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What Richard saw:
Category: 4
Result: Did not finish
I think that there is only one word to describe Copperopolis - Magnificent!
The course that is, not my performance. It is everything Garry promises
in the course description, hard and punishing. Oh yes, "I can handle the
rough stuff" you think when you read the description, but then you
haven't experienced it. There is nothing local which comes close to the
bumpy sections of Copperopolis.
Worthy of special note is Rock Creek Road which is paved with a mixture
of smooth round rocks, presumably taken from a dry river bed, and
tarmacadam. Unfortunately, the tarmacadam has worn away leaving the
exposed rocks. The section up to the feed zone is the worst and the
third time I approached the feed, my aching body encouraged me to call
it a day.
That is not to say that I had a bad ride. I survived most of the major
climb on lap 1, being dropped on the steep section near the top, and
successfully chasing back on with 2 others after about a mile. Riding
the main descent in a bunch, given the road surface, was interesting and
challenging.
Second time up the major climb, I was burying myself at red-line to stay
with them a lot of the way up the climb and I brought myself back up to
the bunch more than once. (There were no more than 20 riders left in it
at this point.) But again, the steep section got me and when I popped, I
almost came to a standstill and had to work really hard to keep myself
moving. Still, over the top and I get into a group to chase. Two of us
chased all the way to Hunt Road, where my legs gave up - others in the
group couldn't, or wouldn't, chase. There were times where we had the
bunch at 100 yards, but they were playing silly-buggers fast/slow/fast
so each time we got close, they would come within reach and give us
hope, but each time we couldn't get across.
As I said, I climbed off at the feed on lap 3. I went to the finish and
it was clear when the Cat 4's finished that they were scattered all over
the course. The strong rider who chased with me came in around 12th
which proves that if you can keep going, you can get a good finish on a
hilly course despite being dropped by the leaders.
Gaelan rode the junior event and completed his race - finishing
Copperopolis is an achievement in itself! Well done.
Next year!
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