Well the 2011 ACCC Road Season is in the books. As you know this was the first season for Campbell Cycling and it could’ve been better, but it could’ve been much worse. Seeing as things are going to slow down here on the blog I guess ill save my season wrap up for next week.
For now lets wrap up the Conference Championship race at Virginia Tech this past weekend. Three of us (Marshall, Linley, and myself) set out Friday evening headed for blacksburg. W e somehow scrounged up our money and were able to afford a cheap motel room for the weekend. No matter if they were out of ice (how is that possible) or if we had to beg for clean sheets and towels I had never been so thankful for a bed and shelter in my life. Coming from the 85 degree heat in eastern NC the cold 40 degree rain in western VA was unwelcome.
Saturday was the road race and both the Mens D and Womens C were scheduled to roll out at 7:35 AM so we headed out in the rain at about 5:30 to grab some breakfast and see what the day had in store. The race was delayed over half an hour from its original start time when we got there and so there was a lot of standing around in the rain and accordingly complaining about the rain. When we finally lined up Marshall and I found ourselves in the front row and although Marshall wanted to move back I told him to get on the front and hold the pace down during the neutral start. They announced that the race had been shortened due to the weather to one lap which would make things even worse. It seems the D racers don’t understand the meaning of neutral start and we typically ride 21 22 in the neutral start. Todays roll up was a little over two miles so Marshall got on the front and held the pace down and luckily no one contested it. It was actually one of the best parts of the race rolling along chatting with the other riders and enjoying what was really pretty country roads.
At some point however I saw one rider come flying by me from behind and then another and so I figured somebody must have decided it was go time although there was no indication from a marshal or referee. Never the less I jumped in line and put the hammer down. I knew I was up against around a 5 mile gradual accent but the peloton really held the pace high all the way up. My legs felt great though and I stayed tucked into the pack over the top with a group of 12- 13 riders with the rest of the nearly 30 starters off the back. After a short flat on top the road lifted up to a short steep hill. This is where the field exploded with the strongest 5 guys going off the front and the rest of us strung out down the road. Once I got over the hill I could see a Carolina rider just in front of me and I was determined to catch him on this rolling decent before the next hill. The rain was pouring and so I flipped the brim of my cycling cap down and hammered as hard as I could determined to bridge the gap. The marshal on the moto marking the tail end up the main group was right behind me all the way down the decent and I pushed it hard to keep him there. I was reeling the rider in slowly but shurley on the slick wet raods takeing every chance I could to close the gap. Finally as I closed within 50 yards the moto pulled along side of me and told me I might want to slow it down a little…not happening. As we hit the short flat before the next climb I looked back and saw a group of three riders chasing hard. I decided to keep the pace high and make them work hard to pull me back before the climb. As they caught me I jumped in line and immediately the groups pace slowed and I could tell it had took everything they had to pull me back. I rested for just a second and then pulled out around them as we approached the base of the second climb and bridged the gap to the Carolina rider I had been chasing and then dropped him as well.
At this point in the race I felt great I was riding near the top ten, I knew and I seemed to have the legs to do what I wanted when I wanted. Then I finally zeroed in on my biggest weakness…steep climbs. I know you say that’s everyone’s weakness, but on the long gradual climb at the start of the race I seemed stronger than most but up the next couple miles of steep short climbs it was all I could do to make it up. I pegged it and held my position over the first couple steep sections but then I was spent. I had my head down rain running off my cap down my face and mixing with the snot pouring out of my nose while I gasped for air throwing my bike side to side violently and willing it to go up the steep grade. The suffering was on in full force. Finally the Carolina rider came by me and then I heard someone shout watch out and I looked up to see myself headed sideways across the road and almost t boning an NC state rider. I stood and just let my weight fall on my pedals turning about 30 rpm up the hills. In my mind it was no longer about racing it was only about survival. As we went over the top of the second climb I was about 50 yards behind the second rider in the group that had caught me earlier and I had dropped. In hind sight I guess I only lost 3 spots from the bottom of the climb to the top but it seemed like a train wreck. I knew at this point I had a long steep decent off the mountain and then about a mile of flat before the finish. I once again turned it on on the downhill quickly catching and passing the WVU rider in front of me. I tried to open up a gap on him before the flat and thus pushed it a little to hard hitting the dirt on the side of the road on a sharp turn that came out of no where and giving up all the time I had gained. As we reached the flat we were together and I knew I had to hang on him to the finish and figure out if I wanted to attack early or try to sprint him. It was about that time I got the worst cramp in my calf iv ever had in a race. I don’t know if it was a product of the massive effort on the climb and then long downhill or what but I had to unclip and rub it out before I could go on. By the time I got back up to speed the WVU rider had opened a huge gap that there was no bringing back and I crossed the line alone.
Overall I felt pretty happy with the effort and felt stronger than ever in my last race. Marshall finished strong as well only a few minutes behind me. Linley rode hard as well scoring us some points in 9th place. The A and B races were canceled due to weather later in the day as well as the Team Time trial.
Saturday night was the conference dinner and the Roanoke Twilight Criterium. The food was good and the racing was even better with Team Mountain Khakis bringing home the win in the pro race. The course looked like a lot of fun in down town and I regretted not racing. Hopefully I can make it up there one day even though crits aren’t my specialty the atmosphere was great and the streets were packed with fans.
Sunday morning was a cold and tough crit to end the season. I knew I felt a little to good on Saturday to feel good on Sunday and I was right. Our race started and within a lap or two I was off the back. Marshall came by me in a group of four about ¼ way through and so I jumped on the back of that group for a while. It wasn’t long until marshall and I both were off the back of that group and I hung about 15 20 yard behind marshall for the next several laps. I though about hollering for him to come back to me so we could work together but I knew I was about done. With 4 to go the lead car came by me and so I dug deep to try and hold off from being lapped. I held them off for another lap but then the inevitable happened with them lapping me on the short steep hill before the start finish. I decided I was done and pulled off with 2 to go. Im still not sure why because being the last race of the year and only a couple laps to go I should have held on but I wasn’t interested in suffering any longer. Crits just aint where its at for me. Marshall hung in there and finished strong about ¾ of the way back. Linley put in one of her best performances of the year holding off two Carolina girls solo while they were working hard to pull her back.
Great weekend though…look for a little recap next week…
No comments:
Post a Comment