Category: 4
Result: Off the back

I was our representative in the senior 4's - I also saw Brian J. and Carl (M35+ 4/5), Bob (snr. 3) and Gaelan (junior). Thanks again to Jeff for giving me the opportunity to ride after the field had filled up.

To say that the weather was better than last year is an understatement. It was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. Things got under way 20 minutes late, which isn't bad, considering the logistics required to run such a large event. My plan was to make sure I was there at the final climb, with an idle thought about contesting the sprints each time through.

We rolled out with me in second wheel, and I took the opportunity to look back while we were neutralised to see how big the field looked - large was the answer. We started racing after the stop sign in Pescadero and shortly after, a group of 3 Niko riders come to the front, obviously readying their sprinter for the prime. I set on them waiting for things to happen, but unsure about contesting the first sprint given that I was unsure of myself on the climbs which were to follow not long afterwards.

There were a couple of attacks, and then the Niko sprinter launched off the front quite a way from the line. I had the opportunity to follow, but didn't as I didn't know where the line was. Someone launched after him at the 200m sign, but I think the Nike guy held on. We regrouped after the sprint and basically sat up until the climb. I got boxed in a little, but once we were on the first climb, I made up ground and rode near the front to the top. The second climb of stage was harder as it is steeper, but I managed it OK.

On to HW84, and the group doesn't seem to be going that quickly, so there are a few attacks, but everyone is basically waiting for the ascent of Haskins. We climb through the feed zone and the pace is quite high with people doing silly things like reaching across riders to get their bottles as they were badly positioned. Needless to say, there were several bottles dropped.

We rolled towards Haskins quickly but were suddenly down to climbing speed when the road pitched up. I hung in there OK, going backwards a little and finding myself in the strung-out tail from the lead group. The descent was OK, but I took it relatively gently as I don't really trust those around me. Once the descent proper was finished, some work was required to get back on the main group. There are plenty of us in the tail, but it takes a lot of effort from me to get people to work together. We work enough and suddenly the bunch is visible ahead of us and we close the remaining gap quickly. Once there we are able to have a rest.

Rolling towards Pescadero, I make my way towards the front of the group, just to get a feel for what might happen at the prime. I led the bunch onto Stage Road and Sean Melchionda from CRC launched himself. I followed him closely and saw that no one else was chasing. I know Sean from the track and I should have him in a sprint, and I think he knows this. We caught a rider who obviously had been off the front of our group and Sean tried to get clear again. Again I followed. He attacked again as we passed what I thought was the 200m sign and I came round him easily and got a good gap. However, that must have been the 1km sign to the sprint, as I had a long way to go to the prime line. I sprinted again at 200m when I saw that Sean had a small chance to catch me and stayed away to claim the $10.

We regouped and I exchanged a few words with someone who asked me whether I had been off the front. I got the impression that he had led someone out and come round Sean, but didn't know that I was ahead of Sean. The first hill on Stage was OK, but the second really hurt. I had to dig really deep not to get gapped near the top. On the descent, a couple of gaps opened and I ended up in the third group on HW84. After quite a lot of chasing, these groups came together and again people were waiting for the climb up Haskins.

I knew after the chase that my legs were not good. So, rather than just sitting in, I decided to see if the bunch would let me go before the feed zone. I was ahead for about a mile and a rider came across to me, but the bunch weren't letting us go. I survived with the bunch until the climb up Haskins, but then the writing was on the wall. I was actually climbing OK, but I was just too slow. Towards the top, I started to reel people in and passed 5 riders in the last 500m and even managed to wind it up for a descent finishing spin for something like 30th place.

The ride back to the HQ is a really nice way to warm down. I arrived to find that the provisional results were posted and had me in both 10th and 35th position. Something fishy there, as I was certainly not 10th. The large distance between the finish and the HQ was certainly not helping to get the results transcribed accurately. I let them know that I wasn't 10th and collected my prime.

Overall, I had a good race and enjoyed myself a lot. It hurt and it is still clear that I am not a climber!

Back to top