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06-10-07, 08:29 PM
I raced in the Cape Fear Road Race on Saturday, which was my first road race (only crits before). The Cat 5 race was 33 miles, two laps around a course that included four small climbs per lap. The pace was mild to start out. It only took me a few miles to shake off the nerves and I started feeling good, very comfortable with the pace. I was settled in nicely right at the middle off the pack.
About halfway through the first lap the action began…CRASH. Somebody crossed a wheel towards the front of the pack and went down hard, taking out a few others, at least five I think. I had to slam the brakes hard and veer to the left, narrowly missing the crash.
When we arrived at the final climb of the lap (which was the hardest), things started to break up. By halfway up the group had been trimmed to a dozen or so riders. At the top of the climb, in the 1k left before the line, a small group started to move ahead. I almost went with them but decided to hang back so as not to blow up too early.
There was not a whole lot of action through most of the second lap. With about five miles to go we had six riders left in our group. A couple guys wanted to organize a chase, but there wasn’t enough distance left to catch the leaders, so not many folks were interested in working together. I was content to sit on a wheel and rest a bit for the final climb.
Going into the last hill, our group kept the pace fairly moderate, which surprised me. It was tempting to attack, but I knew that I’d be caught since there was a good kilometer of flat before the line, and into the wind. So I just took it easy and stuck close at third position. As we crested the top a couple guys picked up the pace and we strung out six in a line. I decided to fall back to the back of the group. When the line came into sight the first guy took off, and everyone followed. I was cut off sharply a couple times and had to brake, but was able to get back on. Eventually I passed everyone in the group except one guy who had opened a sizeable gap. I gave it everything I had as we approached the line but I was unable to catch him. I crossed second in our group.
We didn’t know until afterwards what places we were sprinting for. Turns out the lead group was six riders, so I ended up finishing eighth out of a full field of 50 riders. My goal was a respectable pack finish (after my shelling at Meadowmont), so I was extremely pleased with my results. Most importantly, I had a blast.
About halfway through the first lap the action began…CRASH. Somebody crossed a wheel towards the front of the pack and went down hard, taking out a few others, at least five I think. I had to slam the brakes hard and veer to the left, narrowly missing the crash.
When we arrived at the final climb of the lap (which was the hardest), things started to break up. By halfway up the group had been trimmed to a dozen or so riders. At the top of the climb, in the 1k left before the line, a small group started to move ahead. I almost went with them but decided to hang back so as not to blow up too early.
There was not a whole lot of action through most of the second lap. With about five miles to go we had six riders left in our group. A couple guys wanted to organize a chase, but there wasn’t enough distance left to catch the leaders, so not many folks were interested in working together. I was content to sit on a wheel and rest a bit for the final climb.
Going into the last hill, our group kept the pace fairly moderate, which surprised me. It was tempting to attack, but I knew that I’d be caught since there was a good kilometer of flat before the line, and into the wind. So I just took it easy and stuck close at third position. As we crested the top a couple guys picked up the pace and we strung out six in a line. I decided to fall back to the back of the group. When the line came into sight the first guy took off, and everyone followed. I was cut off sharply a couple times and had to brake, but was able to get back on. Eventually I passed everyone in the group except one guy who had opened a sizeable gap. I gave it everything I had as we approached the line but I was unable to catch him. I crossed second in our group.
We didn’t know until afterwards what places we were sprinting for. Turns out the lead group was six riders, so I ended up finishing eighth out of a full field of 50 riders. My goal was a respectable pack finish (after my shelling at Meadowmont), so I was extremely pleased with my results. Most importantly, I had a blast.