Category: 5
Result: 4th

This was my last race as a Category 5, and I wanted to make the best of it.

I got there with plenty of time to spare and spotted Jeff. Chatted for a bit and we both decided we would warm up together. I drove the course a bit beforehand on Saturday so I knew a bit of what to expect. I explained to Jeff there are two small short climbs, the 2nd one a bit longer than the first. The race was 50 miles, 5 laps of 10 miles each.

My race started just after Jeff’s at 1120 am. The heat wasn’t too bad at the start. I tried counting the number of riders in the race, I would say the field was about 20 or so, it was small. We started off with the "check out the course" pace up until the 2nd climb. The race promoters put on a KOM contest on the first lap, so there was a sprint up the 2nd climb. I felt pretty fresh so I went for it, only to get passed by 2 flying riders at the line. Damn.

After that, we had a small re-group and the pace started to pick up a bit. I stayed near the front. Just after rounding the corner to start the 2nd lap, the same two guys who passed me at the finish took off on a small breakaway. They towed 2 others, and I decided to sit in, thinking they would be brought back.

That turned out to be by biggest mistake. Shortly after I found myself in a 6 man chase group. I looked back and saw we had a huge gap on the rest of the bunch. To my surprise our chase group of 6 worked very well. We all took turns pulling, and it was quite smooth. It was strange to note there were a few riders in my break who took monster pulls. I couldn’t figure that out because they were just using up energy when they could have easily conserved by keeping the pace line going. Maybe they just wanted to see if they could get a gap.

A rider from the 1st breakaway got dropped and he joined up with us on the flat section. It must have been too much for him because he only stayed with us for a very short time. By that time I looked ahead to see if we could see the 1st group. They were long gone, I couldn’t find them anywhere. Now I turned my focus to figuring out how to win in this group of mine. Going up the 2nd climb for the last time we dropped 3 people, and now it was just 2 guys and myself. I was feeling good up the climb and was in good shape.

I positioned myself in the 3rd position so I can see how things will develop on the home straight. I kept wondering if I’d have the legs for a sprint because I was almost sure that is what it would come down to it with just the three of us left. Again, I was very surprised with the person in the front, he rode for SJBC and he was just out there in the wind towing us. He didn’t slow down or look back; he just kept riding on at a very good pace. If it were me, I would have peeled off, or forced someone else to ride in the wind, so I can make them work for the finish.

So, with him towing us, I just sat in. I was going to come around them at the straight away if I could. Coming around the last corner, I sat just for a bit because I heard from many people "wait, wait, wait". When I saw the SJBC guy surging ahead, I decided I was going to sit up and stand on the pedals. As I did that, I passed the man in front of me and he didn’t even chase. I was working my way up even more and I was up to good speed, and easily passed the SJBC guy, I had a nice gap and headed towards the finish! Whew. What a race. I came in 4th. The 1st breakaway stayed away until the end.

This was great news, I was so happy then when I crossed the finish line, I clapped, and my wedding ring came off! I heard it ricochet off something ( probably a car ). I looked and looked for it, and finally found it on the OTHER side of the road. I don’t know how it got there! It was so hot that my fingers were drenched with sweat and that’s the reason for the loose ring. Shhh. I didn’t tell the wife.

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