third leg of the rectangle (about a 19-mile stretch) Feedback decided to push the pace and see who had what in the legs. In the head and cross winds, Andy and Titus did an incredible job of protecting me and Andrew, and it creating the appropriate echelon for us. I was loving it and feeling very protected. Boys, you dun gewd!!

Andrew, despite his 31st place, was super, super strong. Even though he was the one we were all supposed to be working for, he threw his hat in the ring on the front to help elevate the pace and keep everyone honest, and to make sure no breaks stuck. The problem was two-fold: 1) no one on the front was willing to organize, so there were a bunch of broken efforts. This allowed everyone to stay together until the very end; and 2) with 90+ racers, no one was going to get dropped that would normally get shelled in a training ride. So many “hacks” were there at the end.

So, to avoid the boring details. . . Andrew and I were right at the front and on the front in the final 5k. The final 3 miles were a long, rolling drag to the finish line. With about a mile to go, I could see the finish line structure, and asked Andrew if that was it. He said yes. Then, we passed the “1k to go” spraypainted on the blacktop. The final 1k was flat before a slight uphill across the line. Andrew and I were spot on the front. My first thought was, “Where are Andy and J-Rod???” Andy had done a shitload of work earlier, so I was thinking he was spent and hanging on. Titus had blown a few miles back, his selfless job very well done. The pace had elevated so much that I was impressed at Andrew and myself to be right on the front where I thought was the perfect place to be with 1k to go. Silly, naïve boy that I am . . . J-Rod had made a couple of guest appearances at the front at the latter stages of the race, but I was honestly wishing he would have been up there when Feedback was making its presence known in the middle of the race. The extra body may have made a difference. But, probably not. Certainly, the extra body would have save the legs of the other four of us at least a little bit.

So, on to the final 1k. . . I looked at Andrew and told him it was time to go. Again, silly little boy that I am. I take off and give it everything I’ve got. I can only hope that Andrew is on my wheel and ready to come around me when I crater. I immediately notice that I do not have full access to my top end staying power. I’m in dire need of a rest week, and it showed in that final 1k. Andrew, sorry I let you down at the end there. I should have waited until the 500m mark to do what I did. It certainly hurt your final position.

The wheels came off at around 400m to go, with me spot on the front of everything. I pull off and expect Andrew to come around. Nothing. But, 4 guys then do come around me. After them, there is a nice gap before the wave overtakes me. Hearing later that J-Rod got 3rd amazed me. He was so far back when I got overtaken and he finally came past me, that it shows how many other people also jumped a bit too early and did not give that final shallow uphill enough credit. I know I did not.

So, I finished in the pack with the same time as the winner, but in 38th place. Lessons learned? Probably more than what I alluded to above. Maybe I can win a race like Hugo. But, to do so will require a lot of luck. And, it will require me to jump from wheel to wheel until the final 100m, then cross my fingers. Don’t know if I’ve got that tactician wired into my being. I guess I can figure it out with the rest of my races this year. The other lesson I learned is that when terrain is not a factor, that sitting in is the only thing to do, to save every last smidgen of energy until all hell breaks loose at the very, very end.

All in all, a great race. I enjoyed it and learned some lessons. A race like this does not go to the strongest racer (not that I was necessarily the strongest), but to the cagiest. And the one with the most patience. I’ll be curious to try out the “patience thing” in subsequent races. Anyone who knows me knows patience is not one of my long suits. Patience is evil.

The good news? It was a great training race, if nothing else. Also, four of my final races all include significant climbing. My guess is that the race reports will be different when I write my posts on them. Till then, I’m looking forward to my recovery week, licking my wounds and coming out the other side ready to do battle once again.

Next up, the Mike Horgan Hill Climb on 7/16.

Louisville Crit - 6/3/06

Whew! This was a tough one, though I would argue it turned out to be the best team showing of the season. Titus and I agreed to play domestique for our sprinters, Andrew and Jonathan, and to not be an opportunist the way I was 2 weeks ago (where I was part of an early 5-man break that stayed away the whole time). 2 weeks ago, while the effort was maxed, it was also steady. Today REALLY hurt!!!

Before I get into the race report, I would be remiss to forget that there would be no race report without Diran coming to the rescue. I little staple infiltrated my front wheel and left it spongy before the race start. Diran had wisely brought some spare wheels for the wheel pit and quickly swapped out my front. I was good to go, thanks to him. Thanks, Diran!!

The course was very similar to the SMK Memorial race, but a shorter circuit - 0.6 miles v 1.5 miles. A smaller but probably more talented field as well (about 70+ v over 100). No matter how you slice it, it was going to be a fast and furious race. Cross the fingers for no crashes. . .

From the start / finish line, the race turned right into an immediate downhill, into a sweeping right hand turn to a twisting flat before a sharper right turn into an uphill back to the start / finish line.

There were 3 primes to collect on random laps. We really didn't have a plan to go after them; we'd see what the race brought for us. The peloton was squirrely the first 3 laps, but then it found its groove and things settled in. You can get dizzy on a course like this. The hill leading up to the start / finish line wasn't too difficult but: 1) the fact that it was into a headwind; and 2) we had to climb it so many times (about 30) really zapped the legs.

Given my domestique tag for the day, I did my best to do just that. My mind was working overtime to make sure I was always in front of Andrew and J-Rod, keeping them near the very front, chasing down just about every break attempt, etc. Made for a lot of expended energy that would normally be saved for the finish had I been a designated leader for this race. I'll tell ya, I've got a lot of respect for career domestiques. I imagine it can largely be a thankless job and one that definitely requires more energy and dedication to the effort than a team leader who sits in and then takes off when everyone else is already destroyed. Limping across a finish line is not fun in any definition of the word. But I was more than happy to play the part, and the greater good was served.

So, back to the race. . .

We get the bell for the first prime lap, so I move immediately to the front. I figure since I'll have no chance of winning the race, I'll get a little glory by winning a prime. At the very least, I figure I'm leading out Andrew or Jonathan so that one of them can snag the prime. I'm charging up the hill to the start / finish line when Andrew sprints by me to take the first prime. Yes! He looks so strong and fast that I immediately think he's going to win the whole race. As he recovers on the downhill and I catch him back up, I give him a smile and a big thumbs up for the effort.

As the race progressed, people started taking it easy up the hill. So, in the middle of the race, I rode on the front to keep the tempo high. The first time I came through the start / finish line, Diran was wondering what I was doing. But, when I came around again and the field was cut in half, he got it. Then came the bell for the second prime. My legs were still a bit stung, so I didn't even bother. Some guy came around me as we hit the uphill and I just let him go. Someone else could chase him down. 3-4 riders did just that and I hopped on their wheels to catch my breath. I still needed to save something for the finishing sprint.

Then came the third prime. I was sitting third in line and with about 200m left to the start / finish line, I jumped away. I expected someone to go with me, but no one did. I coasted across the line to win the third prime. At this point there were 4 laps to go to the finish. One guy came across to me and we had a fairly nice gap on the main field. My legs were not feeling very fresh, but if this guy decided to go, I was going to go with him. We looked at each other and agreed that sitting up and catching our breath would be wise. With just under 3 laps to go, we were caught.

With about 2.5 laps to go, some hairy-legged guy who looked like the lead singer of the Spin Doctors decides to make his bid for victory. I had never seen this guy before, but he was definitely not on a team (as indicated by his plain black shorts and plain white jersey). He instantly gains a sizeable lead and, for a very brief instant, I panic. My legs are about to pull the ol' Han Solo's-failed-jump-to-lightspeed ploy, so I gotta be careful not to waste my energy pulling him back. Problem is, I'm on the front and no one is coming around me to chase him down. We're all hurtin' units.

With a lap to go, he's still out front, but dying like a stuck pig. I figure he looks as pathetic as I feel. As we approach the final right hand turn leading into the 500m uphill drag to the finish, he craters. I swing through and give it all I've got. As Titus so aptly puts it, "I was bleeding out my eyes."

250m to go! The lights are about to go out. A couple of guys pull up next to me as they try to start their own sprints. I tap the last of my reserves and keep myself even with them until the "200m" sign. I'm losin' it, and BAD! I groan, "GO!!" It's all I can say to let J-Rod know he better get off my wheel and make his bid for victory. It's now or never.

He comes around me, a couple people back. He's looking strong; he's got a great shot at winning! In a close finish, he ends up second. In the span of those final 200m, I shoot back from 1st to about 30th in nothing flat. I coast across the line, eyes crossed, chest heaving and with legs of lead. I just wanted to fall off my bike.

All in all, it was a great race! I led out one of our guys to win a prime on one lap, then I won myself another prime on another lap, and then J-Rod nearly wins the whole damn thing and ended up 2nd. I also pulled back just about every break to make sure Feedback had that shot at victory. With one more teammate there toward the end, I think we could have led out J-Rod right to the finish and he would have won. That boy had some strong legs on the day. Now, if he can just learn how to run. . .

Looking forward to a Feedback win at the Hugo RR on the 17th!