The Race Report Thread 2009-2012
06-21-10, 10:02 AM
#4726
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Had a decent showing at my first ToWC...
Road Race...
This was 3 laps of slow, followed by 3 laps of hurt. There were some nasty little hills on this course. I got stuck at the back at the start, and it was impossible to move up in the first 3 laps since the roads were so narrow. Luckily that didn't matter too much. Once the race sped up, the pack thinned out, and a few guys went off the front. Half a dozen of us were at the front most of the time trying to chase, but that was the last we would see of them. With 1 lap to go, I decided to give up chase so I would have gas left in the tank for the finish. I was at the front of the pack across the line, putting me 7th in GC.
Time Trial...
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not great at TTs. My plan was to try not to lose too much time overall. Mission accomplished. I finished 13th and this only bumped me down to 8th in GC.
Crit...
I was just planning to race as hard as I could. 3 laps in, a few guys jump off the front. After a lap, they had a 5-10 second gap on the field. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I attacked and began chasing. Took me 3-4 laps, but I finally caught them, and by that point we had 20 seconds on the main field with about 20 laps to go. There were 3 of us in the break, we were working together fairly well, but one guy (he was 1st in GC) was definitely doing most of the work. The time gap kept increasing every lap. With 4 laps to go, my shift lever breaks off while I'm in my 53-11. How friggin convenient. Fortunately I was able to hang on to the other 2 guys, but knew I would have no chance contesting the uphill sprint in this gear. I happily rolled across the line in 3rd place with a 40 second gap over the main field. That time gap was enough to push me up to 4th in GC.
Road Race...
This was 3 laps of slow, followed by 3 laps of hurt. There were some nasty little hills on this course. I got stuck at the back at the start, and it was impossible to move up in the first 3 laps since the roads were so narrow. Luckily that didn't matter too much. Once the race sped up, the pack thinned out, and a few guys went off the front. Half a dozen of us were at the front most of the time trying to chase, but that was the last we would see of them. With 1 lap to go, I decided to give up chase so I would have gas left in the tank for the finish. I was at the front of the pack across the line, putting me 7th in GC.
Time Trial...
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not great at TTs. My plan was to try not to lose too much time overall. Mission accomplished. I finished 13th and this only bumped me down to 8th in GC.
Crit...
I was just planning to race as hard as I could. 3 laps in, a few guys jump off the front. After a lap, they had a 5-10 second gap on the field. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I attacked and began chasing. Took me 3-4 laps, but I finally caught them, and by that point we had 20 seconds on the main field with about 20 laps to go. There were 3 of us in the break, we were working together fairly well, but one guy (he was 1st in GC) was definitely doing most of the work. The time gap kept increasing every lap. With 4 laps to go, my shift lever breaks off while I'm in my 53-11. How friggin convenient. Fortunately I was able to hang on to the other 2 guys, but knew I would have no chance contesting the uphill sprint in this gear. I happily rolled across the line in 3rd place with a 40 second gap over the main field. That time gap was enough to push me up to 4th in GC.
06-21-10, 10:04 AM
#4727
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Cargas Criterium CAT4/5
My first CAT4 race! I have a couple more races left as a CAT5, so this was a great way to see what’s in store for me when I upgrade.
Huge learning experience. It was the equivalent of my first race of the season, when I took 18th. So much to process.
The course was 25 laps (25 miles) on a very smooth, 3-turn course. The start/finish was at the end of a long incline, so each lap included some high-watt grinds.
Remembering how important it was to be at the front from Kelly Cup and Bunny Hop, I made sure I was right at the start line for this race. I had a good warm up, but my legs were definitely not completely fresh due to my effort at the ToWC.
The pace was much higher and the surges much more intense than a CAT5 race, but overall I was within my limits. At around lap 5, a guy with a stacked team shot off the front and managed to stay away for 20 laps.
In the races I’ve done recently, my fitness had been strong enough that I could spend the entire race thinking tactically and not worry about hanging on. For the first ten laps of this race, I was definitely concerned solely with maintaining contact and defending my position. I think I did a fairly good job, staying in the top 10 for almost the entire race, but the surges were fast and furious, attempting to reel in the solo flyer.
Because nearly everyone was riding very aggressively, I made some bad decisions that caused me to burn several matches. In a few instances, there would be two or three strong looking guys up the road, attempting to bridge to the solo flyer. One of these times, I jumped hard in a full sprint to bridge to them without bringing the main field. It turned out to be fruitless. I also found myself in the wind a lot. I’d be sitting in a decent position, maybe a bit further back than I wanted to be. Someone would come up the side and I’d get on their wheel to have them pull me up, only for them to shut down. I’d be forced to go into the wind to get around him to stay near the front.
Both of those bad decisions stem from lack of experience: not adequately qualifying the abilities and/or intentions of strong looking dudes.
... the rest of the report is here. I didn't want to fill up the entire page with a massive post.
Huge learning experience. It was the equivalent of my first race of the season, when I took 18th. So much to process.
The course was 25 laps (25 miles) on a very smooth, 3-turn course. The start/finish was at the end of a long incline, so each lap included some high-watt grinds.
Remembering how important it was to be at the front from Kelly Cup and Bunny Hop, I made sure I was right at the start line for this race. I had a good warm up, but my legs were definitely not completely fresh due to my effort at the ToWC.
The pace was much higher and the surges much more intense than a CAT5 race, but overall I was within my limits. At around lap 5, a guy with a stacked team shot off the front and managed to stay away for 20 laps.
In the races I’ve done recently, my fitness had been strong enough that I could spend the entire race thinking tactically and not worry about hanging on. For the first ten laps of this race, I was definitely concerned solely with maintaining contact and defending my position. I think I did a fairly good job, staying in the top 10 for almost the entire race, but the surges were fast and furious, attempting to reel in the solo flyer.
Because nearly everyone was riding very aggressively, I made some bad decisions that caused me to burn several matches. In a few instances, there would be two or three strong looking guys up the road, attempting to bridge to the solo flyer. One of these times, I jumped hard in a full sprint to bridge to them without bringing the main field. It turned out to be fruitless. I also found myself in the wind a lot. I’d be sitting in a decent position, maybe a bit further back than I wanted to be. Someone would come up the side and I’d get on their wheel to have them pull me up, only for them to shut down. I’d be forced to go into the wind to get around him to stay near the front.
Both of those bad decisions stem from lack of experience: not adequately qualifying the abilities and/or intentions of strong looking dudes.
... the rest of the report is here. I didn't want to fill up the entire page with a massive post.
06-21-10, 10:48 AM
#4728
fuggitivo solitario
Stayed upright, esp through the crazy crash about 175 meters before the line (crash started on right side, then guys in middle, then guys hammered the barriers on the left side). I was one of about the first 4 or 5 through, and no one seemed intent on pedaling. I did a little sprint to the line for 14th (7 paying spots, 2 man break won).
cdr
cdr
06-21-10, 11:37 AM
#4729
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cmyke:
It's not a bad idea to hitch rides to the front if someone's going up the side. You just have to be aware that they might get squeezed and this will stop your forward progress. You don't have to make it all the way to the front in 1 go, a couple of these, if you make up 8-10 positions per ride adds up and can help tremendously.
FWIW, this is basically the only way I move up in a crit though I'm the dumbass in the wind, not the guy hitching.
It's not a bad idea to hitch rides to the front if someone's going up the side. You just have to be aware that they might get squeezed and this will stop your forward progress. You don't have to make it all the way to the front in 1 go, a couple of these, if you make up 8-10 positions per ride adds up and can help tremendously.
FWIW, this is basically the only way I move up in a crit though I'm the dumbass in the wind, not the guy hitching.
06-21-10, 12:03 PM
#4730
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Anyway, thanks!
06-21-10, 12:22 PM
#4731
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Giro D Grafton 4/5 Criterium
Entered my first race this weekend. Was really fun and intense and a huge learning experience. Things didn't start out so well as I rather idiotically pinned my number on upside down and a race official had to fix it for me at the start line. Also, I was at the very back at the start line which seemed to put me at a disadvantage.
On the first few laps I made several surges up into the middle of the pack but kept slowly falling back on the corners-not that I was braking or anything but I was just playing it safe on the outside. I'll definitely be a bit more aggressive in the corners in my next race.
After about 15 or 20 min. I fell off the back with a group of 5-10 other stragglers. This was fortunate in a way as right after I fell off the back there was a pretty large crash on the straightaway that I would have been caught up in.
Myself and two or three others made an unsuccessful attempt to work together to bridge back to the group for awhile but I eventually pulled out with about 15 min. left as I could see the peloton had about a half lap lead on me.
Overall I think my failure to stay with the pack was mostly due to poor positioning/pack skills/awareness-not so much fitness. The pace was a bit higher than I expected but nothing too overwhelming.
I'll definitely change my training riding style as well-lately I've been doing a lot of very long (75-100mi.) medium paced rides. I'm thinking of doing more like 20-25mi rides at absolute maximum intensity to prepare for the surges in a criterium.
Entered my first race this weekend. Was really fun and intense and a huge learning experience. Things didn't start out so well as I rather idiotically pinned my number on upside down and a race official had to fix it for me at the start line. Also, I was at the very back at the start line which seemed to put me at a disadvantage.
On the first few laps I made several surges up into the middle of the pack but kept slowly falling back on the corners-not that I was braking or anything but I was just playing it safe on the outside. I'll definitely be a bit more aggressive in the corners in my next race.
After about 15 or 20 min. I fell off the back with a group of 5-10 other stragglers. This was fortunate in a way as right after I fell off the back there was a pretty large crash on the straightaway that I would have been caught up in.
Myself and two or three others made an unsuccessful attempt to work together to bridge back to the group for awhile but I eventually pulled out with about 15 min. left as I could see the peloton had about a half lap lead on me.
Overall I think my failure to stay with the pack was mostly due to poor positioning/pack skills/awareness-not so much fitness. The pace was a bit higher than I expected but nothing too overwhelming.
I'll definitely change my training riding style as well-lately I've been doing a lot of very long (75-100mi.) medium paced rides. I'm thinking of doing more like 20-25mi rides at absolute maximum intensity to prepare for the surges in a criterium.
06-21-10, 01:01 PM
#4733
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You might want to try some intervals as well. I'm not sure many crits have surges that last 20 miles.
06-21-10, 01:09 PM
#4734
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Did a 22 mi very,very intense training ride yesterday (about the length of a 50min. crit.) and felt more worn out when I was done than I do after most century rides.
06-21-10, 01:14 PM
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Cat 5 - Smith and Nephew Road Race & Crit, Memphis TN
RR: Lost a bottle a few miles in, cramped up, finished 9th.
Crit: Finished 11th
Lessons learned: heat is no joke, I need to be more aggressive and try some attacks.
RR: Lost a bottle a few miles in, cramped up, finished 9th.
Crit: Finished 11th
Lessons learned: heat is no joke, I need to be more aggressive and try some attacks.
06-21-10, 01:21 PM
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06-21-10, 01:25 PM
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I know that, I think I just need to refocus my training on shorter, more intense rides. I do try to include some intervals into my longer rides but overall I still don't feel like I'm pushing myself like I should be.
Did a 22 mi very,very intense training ride yesterday (about the length of a 50min. crit.) and felt more worn out when I was done than I do after most century rides.
Did a 22 mi very,very intense training ride yesterday (about the length of a 50min. crit.) and felt more worn out when I was done than I do after most century rides.
06-21-10, 01:30 PM
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I also found myself in the wind a lot. I’d be sitting in a decent position, maybe a bit further back than I wanted to be. Someone would come up the side and I’d get on their wheel to have them pull me up, only for them to shut down. I’d be forced to go into the wind to get around him to stay near the front.
06-21-10, 02:59 PM
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NJ State RR Cat 4: Originally my goal race but I've had a challenging month, including a bad crash, an infected bug bite and a course of antibiotics that messed with my system. Decided to work for another teammate instead. We had 4 in the race. The plan was to sit in first lap then use our TT specialists to attack on the second lap, and our designated leader to counter. All else fails, we were supposed to lead her out in the end. Pfft. We attacked but the winds were tough and the field wasn't letting anyone get away. I attacked once, in a flat section, and hurt myself so badly I was dangling off the back on every roller after that (which my teammates were attempting to attack). I honestly thought I was going to dropped. On the long straight run in to the finish I got on the wheel of our leader. Wait. I was supposed to be leading her out. 
I finally felt recovered in sight of the finish. We were near the back of the pack. She went as soon as the yellow line rule was relaxed, a little early for me but I tried to go with her. I rocketed past a number of women but didn't have the kick I usually have to bring it home. I saw my teammate with such a huge lead she could have sat up and celebrated the win had she been so inclined. I finished in 7th, not great for me on this course but I'll take it. My teammate won, and no one actually passed me during the sprint. If only I would starting thinking about positioning myself leading up to a sprint...
I finally felt recovered in sight of the finish. We were near the back of the pack. She went as soon as the yellow line rule was relaxed, a little early for me but I tried to go with her. I rocketed past a number of women but didn't have the kick I usually have to bring it home. I saw my teammate with such a huge lead she could have sat up and celebrated the win had she been so inclined. I finished in 7th, not great for me on this course but I'll take it. My teammate won, and no one actually passed me during the sprint. If only I would starting thinking about positioning myself leading up to a sprint...I was In the cat 5 RR which I believe was run at the same time. I finished 9th of 47, which is my highest placing ever. This is my 7th race and I have my next 3 planned for the month of July. All in all I have determined I like RRs much better than crits. I feel like I actually impact them and crits I am just hanging on normally.
The race itself was really fun, 2 17.7 mile or so laps. I started pretty far back and watched some guys go off the front one at a time. I felt trapped in the back, and was kicking my self ( I love chasing down stuff, pretty bad at holding back). Especially by mile 8 or so when they told us they had 1:45 on us. But between the heat and the wind it was pulled back together. I was on the front on the backstretch of the 1st lap and crossed the line first looking for a good photo op (hope someone took it). 2 quick turns accidentally put me into a solo 2 second breakaway that I quickly waited for everyone again. Everyone was going fairly slow. We hit the womens race which turned into a "well this wasn't supposed to happen, now what the hell do we do" moment, where we passed on the left down a road hoping no cars were coming to mow us down.
We get to the "climbing"(it is south Jersey) stretch and as we meander up the mini hills the moto official is screaming at us that the women are going to catch us and to pick the pace up...he actually was pretty mean. Then came a 110* sandy turn which launched a breakaway (a very good place). This put me toward the front and pulling another 2 broke off. We turned into the final 5 mile stretch and we caught the 2 but the 3 were going to stay away. As that realization hits guys start screaming to "go faster" and whatnot. The 3 finish a safe distance ahead and I charge up and take 9th.
Fastest "sprint" of the year for me up a little 3% thing that flattened out at the finish line. I was quite satisfied with the result. Hit a new high of 206bpm at the end. Learned that I should have went with 1 Gatorade 1 water as opposed to 2 Gatorades.
06-21-10, 03:54 PM
#4740
Senior Member
And the course, and how other racers are feeling, and fitness, and technical skill, and your power profile, and... you get the idea. The point being that there are way too many variables to make generalizations.
But I also suspect, outright, that it isn't really true. If you're fighting for position at the front, you're using a lot of energy. And the front of the race is generally the riders with the higher fitness duking it out, while the rear consists of a lot of weaker riders just trying to hang on. So it's not that it's harder to be at the back, but that, if you're already struggling, the back is where you're going to end up. If you're at front, chances are that you have the gas to burn. It makes a heck of a lot more sense that people are struggling at the back because they don't have the fitness to work the front than that it's just harder back there. Because if so... what Psimet said.
I'll stick to my first answer, that there are two many variables to make a safe generalization, but I just don't think that it makes much sense to believe that it's harder to hang at the back of the pack under most circumstances.
But I also suspect, outright, that it isn't really true. If you're fighting for position at the front, you're using a lot of energy. And the front of the race is generally the riders with the higher fitness duking it out, while the rear consists of a lot of weaker riders just trying to hang on. So it's not that it's harder to be at the back, but that, if you're already struggling, the back is where you're going to end up. If you're at front, chances are that you have the gas to burn. It makes a heck of a lot more sense that people are struggling at the back because they don't have the fitness to work the front than that it's just harder back there. Because if so... what Psimet said.
I'll stick to my first answer, that there are two many variables to make a safe generalization, but I just don't think that it makes much sense to believe that it's harder to hang at the back of the pack under most circumstances.
06-21-10, 04:06 PM
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I think the point is that it's harder to be at the back of a lower category or technical race than a higher category or less technical race. The smoother the race, the less penalty there is for being at the back. In a race with lots of surges, it can definitely be harder near the back than near the front. Especially if people are getting gapped and you have to constantly close them or jump around them. Of course it's going to be hard on the front but near the front you still get the draft and there is a lot less accordian to deal with. Is it always the case, no, but I think it's a common enough situation that a "generally" label is not out of line.
06-21-10, 04:28 PM
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Tour of America's Dairyland. Stages 1-3
I'm in the Cat 4-5... Trying to win the overall... This has always been my main goal of the season... I've peaked and prepared quite well for it...
Stage 1 -- Thiensville -- Flat rectangle course. Slight tailwind on the finish.. Race was more or less together the whole time. There were amazing primes (Oakley Jawbones, Tifosi glasses, $50 cash, and it seemed like there was one every 2 or 3 laps).. Joe Curtes was racing and he took some of the primes and showed he has some nice power.. I didn't really have teamates there so I was on my own for this one.. On the last lap, I attacked about 200 meters before the last corner, looked back after 50-100 meters and saw Curtes on my wheel and people strung out behind. I let off, let Curtes pass, and took his wheel. With the speed I got us up to, it stayed single file through the last corner. Curtes took off and I held off the others for 2nd.... 19 points and 2nd overall.. But Curtes is not doing all the races.
Podium in Thiensville:
Stage 2 -- Grafton -- a USA Crit series race... This is a cool course... 6 turns,.. the last one is sharp. Finish was pretty long with a slight tailwind (mostly a crosswind that made it hell on the 2nd to last stretch).. I had lots of teamates this day. I asked one of them to lead me out for the end. There was one real break attempt with 4 guys, but they weren't the types that could stay away. There was a huge pileup on the finishing stretch that crossed nearly the full course. I'll post a picture of one of my teamates hitting the pileup. It does not look fun.... My leadout team mate (Josh) was up front with me in the closing laps. We were separated often though.. One lap we'd be on opposite sides, the next lap on the other and we kept glancing at each other from opposite sides... Within the last 2 laps he got boxed in and lost position. I didn't see him for a while and didn't know what happened, so I assumed I was on my own.. I stayed near the front a lot the last few laps.. And on the front a fair amount also... On the last lap, someone tried attacking 2 corners before the finishing stretch.. Joe Curtes stayed on his wheel and things got strung out... They stayed fast through the 2nd to last corner.. then before the last turn it got 2 or 3 wide and the guys on the front soft pedaled.. It was into a strong headwind so they slowed considerable... I was on the right side, which would be the inside of last corner... I was worried people would come flying up the inside so I was glancing back, ready to either block them or jump on their wheel. Only one guy came flying up, and it was my team mate... He slotted in right in front of me just before the corner. After the corner, he drilled it for 50-75 meters. At that point there were 4 or so even on the front. I jumped off my team mates wheel and as I was pulling ahead, so was Joe Curtes... (Joe had won like 5 primes already, which I was glad to see him do)... I was slowly gaining on Joe at first, but then more and more, and was alone for the last 100 meters. Win! I let out a roar with my salute after the line. After preparing for these races for so long, it felt amazing to win. I called my mom 5 minutes after the race! 39 points for the overall and now in first place. (Only one point short of perfection)
Winning in Grafton:
Podium Milk in Grafton:
This was as big of a team turnout as we would have during the series, so with this chance, I brought up the team for a picture:
Stage 3 -- Appleton -- Flat, smooth hot dog course. Very long straights.
With it being father's day, and probably because of the location, there were a lot of people here...
Some of the pressure was off for myself by getting at least one win... The race felt pretty fast.. A couple good attempts at breaks but nothing that got any real gap.. Didn't have as many team mates this time. I was working hard to stay right at the front... When the pack was 4 or more wide on the back stretch, it was getting all hectic, even pretty close to the front. So I worked hard to stay on the very front. Going into the last lap, Joe Curtes attacked. He took off from the other side of the pack from me.. One guy was basically on his wheel. I jumped also. Turns out my team mate was on my wheel and couldn't / didn't follow me. So a big gap opened up. As I was catching up to Joe and the 2nd guy, I started wondering if this was somehow the finish... Surely I hadn't counted wrong and missed the bell ?!? As Joe starts his victory salute I hear the race announcer yelling on the speakers there is one lap to go... Ahhh.... yes.... Joe sits down, notices the gap, and starts pedaling. I caught up shortly. The pack caught up within half a lap. I stayed near the front. No one really did anything else. They were all tired from catching up to us. Going into corner 3 I was about third wheel, on the outside. I moved out into the wind and passed one guy on corner 3... Halfway between corner 3 and 4 I made a moderate jump. Just enough to get ahead of the others before the last corner. So I was going a bit faster into the corner. I lead around the corner, go pretty wide, and pedal hard in the saddle for a few seconds before standing. I jump with what I have left, expecting a couple people to pass me... I felt very good sprinting, and after a couple of seconds was thinking I would win... 150 meters out and I notice just how many people there are... tons!! and they were LOUD!! I pulled all the way to the line before my salute and yell. 59 points now for the overall series.... 2nd is 45 but he's going to upgrade... One guy has 44 who I don't know if he's going all the races... one guy has 44 who is missing one race.
The local cycling photographer got an excellent picture of the finish.
I tell you... I had won a race earlier in the season... just a random Saturday race out in an abandoned part of town, with 3 people cheering, and winning that race felt ok,.. but with not a whole lot of excitement or elation... Winning these 2 races has felt amazing. They were definitely a lot different areas - both in downtown, both on weekend days and with a ton of people watching. But what makes it feel really really good is that I had been planning for this since January... Had been training my ass off.. Had been meticulous about my diet, my rest, my recovery as a whole... Had been practicing my tactics like crazy, and preparing myself mentally to succeed... oh yes! There are still 7 races to go, but even if I lose the overall, I have to be happy just getting these 2 wins.
Three days on the podium and 2 first places. Life is good.
Up next - racing on the Elkhart Lake Road America race course... I got 4th, but I'll tell you about it soon. Maybe tomorrow. Still in first place on the points. Pulled ahead of all the close people except for one (who was planning to upgrade after today)
Stage 1 -- Thiensville -- Flat rectangle course. Slight tailwind on the finish.. Race was more or less together the whole time. There were amazing primes (Oakley Jawbones, Tifosi glasses, $50 cash, and it seemed like there was one every 2 or 3 laps).. Joe Curtes was racing and he took some of the primes and showed he has some nice power.. I didn't really have teamates there so I was on my own for this one.. On the last lap, I attacked about 200 meters before the last corner, looked back after 50-100 meters and saw Curtes on my wheel and people strung out behind. I let off, let Curtes pass, and took his wheel. With the speed I got us up to, it stayed single file through the last corner. Curtes took off and I held off the others for 2nd.... 19 points and 2nd overall.. But Curtes is not doing all the races.
Podium in Thiensville:
Stage 2 -- Grafton -- a USA Crit series race... This is a cool course... 6 turns,.. the last one is sharp. Finish was pretty long with a slight tailwind (mostly a crosswind that made it hell on the 2nd to last stretch).. I had lots of teamates this day. I asked one of them to lead me out for the end. There was one real break attempt with 4 guys, but they weren't the types that could stay away. There was a huge pileup on the finishing stretch that crossed nearly the full course. I'll post a picture of one of my teamates hitting the pileup. It does not look fun.... My leadout team mate (Josh) was up front with me in the closing laps. We were separated often though.. One lap we'd be on opposite sides, the next lap on the other and we kept glancing at each other from opposite sides... Within the last 2 laps he got boxed in and lost position. I didn't see him for a while and didn't know what happened, so I assumed I was on my own.. I stayed near the front a lot the last few laps.. And on the front a fair amount also... On the last lap, someone tried attacking 2 corners before the finishing stretch.. Joe Curtes stayed on his wheel and things got strung out... They stayed fast through the 2nd to last corner.. then before the last turn it got 2 or 3 wide and the guys on the front soft pedaled.. It was into a strong headwind so they slowed considerable... I was on the right side, which would be the inside of last corner... I was worried people would come flying up the inside so I was glancing back, ready to either block them or jump on their wheel. Only one guy came flying up, and it was my team mate... He slotted in right in front of me just before the corner. After the corner, he drilled it for 50-75 meters. At that point there were 4 or so even on the front. I jumped off my team mates wheel and as I was pulling ahead, so was Joe Curtes... (Joe had won like 5 primes already, which I was glad to see him do)... I was slowly gaining on Joe at first, but then more and more, and was alone for the last 100 meters. Win! I let out a roar with my salute after the line. After preparing for these races for so long, it felt amazing to win. I called my mom 5 minutes after the race! 39 points for the overall and now in first place. (Only one point short of perfection)
Winning in Grafton:
Podium Milk in Grafton:
This was as big of a team turnout as we would have during the series, so with this chance, I brought up the team for a picture:
Stage 3 -- Appleton -- Flat, smooth hot dog course. Very long straights.
With it being father's day, and probably because of the location, there were a lot of people here...
Some of the pressure was off for myself by getting at least one win... The race felt pretty fast.. A couple good attempts at breaks but nothing that got any real gap.. Didn't have as many team mates this time. I was working hard to stay right at the front... When the pack was 4 or more wide on the back stretch, it was getting all hectic, even pretty close to the front. So I worked hard to stay on the very front. Going into the last lap, Joe Curtes attacked. He took off from the other side of the pack from me.. One guy was basically on his wheel. I jumped also. Turns out my team mate was on my wheel and couldn't / didn't follow me. So a big gap opened up. As I was catching up to Joe and the 2nd guy, I started wondering if this was somehow the finish... Surely I hadn't counted wrong and missed the bell ?!? As Joe starts his victory salute I hear the race announcer yelling on the speakers there is one lap to go... Ahhh.... yes.... Joe sits down, notices the gap, and starts pedaling. I caught up shortly. The pack caught up within half a lap. I stayed near the front. No one really did anything else. They were all tired from catching up to us. Going into corner 3 I was about third wheel, on the outside. I moved out into the wind and passed one guy on corner 3... Halfway between corner 3 and 4 I made a moderate jump. Just enough to get ahead of the others before the last corner. So I was going a bit faster into the corner. I lead around the corner, go pretty wide, and pedal hard in the saddle for a few seconds before standing. I jump with what I have left, expecting a couple people to pass me... I felt very good sprinting, and after a couple of seconds was thinking I would win... 150 meters out and I notice just how many people there are... tons!! and they were LOUD!! I pulled all the way to the line before my salute and yell. 59 points now for the overall series.... 2nd is 45 but he's going to upgrade... One guy has 44 who I don't know if he's going all the races... one guy has 44 who is missing one race.
The local cycling photographer got an excellent picture of the finish.
I tell you... I had won a race earlier in the season... just a random Saturday race out in an abandoned part of town, with 3 people cheering, and winning that race felt ok,.. but with not a whole lot of excitement or elation... Winning these 2 races has felt amazing. They were definitely a lot different areas - both in downtown, both on weekend days and with a ton of people watching. But what makes it feel really really good is that I had been planning for this since January... Had been training my ass off.. Had been meticulous about my diet, my rest, my recovery as a whole... Had been practicing my tactics like crazy, and preparing myself mentally to succeed... oh yes! There are still 7 races to go, but even if I lose the overall, I have to be happy just getting these 2 wins.
Three days on the podium and 2 first places. Life is good.
Up next - racing on the Elkhart Lake Road America race course... I got 4th, but I'll tell you about it soon. Maybe tomorrow. Still in first place on the points. Pulled ahead of all the close people except for one (who was planning to upgrade after today)
Last edited by tmiller9909; 06-21-10 at 04:44 PM.
06-21-10, 04:32 PM
#4743
Senior Member
I think the point is that it's harder to be at the back of a lower category or technical race than a higher category or less technical race. The smoother the race, the less penalty there is for being at the back. In a race with lots of surges, it can definitely be harder near the back than near the front. Especially if people are getting gapped and you have to constantly close them or jump around them. Of course it's going to be hard on the front but near the front you still get the draft and there is a lot less accordian to deal with. Is it always the case, no, but I think it's a common enough situation that a "generally" label is not out of line.
FWIW, my results have improved from terrible to mediocore since I started putting effort into sitting near the front. But, In yesterday's 3/4 race where I was over my head fitness wise, I couldn't stay at the front because I wasn't strong enough.
06-21-10, 04:34 PM
#4744
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edit: for two above
06-21-10, 07:05 PM
#4746
Senior Member
I think the point is that it's harder to be at the back of a lower category or technical race than a higher category or less technical race. The smoother the race, the less penalty there is for being at the back. In a race with lots of surges, it can definitely be harder near the back than near the front. Especially if people are getting gapped and you have to constantly close them or jump around them. Of course it's going to be hard on the front but near the front you still get the draft and there is a lot less accordian to deal with. Is it always the case, no, but I think it's a common enough situation that a "generally" label is not out of line.
06-21-10, 08:27 PM
#4748
slow up hills
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tmiller, you're getting dangerously close to sandbagging......but good job anyway
06-21-10, 08:34 PM
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06-21-10, 08:48 PM
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AMAZING JOB BY THE WAY!!! KEEP AT IT! CAT 4 ALLSTAR!