Category: M35+ 4/5
Result: Top ten - unofficial.

Weather conditions were fantastic. Sunny day with temperatures in between 45 to 60 degree F. Pavement completely dry and safe.

After a tough ride (Patterson Pass) with the team the day before, my legs were not as sore as I was expecting, so that gave me confidence in myself.

Arrived at around 8:45 AM and decided to register in the masters 35+ 4/5 cat. Got my number and talked to Fernando about the upcoming race and mentoring. Went for the mentoring session for about and hour. This included racing tactics, advising from the experienced racers and a few laps as a group doing a double pace line. This at the same time helped me to warm up very nicely.

The Masters 35+4/5 race started at 11:16 AM. Set up my clock and HRM for keeping track of time and HR in order to keep my energies in track. I noticed that I was the only FFBC racer in this cat, so I was a bit disappointed about that since I enjoy racing with a team, but anyway, I had to plan my race accordingly. My main goal again was to stay in the front pack (first 15 riders) and try my best to get a decent position.

The race started and the pace was quick from the beginning (about 25-28 mph), I managed to position in the first 10. In the middle of this lap, I was in between several riders and some how I noticed that the rider in front of me dropped a water bottle and I couldn’t skip it because I had many riders around me, so I ran through it, the bottle exploded and my bike was shaking, but fortunately I didn’t lose control of it. Anyway, I managed to pass in second place in this lap and then went back a little bit because I didn’t want to face the wind too much. Kept a nice momentum most of the time and was able to follow the race between the first 20 riders.

The first sprint came and decided to fight for it but 4 riders were ahead of me and couldn’t get the $25 Velogirls certificate. The pace decreased for just a couple of minutes and then the pack accelerated once again (24-28 mph); I kept my momentum in the first 15. I faced the wind remaining 15 minutes just for one lap just to make them think that I wasn’t death yet, then went to the middle pack for a while and enjoyed the race at a nice HR level. I was continuously checking my HR and for my surprise, it was most of the time kind of low compared with my max; that gave me more motivation and said to my self that this could be my day, so I was very careful of not getting involved in an accident and regulated my energies for the end.

By minute 40, I decided to move safely from the middle pack towards the front, by minute 45, I was already in the first 10 riders, minute 47 came and I was in the first 5, finally, the last lap came and I kept my 5th place until half lap, then someone attacks (I said at that moment, forget it I will give all I have) so I followed him in second place and remaining 300 meters in the very last straight part of the circuit, I notice that this rider opens completely and left me right at front (What a good team mate I thought!!).

I could see the end line remaining 200 meters, I stand up in my pedals and started to sprint like crazy, 100 meters were left and I heard a big crash behind, like in the middle of the peloton I guess, but I didn’t care and continued sprinting my legs were red already they were too hot !! Remaining 50 meters 5 rider s pass me and ended up in 6th place!! I couldn’t believe it!!!! ( I said to my self, I will start joining Garry on Tuesday nights from now on), felt upset with myself for losing but, I guess I was lucky of being at front and didn’t get involved in that nasty crash remaining 200 meters.

Next week should be fun and I will be smarter, I don’t know why I couldn’t nail the sprint and that made me feel a bit disappointed. I can see that I am becoming a better racer from the mentoring.

Thanks to Fernando Colmenares and his wife for the support and the pics!!

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