Double race report: Cox Classic Crit/ Heartbreak Hill GP
06-30-08, 02:55 PM
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Double race report: Cox Classic Crit/ Heartbreak Hill GP
so, I raced twice this weekend. Good hard racing on both days. I've not raced for about a month now so it was great to be back out there and mixing it up.
SATURDAY: Cox Charities Classic Criterium in Providence, RI
The 2/3 field and a tough course in Providence meant a 37th place pack-finish with the peloton.
A breakaway of 6 guys stayed away for the entire race.
Super tough race, for me... one of attrition.
Making this finish sweeter was the fact that after 45th place, the remainder of the 125 racer pack got pulled form the course due to being dropped. AVS was 25.4 with a short, very steep hill and a huge headwind on the back stretch and 224 tight corners. Very technical. I need to work on this aspect of my racing!
I also took second in a prime, which was the highlight for me. woohoo.
SUNDAY: 1st annual Boloco Heartbreak Hill Grand Prix in Newton, MA
The course out in Newton was more fun than I'd expected: 2 tight rights, a L-R downhill chicane, a downhill right followed by the moderate climb up heartbreak hill to a right turn. Another right brought us into the long and mostly downhill finishing stretch across the line. 10 laps for 26 miles.
This was my first straight 3's race.
I had great legs (block training pays off!!!) and after a horrible start (wasn't clipped in to either pedal when the race began...tricked!) was pushing the pace much of the race with a few other guys. I attacked a few times, covered a bunch of breaks and used my heavyweight status to fly on the downhill.
Positioning was key as many of the corners were very fast. Staying top 10 meant mucho mas speed.
Came into the finish a bit too exposed and undergearred (45mph sprint in the 50x11 = not much snappiness) but still pulled off a very exciting 5th place. word.
I hope this race happens next year, it was a good time.
Training seems to have really helped with the recovery abilities, so I'm pumped for F-burg.
Thanks for reading,
Leo
SATURDAY: Cox Charities Classic Criterium in Providence, RI
The 2/3 field and a tough course in Providence meant a 37th place pack-finish with the peloton.
A breakaway of 6 guys stayed away for the entire race.
Super tough race, for me... one of attrition.
Making this finish sweeter was the fact that after 45th place, the remainder of the 125 racer pack got pulled form the course due to being dropped. AVS was 25.4 with a short, very steep hill and a huge headwind on the back stretch and 224 tight corners. Very technical. I need to work on this aspect of my racing!
I also took second in a prime, which was the highlight for me. woohoo.
SUNDAY: 1st annual Boloco Heartbreak Hill Grand Prix in Newton, MA
The course out in Newton was more fun than I'd expected: 2 tight rights, a L-R downhill chicane, a downhill right followed by the moderate climb up heartbreak hill to a right turn. Another right brought us into the long and mostly downhill finishing stretch across the line. 10 laps for 26 miles.
This was my first straight 3's race.
I had great legs (block training pays off!!!) and after a horrible start (wasn't clipped in to either pedal when the race began...tricked!) was pushing the pace much of the race with a few other guys. I attacked a few times, covered a bunch of breaks and used my heavyweight status to fly on the downhill.
Positioning was key as many of the corners were very fast. Staying top 10 meant mucho mas speed.
Came into the finish a bit too exposed and undergearred (45mph sprint in the 50x11 = not much snappiness) but still pulled off a very exciting 5th place. word.
I hope this race happens next year, it was a good time.
Training seems to have really helped with the recovery abilities, so I'm pumped for F-burg.
Thanks for reading,
Leo
