72.5 mile circuit race.
Don't know why they are calling this a circuit, it is only 2 laps. 800 feet of climbing per lap (flat). There is a KOM at 12 miles and 50 miles and a points sprint at 38 miles. My plan is to try for the 2nd KOM, 72 miles is a long way to race, I don't want to get tired early.
Conditions: 70 and sunny, perfect
Well the start is fairly fast. First 5 miles is slightly downhill. I am at the back and there are over 80 guys in the race. I love the advice people give about road racing, to stay in the front. Good luck getting there as everyone else has the same idea. Domestic amateur racing is not like the TDF, you cannot cross the centerline and the roads are narrow and in poor condition in a lot of cases, so there are lots of hazards including the other riders. It is very hard to move up the field unless it is really strung out or a fairly hard climb. We make a turn and most of the climbing is in the next 7 miles. All gradual uphill and the pace is still fast, pretty much all big ring. Good thing I wasn't going for the first KOM, I am stuck in back, I think there is a small break. I just sit in the peloton. The second time up this will drop some people methinks.
Next 15 miles is pretty uneventful. Coolest thing is blowing through a small town, with a cop stopping traffic as we cruise past a 25 mph sign over 30 mph.
Crash!!! Minor pileup. I am behind it, not in it, chase back on. My rule is if you are not in the very front, ride at the very back. Crashes always get the people in the middle.
Come through halfway about 1:30, so 24 mph, solid pace. Start back around on the uphill section.
Crash!! (On an uphill?). Second wheel just went down for no reason. Again behind it, not in it. The gradual climb and the crash are stringing things out a bit. I am able to move up and maybe have a chance at KOM points. Get on the front and bridge up to one guy up the road. Not pushing to hard. Push harder try to get a gap, not much there, I am countered, 1K to the KOM. I counter and then at 500 m about a dozen people pass. I don't bother sprinting for it. At least the action caused a split and I am in the front group of 35 or so.
Rest of lap is uneventful. A lone rider is up the road (1:15). We never get real organized. I take a few pulls on front along with a few other guys. We are not taking back any time. Just save it for the finish.
I just hang in the field sprint, take 2nd to last in the sprint, 32nd place and get 96 GC points. The lone rider takes the win and 100 + 25 GC points. Everyone else in the buch gets 96 also (next nine places also get some bonus points). The 2nd group is several minutes down and only gets like 15 points. Scoring is 100 for winner 96 for second....down to 1 for 50th place (plus bonus points for the top 10 riders), but a group all gets the same points, then the next group or rider after the split gets the next points for that finish place, so the difference between 33rd and 34th place in this race was like 80 points. Don't miss the split.
Finish in 3:00 flat, not bad for 72.5 miles.
Move up to 17th on the GC.
*********************
"When I first had the opportunity to compete in triathlon, it was the chicks and their skimpy race clothing that drew me in. Everyone was so welcoming and the lifestyle so obviously narcissistic. I fed off of that vain energy. To me it is what the sport is all about."
Don't know why they are calling this a circuit, it is only 2 laps. 800 feet of climbing per lap (flat). There is a KOM at 12 miles and 50 miles and a points sprint at 38 miles. My plan is to try for the 2nd KOM, 72 miles is a long way to race, I don't want to get tired early.
Conditions: 70 and sunny, perfect
Well the start is fairly fast. First 5 miles is slightly downhill. I am at the back and there are over 80 guys in the race. I love the advice people give about road racing, to stay in the front. Good luck getting there as everyone else has the same idea. Domestic amateur racing is not like the TDF, you cannot cross the centerline and the roads are narrow and in poor condition in a lot of cases, so there are lots of hazards including the other riders. It is very hard to move up the field unless it is really strung out or a fairly hard climb. We make a turn and most of the climbing is in the next 7 miles. All gradual uphill and the pace is still fast, pretty much all big ring. Good thing I wasn't going for the first KOM, I am stuck in back, I think there is a small break. I just sit in the peloton. The second time up this will drop some people methinks.
Next 15 miles is pretty uneventful. Coolest thing is blowing through a small town, with a cop stopping traffic as we cruise past a 25 mph sign over 30 mph.
Crash!!! Minor pileup. I am behind it, not in it, chase back on. My rule is if you are not in the very front, ride at the very back. Crashes always get the people in the middle.
Come through halfway about 1:30, so 24 mph, solid pace. Start back around on the uphill section.
Crash!! (On an uphill?). Second wheel just went down for no reason. Again behind it, not in it. The gradual climb and the crash are stringing things out a bit. I am able to move up and maybe have a chance at KOM points. Get on the front and bridge up to one guy up the road. Not pushing to hard. Push harder try to get a gap, not much there, I am countered, 1K to the KOM. I counter and then at 500 m about a dozen people pass. I don't bother sprinting for it. At least the action caused a split and I am in the front group of 35 or so.
Rest of lap is uneventful. A lone rider is up the road (1:15). We never get real organized. I take a few pulls on front along with a few other guys. We are not taking back any time. Just save it for the finish.
I just hang in the field sprint, take 2nd to last in the sprint, 32nd place and get 96 GC points. The lone rider takes the win and 100 + 25 GC points. Everyone else in the buch gets 96 also (next nine places also get some bonus points). The 2nd group is several minutes down and only gets like 15 points. Scoring is 100 for winner 96 for second....down to 1 for 50th place (plus bonus points for the top 10 riders), but a group all gets the same points, then the next group or rider after the split gets the next points for that finish place, so the difference between 33rd and 34th place in this race was like 80 points. Don't miss the split.
Finish in 3:00 flat, not bad for 72.5 miles.
Move up to 17th on the GC.
*********************
"When I first had the opportunity to compete in triathlon, it was the chicks and their skimpy race clothing that drew me in. Everyone was so welcoming and the lifestyle so obviously narcissistic. I fed off of that vain energy. To me it is what the sport is all about."