If you've got a late Feb race, start tapering off the weights NOW. I hear you that the first races aren't that important. But there's lots of controversy out there to begin with about how much weight training helps in races. What almost everyone agrees on is that saddle time plays the biggest part in performance.

Personally, I'd start focusing on low cadence, high intensity rides, keeping your heart rate relatively low. I've heard this helps incorporate the newly-expended muscle cells into fast twitch fibers. After 10-20 hours of this, mix in high cadence intervals and get some quality riding in. Balance this with proper recovery and I'll bet you'll get the snap in your legs back in a few weeks.