Okay, so the race actually ended today, but I was not able to get to a computer till now. I will post one report a day, for the next four days. Just like those pro race diaries on cyclingnews.com.
Background: After Timberman, I took 8 days off from all training. Went out to Wyoming, hiked, climbed rocks and took the upper Exum ridge to the top of Grand Teton (13, 770’). So in the 11 days leading up to this race I biked once, for 2 hours.
This is a real stage race, with 4 stages, and leader, climber and sprinter classifications.
Prologue: 8.2 mile mass start hill climb to top of Appalachian Gap. 1730’ elevation gain, 1230 in last 3 miles (~8.5% average grade for last 2.7 miles).
The 4/5 field has 200 riders, split into two separate races, I am in the “A” field for 33 yrs old and younger.
Conditions: Sunny and 70, perfect.
Start is pretty straightforward. I elect to bring no water, as stage will only be about 30 minutes. By the end of my warmup (about 20 minutes) I am geting kind of thirsty, maybe some water would have been good. We roll out and move right along, I did not realize until I rode down from the finish that the first four miles are definitely uphill, because we were moving along pretty good. We hit the real climb and stay steady. About a mile into the climb, there is still a large group of riders and the field is barely strung out at all. I am kind of surprised, because I naively thought I would be challenging for the stage win. There is a flatter section about 1.7 miles from the top. I go to the front and up the tempo a little bit, not an attack, just probing. Nothing doing, everyone is right with me. Keep it going for about 300 meters and it is stringing out a little, but I am getting tired. I sort of pull off and hang in for a few hundred more meters, but people are starting to pass me. I am getting really thirsty. Now I am nose to the grindstone, working to turn over a 39x25, with more people passing me. End up 25th on the stage 1:33 down (winner was 32:44). I thought I was climber;)
Sitting in 25th on the GC with 26 points. (The GC is points based on finish order, not time. The reasons for this will become apparent as the race continues).
Tomorrow: Stage 1, 72 mile Circuit race.
