Merco RR-Tom's version-45+ 1/2/3

Written by Tom Rice

Where: I'm gonna call this the Merco Classic Road Race because, this year, the race seems to have at least 3 different names


When: 3 March 2013
Race: 45+ 1,2,3
Course: 72 miles in 3 laps on a mostly flat course around rural Snelling - very little wind
Teammates: Eric Saltzman

I had some trepidation entering this race. My race fitness is just coming in and I knew all the mutants would be there and that the race is a premire event. So, I set my goals somewhat lower than normal. I just wanted to finish in the mix and I wanted to have some noticable impact on the race. Also, I always have a ridiculous, unattainable BHAG - that is a Big, Hairy Ass Goal. This time, my BHAG is to get in a break with Dirk and finish Top 5. I know, insane but you gotta have goals.

I drive up the night before so I can get a good breakfast, stay on my normal biological calendar(!) and so I don't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn to drive to the race. I stay at the Hamptons - okay, I stay in a Hampton Inn but it sounds way cooler to say you stayed at The Hamptons. I get to the race in plenty of time to get reg'ed, pinned up and to the start.

Report: We got a quick brief by the referre and at his whistle, we were off. The pace initially was not fast and stayed pretty mellow for most of the first lap. A couple of guys from Iron Data/Thirsty Bear went off the front early (not unusual) and the pack just let them dangle out there. Thirsty Bear finally packed it in when they realized that no one was going to bridge up to them and there was no way they could make it the entire race without some major help.

My goal at this point is to stay in the pack and make sure I'm fully warmed up by the time the real attacks begin. This turned out to be no problemo because NOTHING much happens for the first hour of the race. Just a nice ride with 70 or so of my new/old friends.

Once we get into the second lap, Dirk attacks a few times but the pack won't even let him get a gap. He has a target on his back and he's going no where!

Things slow down for quite a while and I'm getting a little anxious for something to happen, so during a lull, I jet up the left side and go for a solo break, hoping for someone to come with me. I'm betting that I can get away because nobody really knows me. I get a good gap and 3 riders are bridging up to me. But, by the time they get to me, the entire pack is on their heels. I drift back into the pack and someone else takes off with a couple of riders with him. I jump on those wheels but again, the pack is strung out behind us. As the front of the pack begins to pass me, Dirk takes off (again). I jump on his wheel hoping this is the one. I even take a hard pull with Dirk on my wheel. When I look for someone to take the next pull, I see that the entire pack is on our heels. At this point, a break looks hopeless. Everytime Dirk goes, someone goes with him and the pack simply chases him down. I go with him at least 3 more times. But Dirk is getting frustrated and none of his attacks last any more than a minute or so (of intense and incredible effort on my part!)

So, I settle back into the pack and let the others cover the attacks. It's pretty easy to sit in and just deal with the accellerations.

I'm a little tired at this point but here's the end:

With three kilometers to go, I blast off. I do my best to put in a supreme effort - again hoping that the others will just let the silly attacking man go. But I'm gassed. All I really do is string the pack out. So, I settle into the pack to work towards my goal of finishing in the mix.

I make my goal of finishing with the pack and I'm certainly an enthusiastic participant of the race. I'm not sure I'm too much of an impact but I'll let Eric tell that side of the story. Next time he and I race, we're gonna work together more effectively!



It was a fun day and I'm tired!

Oh yeah - on the way home, I bumped to The Ohio Players because Kanye don't bring the funk like that.


Tom Rice
Bicycle Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team