This is the big one. The Mad River Road Race, 64.5 miles. About 5000’ of climbing, with the finish atop Appalachian Gap. There is also a 2 mile section on dirt roads.
I feel pretty good after yesterdays stage. My plan is to sit in, make it over Middlebury Gap with the lead group, go with the break if one develops, otherwise sit in and wait for the final climb to go for the stage win. There is a KOM over Middlebury, which I will go for it the opportunity is right and a sprint about 20 miles in that I will not participate in.
The first 5 miles is all downhill and we are flying. I am always a little apprehensive taking steep descents with a large group. It flattens out and then starts to gradually climb. One (maybe two riders) start breaking off the front. No one seems to be worried, I am at the back and can’t do anything about it. That’s the problem with the back, you don’t really know what is going on. Through the sprint, no one seems to care. I think the break took most of the points. One hour down, haven’t had to really work yet.
Before I know it, it’s 5K to Middlebury Gap. We hit the feed at the foot of the climb (what a dumb place to take bottles), I avoid the idiots who literally almost dead stop to take their bottles, nearly causing several crashes. Halfway up I am working and the bunch is still large. As we near the top it starts to string out, I move up to about 10th position. Don’t go for KOM, it would be to much work. Over the top and keep pushing. I am joined by about ten others, with six more just ahead. I descend poorly, so I am bobbing off the back as others catch back on.
Maybe half the group catches back on during the next 15 miles of flat and downhill. It is windy and pace still fast, single file at times. We make a turn and do a short steep climb maybe 200 meters and drop about 15 of the chasers. Now it is dirt. Gaaaaaah. I can only imagine what Paris Roubaix is like. I try to avoid the worst of the washboard. Will this ever end. Smooth pavement, nice.
Ride a bit more, another short steep climb, a few more off the back. Now starts the gradual climb to baby Gap. I am at the back and not feeling that great. I am afraid I might be the next one off the back, after the one guy yoyoing.
Before I know it a short descent and 5K to go. We are on Appalachian Gap. I need to hang on. The bunch has been very strong up the baby gap, nobody wass giving an inch. Halfway up and I am still with it. There are few flatter sections. I use the next one to move to the front. Can’t be more than 3K to go. I up the tempo. Not an all out attack, but it is time to go. I am slugging it out with about 6 other guys with 6 more very close. No more flat spots. Where is the 1K to go banner? I’m on the ropes. 1K to go. Now 500m and I am losing some more places. It is 20% most of the last 500m meters. We have been passing riders from the other fields the whole way up and now guys are weaving all over the road to stay on their bikes. I gut it out, no podium, but I gave it a go. Don’t feel like I cracked, it is just so steep at the end there is not much you can do.
3:05:50, 13th place. I missed the podium by 40 seconds. The win went to the same guy as yesterday. He rode solo again for almost the entire race and won by 3 minutes.
Move into 9th on the GC (pays 10 deep), with one stage to go. Unfortunately it a crit.
Now I have to descend the gap and then climb about 600’ up an access road back to my car. Fun warmdown;)