Place: 2/9
Time: 41.56.6
Distance: 18.427 miles
Elev. Gain: 241 ft
My Weight: 184 (83.5 Kg)
Normalized Power: 329w (3.94 w/kg)
Average Power: 325w (3.89 w/kg)
HR: 173 bpm ave, 176 bpm max
Speed: 26.4 mph ave, 36.5 mph max
After some less than stellar TT results lately, I was looking for some redemption to put a positive note on the last month of the season.
My form is fading along with my motivation to race, but after a light week before going up to Bend and having my ass handed to me at the Masters National TT, I for some reason felt refreshed and ready to have a strong September.
I trained some 5min intervals in the week at over 350w and didn’t completely feel like dying. So my form hasn’t vanished either.
So, the night before I decided that for Esparto, I’d race angry, but controlled. Gone were the doubts I’ve been having about my form or even my ability as a cyclist. TT’s, even more than other races, are a mental game you have to play with yourself. Lose confidence and you lose speed.
I got a great night sleep, got a great warm up, and started off measured and controlled, but pissed. I settled into my 20 min LT effort with the hopes of keeping it there for the whole time. Bingo. My LT is 330w, my overall was 329w normalized.
Esparto is a course with slight rollers near the turn around and usually wind in your face on the way back. The back portion is the same road that leads out to the 505 that is used in the Dunnigan Hills RR.
Not much else to say, I kept my pace consistent, my cadence on the high side, and then kicked the last 20 minutes at 339w ave to take it home. I almost puked up a bit when I finished, so I knew I left it all out there.
Kirk Evans bested me by 1:28, but that was expected. He’s a machine.
Giro di SF is next.
