The last day of Fitchburg.... and I was feeling it. Crits have been my thing this year, and I really wanted to be able to have something positive to remember this race for. Got a descent warmup in, and got to the line at the right time.... second row back behind the callups. This crit is pretty tough... good uphill grade up to a 180 degree turnaround, then back down a screaming (35mph) descent into two hard left hand 90 degree turns, which places you back on the homestretch uphill grade.
Pace was pretty high at the beginning, and I quickly lost my position near the front. I dug in in the middle of the field, and spent most of the race just moving up when the opportunity presented itself to do so easily. My plan for winning this race was to get to the front for the last points sprint with 3 to go, follow the dudes sprinting, and then peg it as hard as I could after their sprint was done to try and hold on solo. I kept feeling better and better as the race went on... as I was able to recover and move up on the descent relatively easily. With 4 to go I moved to the front, but couldn't muscle my way into the top 10 places. The points sprint came and went, and someone else executed my plan.... he stayed away and won. Ben Showman... strong A rider from Army's collegiate team. Had I known it was him off the front, I would have buried myself to try and get up there... but I probably would have just toasted myself anyway.
I sat back and tried to start looking for the leadouts. Most of them came up the left side.... where noone was moving up before. I was stuck on the right side, where I had been able to move up all day. Balls. Coming into the homestretch on the last lap I didn't have great position at all. Way too far back to contest anything. I still uncorked a good sprint, passing probably 20 people from the last two turns up to the line to finish a respectable 37th. I was satisfied with how much better I felt in the race, and the placing is allright. I think I'll be setup allright for Owasco. Bring on the upgrade points.... hopefully.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Fitchburg - Day3 Road Race
I was looking forward to improving upon my last Fitchburg Road Race, when I came into it at 8th in the GC, and ended up at 99th. That was when I was a 4, and we only did 3 laps. On tap for today was 6 laps, for a total of 68 miles. There is one signifigant climb with a long false flat after it that hurts a lot... then a really fast (57mph) descent back on down. The final lap features a crazy climb to the top of Wachusset Ski Resort. Nuts.
I felt pretty good on the first lap. We were sort of neutralized because we had been caught by the 35+ field. That kept things real easy on that false flat after the climb. So the first lap was cake for staying in the field. Second lap we went balls to the wall to try and catch a break that had formed on the first lap. We flew up the climb, catching the masters field... which was confusing as heck, and finally leaving them behind for good. I got a bit gapped on the false flat section, but made it all back on the descent by hammering out 57mph. That was fun. I knew what was in store for the next lap, however, and lights went out on the climb. I could reach out and grab the field the whole time.... and actually almost got back on the false flat, but they got a bit too much of a gap that I couldnt' make up on the downhill. Balls. 30 miles to go. A bunch of groups were behind, and they were drilling it paceline style. These people were all idiots. We're not getting back on. We're going to loose massive time, dont' kill yourself! So I rode easy to the feedzone again and stopped and hung out with my parents. When the field came by I hopped back in and finished up with them. Lapped riders finish on the lap with the field... so I rested, and did one less lap. Fresher for tomorrow right? Hopefully... The climb up to the ski resort still hurt like hell. I didn't even start with the group, as I was dropped for a second time (that's a first for me) on the false flat.
I felt pretty good on the first lap. We were sort of neutralized because we had been caught by the 35+ field. That kept things real easy on that false flat after the climb. So the first lap was cake for staying in the field. Second lap we went balls to the wall to try and catch a break that had formed on the first lap. We flew up the climb, catching the masters field... which was confusing as heck, and finally leaving them behind for good. I got a bit gapped on the false flat section, but made it all back on the descent by hammering out 57mph. That was fun. I knew what was in store for the next lap, however, and lights went out on the climb. I could reach out and grab the field the whole time.... and actually almost got back on the false flat, but they got a bit too much of a gap that I couldnt' make up on the downhill. Balls. 30 miles to go. A bunch of groups were behind, and they were drilling it paceline style. These people were all idiots. We're not getting back on. We're going to loose massive time, dont' kill yourself! So I rode easy to the feedzone again and stopped and hung out with my parents. When the field came by I hopped back in and finished up with them. Lapped riders finish on the lap with the field... so I rested, and did one less lap. Fresher for tomorrow right? Hopefully... The climb up to the ski resort still hurt like hell. I didn't even start with the group, as I was dropped for a second time (that's a first for me) on the false flat.
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