Place: 8th out of 64 starters
Teammates: None
Duration: 3:37:51
Distance: 86.5 miles
Elev. Gain: 1145 ft
HR: 191 bpm max, 151 bpm avg
Speed: 39.1 mph max, 23.8 mph avg
Full field today in the E3, and almost all the top names still competing in the category were signed up, save for the pure climbers. Davis had 10 riders, followed by Red Peloton (RP) with 6. RP is more of a sprinter’s team, and they were most likely playing for no breaks and a group sprint. Davis was more of a mystery, but with 10 riders, they had to have a plan… which they did as was shared with me. Attack at the 505 on lap 2.
I marked the dangerous riders going in, and knew that for any break to stick, we most likely had to have Davis and RP represented. Roger Martin of Wells and I spoke before hand and we agreed to communicate and see what we could do together.
There were attacks from the start, but nothing got more than 10-15 seconds off the front. The race had its serious surges around the first time through hills before the drop down towards I5, and I was able to suck wheels and follow any promising break. Being alone, I had to rely on the larger teams to bring back any break that I didn’t mark.
On lap 2 near the 505 turn, the attacks got more vicious as Davis tried to play their plan, but it didn’t work. I was in every move, usually sucking Roger’s wheel, and we almost gained a gap with a group of 6 that could stick near the feed zone. When we were nailed back, I gave up trying to make a break stick and decided that I’d save myself for the sprint finish that was coming.
Then, Roger attacked once more, this time with only one other rider with him, and one lone wasted attack 10 seconds up ahead. It stuck. Damn it. They had 40 seconds at the last set of hills and a full minute at the I5 over crossing. I felt great, but there was little I could to nail it back without teammates.
Then RP sensed the race was slipping away. I had put in a few pulls with the stronger riders left (we were about 30 riders now). RP put 5 guys at the front and drilled it. In less than 2 miles, we (they) nailed back the break. It was a new race with about 7 miles to go.
I marked two sprinters I knew had a knack for finding the front. The pace surged and relaxed. We hit the last overpass and my left leg went into quad cramps. I was able to push through them, but they did not go away. Earlier in the season, this would have meant the end of my day, now I can survive them. Progress?
RP kept their guys drilling it. I looked up and saw the last left turn coming. I was able to accelerate and put myself into RP’s train as the third rider. Perfect. We hit the turn fast and I went a little wide and hit gravel. I dropped maybe 5-6 places by the time I was able to get back up to speed.
The last kilometer was narrow, so where you were coming through the turn is pretty much where you stayed. Roger was next to me and we both had to go around a dying Webcor rider. He accelerated, but my leg kept me from going all out. I felt good cardio-wise, but just couldn’t crank out the watts with knifes in my quad.
At 200m the road widened, and all hell broke loose. 4 riders cracked a small gap in the last 100m, this would be the race. I came out of my saddle and pass a few, and was caught by one. 8th place. My best road race placing as a 3.
I’m happy with the result. If I wasn’t cramping I think I had a shot.
Both Davis and Red Peloton did some great team work in the race, kudos to them. Especially Red Peloton organizing a whole team to shut down the late break and then start a lead out train that may have worked on a different course. I’ve barely been able to put together a 1 man lead out, much less ever put 6 guys together at the end of a 3.5 hour race. Great work.
What I learned:
- This is a team sport. I knew this, but it was made clear again today. Without teammates, I had to be very careful with my matches.
- Position, position, position. Crashes happened at the back, as they usually do. I missed them by plan.
- I’ve been using massage therapy (in addition to every known dietary trick) to work out my cramping problem. It’s working, I just need to stay on it.
San Ardo RR, the only RR I’ve ever won, is next. Bring it.