Category: 4
Result: Mid-pack

Garry and I did the trip to the Chowchilla for the Madera Stage Race, travelling down on Friday evening and returning on Sunday afternoon.

Stage 1: Madera Criterium

A flat, 4 corner course slightly over a mile long. I rode a strong, but not a good race. I tried a couple of attacks, but didn't get anywhere. My biggest was an attempt with 3 to go over the top of the final prime. It only gained me sore legs. On the final lap, I strung the bunch out from turn 2, hoping to be able to stay on the front to the end. Of course, I didn't have the legs and was washed away in the sprint.

Stage 2: Sharon ITT

Garry and I rode the course together before our TTs, which was useful during my ride. I got myself into a really strange position on the outward leg, but it was the only one I could find in which I could turn the gears relatively quickly. It was hard and I stayed at or near LT almost the whole way round, catching both my 30 sec and 1 min men. My time of 25:46 was mid-pack, a disappointing result.

Stage 3: Daulton RR

There was confusion as to the distance - the race announcement had 4 laps (68 miles) and the race bible had 3 laps (51 miles). In these cases, the race bible should take precedence in my mind. The starter held a vote and the shorter distance won. This is a good RR course, some fast sections, some hard, bumpy sections and a rolling section, the first roller of which is a long drag. The finish is 2/3 the way through the rollers. I was active near the front most of the distance, occasionally trying to get a gap off the front in a small group on the second lap.

On the final lap two solo riders got clear, the second catching the first, and the bunch was happy to let them hang out there, but we were going to have to be careful how much lead we gave them. Towards the end of the bumpy section, I tried to get clear of the bunch, but everyone was waiting for such a move, and I didn't get any gap. Then it was the final time up the drag and I paid the price for my attack and was dropped, and rolled in picking off a few of the other riders who had also been shelled.

So, in my first stage race, I made very little impression on the GC, but did get in some good riding. I rode this at the end of a heavy week of training, and I think this showed in the TT, as I really should have been able to ride significantly quicker.

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