Daryoush and I headed up for Corning, CA at 2:30 pm on Friday. We arrived at 6! Holy smokes, I now see how women have kids multiple times. I had forgotten how long this drive really is.
Once
in Corning we checked out the new finish line. It is about a half mile
past the old line and just on top of a short, steep hill. The hill is
only 250 meters long or so, but fairly steep, say about 9-10%. We
thought if it was a pack finish that we needed to wait till just before
the base of the hill but to be positioned top 5 to have a shot.
I
had some good training leading up to this race and felt fit. Figured I
had a good shot at a win, especially since no mutants were racing…at
least that I was aware of. Field was small, about 18-20 total and that
includes the three guys in the 35+ 1/2/3 field. 75 mile race of four
laps (so just over 18 miles per lap). Course is pretty flat, with some
small rollers on it, but the headwinds kept the field honest.
I
had talked to one of the best sprinters and racers in Northern
California (Steve Heaton) about the race strategy prior to going. He
advised sitting in till lap three. He did say if a dangerous break went
early, go with it, but don’t kill yourself to help the break till you
are sure it is away for good. I was going to be patient this race,
something new for me!
I
have never ridden so slow during a race for the first 18 miles. I think
my wife and kids (9 and 7 years old) could have hung with us lap one.
Gave me a chance to get to know some of the other riders as we had long
conversations to pass the time. One rider (Rich from Wells Fargo), who I
knew from past races and was fairly friendly with, and I talked about
our kids and jobs. He also let me know he was not in great race shape
and really just counting on sitting in for the final sprint. I filed
this info away for future use.
We
come to the end of the first lap and I can not take it any longer. I
had been self talking that first lap to just sit in and save the legs,
but at this pace it was hard to do! Finally I had to stretch my legs a
bit and I rolled off the front. Not really an attack, just wanted to up
the pace. Go a small gap and kept rolling a bit to get the speed up. The
group caught up to me and Rich said, something about my "attack". I let
him know I just had to stretch my legs, that was not an attack. He said
"good idea" and then did the same thing.
Well,
he got a decent gap, then another rider I had not seen before jumped
across to him. I almost felt bad for Rich, since I knew he was not up
for a 57 mile break. I was happy to see the two of them go. I figured we
would catch them about lap two or three no problem. The only other team
with multiple riders was Davis, with three guys. They now had
responsibility to chase this break down. They just sat in for the next
18 miles. The moto ref (Lee who also runs the Copper Town Circuit races)
eventually road up and let us know they had 45 seconds.
We get to lap three and Lee comes back to me and says they now have 1:15.
He tells me that "one of the riders looks pretty worked over but the
other guy looks very strong". Hmmm, I start to get a bit worried now. I
figure we still have 35 miles to go, so not panic time, but we should
start to cut into that lead. We try a rotation. Guys wimp out and the
rotation dies. Lee says they now have 1:40. Yikes!
Beginning
of lap four, we catch Rich. He is by himself and looking beat. I roll
next to him and ask where is the other guy? Rich responds with "that
dude is strong!" Uh oh. I ask, you think he can stay away? His answer:
"yep"
Crap.
Daryoush
and I talk a bit and we both jump. We get two others to come with us,
including a Davis rider. This should be perfect. Now we can hammer
together to try and catch the lone rider. Daryoush takes a strong pull, I
come through and pull, then nothing. The other two are sitting on. We
yell at them, but nothing happens. I don’t get it. Not sure what they
are waiting on. We get brought back to the field. Just as we are brought
back, the same Davis rider, jumps out for a solo break. Huh? He thinks
he can catch the other guy who has 1:40 by himself? I turn to Daryoush
and express, "that guy is an idiot". He agrees.
I
watch as he slowly pulls out of range. Lee rides up on his moto to let
us know the gap to first place is 1:40 still and the gap to first chase
is 40 seconds. The field does nothing. I get fed up by this point and
decide to venture forth on my own and try and catch Davis rider. I know
first place is out of reach now. I jump and get a good gap. Field chases
for a bit, but Daryoush does a good job of sitting second wheel and not
pulling through. He is a good teammate!
I
put my head down and ride into the headwind with 10 miles left to the
finish. I have been training for 10 plus minute VO2 intervals (As hard
as I can ride that is still aerobic). I do lots of self talk. I don’t
like riding alone. I much rather have company to share the load. So all
this is going through my head when I glance back and see a rider trying
to bridge across to me. Sit up and wait for him or keep riding? I decide
to make him work for it, but not go so hard that he can not make it. I
want the second guy there but I don’t want him with me fresh. He catches
me, and it turns out it is one of the 35+ guys. Perfect! Now we both
can place without having to race each other (they were placing the 35+
and the 45+ guys separately). Well this guy has a moral issue (who knows
why, cause it is legal to help each other) to help me catch the guys up
the road (both 45+ guys ahead). He tells me he will not sprint by me at
the end, but he can't take a pull. Well that sucks.
Ok,
let's wrap this story up. I keep the pressure on and close 2nd place to
25 seconds (from the original 40) but can't close the deal. Dude that
broke away lap two wins, Davis second and I get third. Daryoush, who did
a great job protecting me, placed a very respectable 6th and earned the
final Velo Promo T-shirt too!
Postscript:
I approached the guy who won (Mike Brown) after the race to offer
congratulations and to find out who the hell this guy is. I know all the
Nor Cal guys capable of that sort of effort (most go by the name of
Dirk or Kevin). He smiles and let's me know he just moved to Chico from
the East coast a month or two ago. Well, that was his one time he gets
to go off in a break without me now. Next time, I will be on his wheel
from the jump.
So
ends 2013 road racing. What a fantastic year. I can tell you all 2014
will be extraordinary. More CoreTechs team developments coming down the
pike, so stay tuned.
Till next year…race reporting out!
Andrew
