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Reports by:
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What Richard saw:
Category: 3
Result: Off the back
What luxury - an 8am departure to a road race!
As we drove up 505 and spotted racers on the course, there was one thing
which was obvious - it was going to be tough as the Masters 35+ 1/2/3
were liberally scattered into small groups on the headwind section.
The question was, where would the 3's race break up? Thinking it would
be on the headwind section, I made sure I was near the front the first
time along the headwind section, following wheels, but generally working
a little too hard. Once on to the trending uphill section leading to the
(not very big) KOM climb, I was slipping backwards and found it tough on
the climb as the group powered over.
Immediately after the climb was a right turn into a crosswind and bang
went any chance of chasing back on. I wasn't the first to be gapped by a
long shot and pretty quickly found myself in a solid group of 3's
willing to work together.
We did some nice echelon work as appropriate and generally rode as a
good unit for the next 2 laps. However, it was clear that some in the
group were tiring. At the turn onto the trending up section, several
questions were asked and I found myself off the front of our chase group
with a Form Fitness rider who was strong. So strong that I was asking,
how did he end up off the back? [I later discovered that he missed the start as we went off 5 mins early.]
We rode together for a lap including passing Jorge's group of 4's before
he dropped me about the same place we went away from the chase group. I
was still feeling pretty good so kept the pace solid to attempt to keep
away from the chasing group.
I am pretty sure the chase group behind me got help into the wind from a
vehicle as they gave a driver a cheery "Thankyou!" as they caught me at
the end of it. At this point, I felt I was fully justified to sit in for
a while and determine how I was going to be the first to finish from the
group.
Onto the trending uphill section for the final time and for some reason
no one was wanting to work. I let things settle for about 30 seconds and
then accelerated from behind on the windward side at a pace I knew I
could sustain for a good long time. The others had a chance to come with
me, but none took it and I rode away from them to finish a good minute
in front roughly 5 miles later. So, after a disastrous first lap, a
solid remainder of the "race".
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What Keith saw:
Category: M45+
Result: Off the back
I arrived at race late but still managed to receive my race number
for the M45-55 race. Didn't have time for a warm up, and paid for it
dearly.
From the start, I didn't have the preparation to establish a position
and got dropped from pack very, very quickly. The prospect of finishing dead last or being pulled from race seemed to be my fate. I figured that if I could catch someone or team up
with other stragglers, I might stay in the race. I was thrashed around by the wind during each lap but recovered
enough on the back side of course to allow me to deal with rolling
portions.
Being that this was my first road race, I decided to hang in and
finish as best I could. Caught another rider at 17 miles, so this
helped the attitude.
Almost called it quits at 27 miles before KOM section. Told myself
that dropping out of my first road race was not the way to start the
season.
On a positive note, I viewed some nice racing and tactics from the
race leaders as they lapped me.
I finished the race with the best speed I could muster and I was
completely drained from fighting the wind.
I think this was a good first race for me because I tried to maintain
a positive attitude in a difficult racing situation.
Next time I will register in the correct category!
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