Stage 1 TT: This year I finally had a good day at the SDSR TT. With a time of 15:26 beat my PR by over one minute and came in 39th of 110 person Cat 2 field. Pretty happy. One min off leaders jersey.
Stage 2 - RR:
Stage 3 - Crit:
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuscon Bicycle Classic - E2
In the 2s it was just Chris Burnham and myself racing in the great AZ weather.
Stage 1 - TT:
3.2 mile rolling TT with a few gradual sustained climbs and a 6-7% kicker towards the end. About 300 feet of climbing. Chris had never raced the course before but put in a great effort and got an 8:01 good enough for 8th. Last year I raced the course as a 3 and got 12th with an 8:44, I went out a little too hard on the rollers and blew up on the kicker. I beat my time from last year so that was a small victory, but still a little bummed on my GC placing.
3.2 mile rolling TT with a few gradual sustained climbs and a 6-7% kicker towards the end. About 300 feet of climbing. Chris had never raced the course before but put in a great effort and got an 8:01 good enough for 8th. Last year I raced the course as a 3 and got 12th with an 8:44, I went out a little too hard on the rollers and blew up on the kicker. I beat my time from last year so that was a small victory, but still a little bummed on my GC placing.
Placing: 8th - Chris B. 8:01, 36th - James E. 8:33
Stage 2 - RR:
We did 4x20miles on a rolling loop with about 1000' of elevation gain per lap. The plan was simple, stay near the front and cover the moves. Chris mentioned to me that he has not seen a single Cat 2 road race finish in a field sprint. So we need to be attentive, but if it came to a field sprint he would do what he can for me. The first lap was pretty uneventful, Chris and I covered the moves and stayed up near the front. Early on the second lap, towards the end of the rollers I saw a move slowly sneak off over one of the bigger rollers, I move up on the roller and over the top I see that they are drilling it and the group of five had a sizable gap. I jumped hard, came within 50m dragging a Lagrange guy with me, he came around but slowed soon after. The pack came up to us and I kept it moving for Chris, he jumped next and similarly almost made it. So with all but one of the big AZ teams represented in the break, it seemed Bicycle Haus would be drilling it to bring it back. Chris and I decided to wait it out and see if anyone would organize the chase, but if they don't start hitting it by the gradual climb through the start/finish we need to get up there. We hit it on the false flat/climb and do a ton of work at the front to reduce the 2min+ gap. On lap 3 we let bicycle house take control on the decent and flat section. Chris chats it up with the yellow jersey holder with no teammates to organize some firepower. Lap 4, The gap came down but it seemed the pack was gonna let it go back out so Chris and I come back to the front and start rotating HARD with the yellow jersey and one Bicycle Haus guy. We do this for several miles and end up bringing back the break pretty fast. This caused a bit of confusion about if anyone was still up the road. So I told Chris to sit in a be ready for an attack while the yellow jersey and I rotated at the front to just make sure no one was still out there. It turned out to be a big bunch sprint and I decided not to mix it up in it because I assumed I was too gassed to put in a good sprint. There was a headwind so the sprint was late and short...maybe I should have given it a go. In the end I moved up 10 spots on GC because we dropped some people and we saved Chris' 8th on GC for another day.
We did 4x20miles on a rolling loop with about 1000' of elevation gain per lap. The plan was simple, stay near the front and cover the moves. Chris mentioned to me that he has not seen a single Cat 2 road race finish in a field sprint. So we need to be attentive, but if it came to a field sprint he would do what he can for me. The first lap was pretty uneventful, Chris and I covered the moves and stayed up near the front. Early on the second lap, towards the end of the rollers I saw a move slowly sneak off over one of the bigger rollers, I move up on the roller and over the top I see that they are drilling it and the group of five had a sizable gap. I jumped hard, came within 50m dragging a Lagrange guy with me, he came around but slowed soon after. The pack came up to us and I kept it moving for Chris, he jumped next and similarly almost made it. So with all but one of the big AZ teams represented in the break, it seemed Bicycle Haus would be drilling it to bring it back. Chris and I decided to wait it out and see if anyone would organize the chase, but if they don't start hitting it by the gradual climb through the start/finish we need to get up there. We hit it on the false flat/climb and do a ton of work at the front to reduce the 2min+ gap. On lap 3 we let bicycle house take control on the decent and flat section. Chris chats it up with the yellow jersey holder with no teammates to organize some firepower. Lap 4, The gap came down but it seemed the pack was gonna let it go back out so Chris and I come back to the front and start rotating HARD with the yellow jersey and one Bicycle Haus guy. We do this for several miles and end up bringing back the break pretty fast. This caused a bit of confusion about if anyone was still up the road. So I told Chris to sit in a be ready for an attack while the yellow jersey and I rotated at the front to just make sure no one was still out there. It turned out to be a big bunch sprint and I decided not to mix it up in it because I assumed I was too gassed to put in a good sprint. There was a headwind so the sprint was late and short...maybe I should have given it a go. In the end I moved up 10 spots on GC because we dropped some people and we saved Chris' 8th on GC for another day.
Placing: 24th James E., 25th Chris B.
Stage 3 Circuit:
The circuit race included 8 laps of a 5.6mile loop with about 400' of climbing each lap. Basically a long gradual climb fallowed by a fast decent with a flat/rolling section through the start finish at the bottom of the decent. Nothing too steep but it is climbing. Again the plan was simple stay near the front and get in the moves, and have me go for the Sprint time bonuses to keep anyone from overtaking Chris on GC. The Circuit race is actually harder than the RR in terms of the course so there could be more of a selection. As planned Chris and I covered most of the early moves. Then a big move hit about half way up the climb. Chris and I tagging along, but the group was too big and slowed, then a counter hit it hard. Chris jumped right on the back of it, while I did a false tempo to open up the gap. This was a decent size move and looked like it was gone, but as the crest go through the feed zone I see Chris and a few other tail off and not make it over the top with a select few. DAMN that was the move and we knew it.. The pack catches everyone except 4 riders on the decent. Chris and I are in an all to familiar situation, almost making the one move that looks promising and then stuck with a bunch of riders that are willing to let the race turn into a tea party. The odd thing was that all the GC contenders missed the move as well, but the big teams were represented.
The circuit race included 8 laps of a 5.6mile loop with about 400' of climbing each lap. Basically a long gradual climb fallowed by a fast decent with a flat/rolling section through the start finish at the bottom of the decent. Nothing too steep but it is climbing. Again the plan was simple stay near the front and get in the moves, and have me go for the Sprint time bonuses to keep anyone from overtaking Chris on GC. The Circuit race is actually harder than the RR in terms of the course so there could be more of a selection. As planned Chris and I covered most of the early moves. Then a big move hit about half way up the climb. Chris and I tagging along, but the group was too big and slowed, then a counter hit it hard. Chris jumped right on the back of it, while I did a false tempo to open up the gap. This was a decent size move and looked like it was gone, but as the crest go through the feed zone I see Chris and a few other tail off and not make it over the top with a select few. DAMN that was the move and we knew it.. The pack catches everyone except 4 riders on the decent. Chris and I are in an all to familiar situation, almost making the one move that looks promising and then stuck with a bunch of riders that are willing to let the race turn into a tea party. The odd thing was that all the GC contenders missed the move as well, but the big teams were represented.
As the lap cards ticked down the gap grew and I grew more and more frustrated with our current situation. With 3 laps to go I told Chris I was going to see if we can get it within range and hit the front on the climb and drilled it! They yellow jersey, Chris and a few others pull through, but I tell Chris to not do too much work because I wanted him to counter if if something goes again.
With 2 laps to go I ease off a bit as other start to pull here and there. I chat with Chris and he says he's having an off day and I should ride for the stage and not worry about his GC because the guys up the road are likely gone. I move to the front and the yellow jersey rider is still pulling hard with no one else helping him. As we hit the rough patch of road where the road kicks a tad steeper he hits it and I follow. Through the feed zone the gap has grown and we gained another rider but the pack is now slowing to get their feed. I hammer it over the top and on the decent we rotate. Unfortunately the other rider with us has a man in the break so he is just sitting on for the ride. So it is the yellow jersey and I motoring along. At the bottom of the decent we had gained two more riders, but they were gassed from chasing us down.
We get the bell lap and have a pretty solid gap and keep motoring hard on the climb. The yellow jersey doing a lot of work and me doing tad less with one of the other riders who was not represented in the break pulling here and there. We make the hard right onto the decent and take a check how far back the pack is and I can't see anyone, just pull through the decent to kept the momentum going. I lay off the gas, but after about 3 laps of drilling it on the climb I am starting to feel the effects. I start taking a look at who has been sitting in this entire time, (2) guys with teammates up the road an (1) guy who says he going for the stage and does not care about GC...then we catch another rider who had been dropped from the break. We hit the final 1km in a group of 6 and 3 up the road... I move to the back to see how it is going to unfold. The yellow jersey leading us out, I slide up on the outside as everyone is in gutter and keep a rider or two boxed in. We hit the final roller and headwind... I jump first (no patience) give it all I got left...it looks like I am gonna get it but I start to slow a tad from using too big a gear on the roller...I end up getting 7th (4th of my group that I towed along for 2 laps)..about 6inches from 5th and one bike length from 4th. We finished 2min down on the winning break and 1min ahead of the pack. I shot up the GC board from 36th after the TT, 26th after the RR, then 8th after the Circuit. A little bittersweet as Chris and I traded spots on GC and I couldn't deliver a better result in the Stage sprinting from my small group....that should be where I have the advantage.
We get the bell lap and have a pretty solid gap and keep motoring hard on the climb. The yellow jersey doing a lot of work and me doing tad less with one of the other riders who was not represented in the break pulling here and there. We make the hard right onto the decent and take a check how far back the pack is and I can't see anyone, just pull through the decent to kept the momentum going. I lay off the gas, but after about 3 laps of drilling it on the climb I am starting to feel the effects. I start taking a look at who has been sitting in this entire time, (2) guys with teammates up the road an (1) guy who says he going for the stage and does not care about GC...then we catch another rider who had been dropped from the break. We hit the final 1km in a group of 6 and 3 up the road... I move to the back to see how it is going to unfold. The yellow jersey leading us out, I slide up on the outside as everyone is in gutter and keep a rider or two boxed in. We hit the final roller and headwind... I jump first (no patience) give it all I got left...it looks like I am gonna get it but I start to slow a tad from using too big a gear on the roller...I end up getting 7th (4th of my group that I towed along for 2 laps)..about 6inches from 5th and one bike length from 4th. We finished 2min down on the winning break and 1min ahead of the pack. I shot up the GC board from 36th after the TT, 26th after the RR, then 8th after the Circuit. A little bittersweet as Chris and I traded spots on GC and I couldn't deliver a better result in the Stage sprinting from my small group....that should be where I have the advantage.
Placing: 7th James E., 25th Chris B.
Overall GC: 8th James E., 15th Chris.
Up Next Chris, Matt, Pascal, and I will be racing the Cat 2s at San Dimas.
Tour De Murrieta - E2
In the 2s, Swamis had Matt Shackley raced all three days, I raced the crit and circuit race, and Pascal Bonaventure raced the circuit race on Sunday.
Stage 1 TT: 4.1 mile rolling TT with a gradual 1 mile climb on DIRT/GRAVEL. Matt decided to use a standard road bike due to the final kicker and gravel road. He kept it upright and clocked a time good enough for 11th.
Stage 2 Crit: The Crit was a (6) corner flat and technical course with a two quick left hand turns before a 500m+ finishing straight. As planned Matt got in a few moves, but nothing was sticking for more than a lap or so. I tried to stay near the front and out of trouble. With 15min to go there was a prime for a full Nalani kit, one rider jumped near me so I jumped to follow and saw that no one else was. I easily grabbed the prime and waited to get eaten up by the pack. With 2 to go I was little too far back and moved up into the top 5 into the double left hand turn. I was on the outside and in good position for the finish, the sprint basically started 400m out of the last turn and I stayed tucked in, I saw a few riders coming up the left side with 200m to go, I had daylight to my right and went for it on the outside, little did I know but we were already charging at about 43mph and unfortunately I didn't have any more gas to give it and cruised in for 11th. Pretty happy with the finish for my 1st Cat 2 race, just need to work on that top end a bit.
Stage 3 Circuit: We raced 16 laps of a 3.5 mile circuit with a few rollers and one gradual climb, but basically flat. We had Pascal, Matt and myself racing. The plan was simple, get Pascal and Matt to get in every move over the first 2/3rds of the race and if it were a bunch sprint they would get to the front and try to lead me around the technical last few corners to the final corner. Pascal attacked from the gun then Matt and Pascal continued to trade off initiating moves or following moves. The three of us got to the front and drilled it to bring back a dangerous looking move that we missed. Then Pascal attacked with a Lagrange rider, they got a good gap just before the Pro 1 break and then peloton pass neutralized us. The gap hung around 2 minutes for 5 laps and then after a heated lap off attacks in the bunch the gap dropped to 1min. So with 1/3 of the race left they were brought back. Matt then attacked with a few other riders. Matt drove it hard to establish a good gap and the small group of five continued to drill it. After a lap or two Matt and another rider popped, and they fell back into the field.
The last lap or two were pretty slow as the peloton was content to let the group of 3 stay away. I moved up into good position then on the last lap everyone was really riding slow and I just set a tempo near the front to be ready to jump when the pace eventually started flying again. Coming into the last few corners I was in the top five or so, some LaGrange guys started drove the pace with 1km to go, they drilled it into the 3rd to last corner and I was 3rd wheel focusing on staying in the draft and followed their line..big mistake they took it wide and went off into the gravel, I kept it upright and jumped back up, this caused a small gap to form and now I was second wheel, but soon after the LaGrange guy pulled off and I was at the front, I have it a little bit of gas to get through the hard left safely and then I planned on tucking in top five out of that turn and hitting it just before the final turn. As I was setting up to take the turn (2) riders jumped late on the inside (I won't name names or teams) and one on the outside. The guys on the inside were coming in way to hot into this corner that riders had hit the dirt on previously laps. They basically took out the guy who had the race line on the outside and I was right behind all this mess with a bike going over my left shoulder. I tried to slow and do some more offroading by taking the it wide in desperation to slow down. Ended up slamming my front wheel into one guy on the ground and endoing onto his bike or knee with all the force hitting my thigh. Luckily myself, my bike, my kit, and newish race wheels are all good. Walking with a limp, but went for an easy spin today and everything feels "ok". Matt and Pascal were behind all this carnage and made it safely across the line with the bunch after a fun and active day of racing. I ended up 20th overall in the Omnium.
Up Next Chris B. and I will be out at Tucson then we will have a full Cat 2 squad racing at San Dimas.
Stage 1 TT: 4.1 mile rolling TT with a gradual 1 mile climb on DIRT/GRAVEL. Matt decided to use a standard road bike due to the final kicker and gravel road. He kept it upright and clocked a time good enough for 11th.
Stage 2 Crit: The Crit was a (6) corner flat and technical course with a two quick left hand turns before a 500m+ finishing straight. As planned Matt got in a few moves, but nothing was sticking for more than a lap or so. I tried to stay near the front and out of trouble. With 15min to go there was a prime for a full Nalani kit, one rider jumped near me so I jumped to follow and saw that no one else was. I easily grabbed the prime and waited to get eaten up by the pack. With 2 to go I was little too far back and moved up into the top 5 into the double left hand turn. I was on the outside and in good position for the finish, the sprint basically started 400m out of the last turn and I stayed tucked in, I saw a few riders coming up the left side with 200m to go, I had daylight to my right and went for it on the outside, little did I know but we were already charging at about 43mph and unfortunately I didn't have any more gas to give it and cruised in for 11th. Pretty happy with the finish for my 1st Cat 2 race, just need to work on that top end a bit.
Stage 3 Circuit: We raced 16 laps of a 3.5 mile circuit with a few rollers and one gradual climb, but basically flat. We had Pascal, Matt and myself racing. The plan was simple, get Pascal and Matt to get in every move over the first 2/3rds of the race and if it were a bunch sprint they would get to the front and try to lead me around the technical last few corners to the final corner. Pascal attacked from the gun then Matt and Pascal continued to trade off initiating moves or following moves. The three of us got to the front and drilled it to bring back a dangerous looking move that we missed. Then Pascal attacked with a Lagrange rider, they got a good gap just before the Pro 1 break and then peloton pass neutralized us. The gap hung around 2 minutes for 5 laps and then after a heated lap off attacks in the bunch the gap dropped to 1min. So with 1/3 of the race left they were brought back. Matt then attacked with a few other riders. Matt drove it hard to establish a good gap and the small group of five continued to drill it. After a lap or two Matt and another rider popped, and they fell back into the field.
The last lap or two were pretty slow as the peloton was content to let the group of 3 stay away. I moved up into good position then on the last lap everyone was really riding slow and I just set a tempo near the front to be ready to jump when the pace eventually started flying again. Coming into the last few corners I was in the top five or so, some LaGrange guys started drove the pace with 1km to go, they drilled it into the 3rd to last corner and I was 3rd wheel focusing on staying in the draft and followed their line..big mistake they took it wide and went off into the gravel, I kept it upright and jumped back up, this caused a small gap to form and now I was second wheel, but soon after the LaGrange guy pulled off and I was at the front, I have it a little bit of gas to get through the hard left safely and then I planned on tucking in top five out of that turn and hitting it just before the final turn. As I was setting up to take the turn (2) riders jumped late on the inside (I won't name names or teams) and one on the outside. The guys on the inside were coming in way to hot into this corner that riders had hit the dirt on previously laps. They basically took out the guy who had the race line on the outside and I was right behind all this mess with a bike going over my left shoulder. I tried to slow and do some more offroading by taking the it wide in desperation to slow down. Ended up slamming my front wheel into one guy on the ground and endoing onto his bike or knee with all the force hitting my thigh. Luckily myself, my bike, my kit, and newish race wheels are all good. Walking with a limp, but went for an easy spin today and everything feels "ok". Matt and Pascal were behind all this carnage and made it safely across the line with the bunch after a fun and active day of racing. I ended up 20th overall in the Omnium.
Up Next Chris B. and I will be out at Tucson then we will have a full Cat 2 squad racing at San Dimas.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Calville Bay Classic - E3
Stage 1: TT
Course: 3.5 mile uphill TT with a huge tail wind.
Report: I rode a standard road bike as many others did. Although a lot of pros had road bikes with disks to try to get a extra push up the hill from the wind. My time of 9:27 was good enough for 24th of about 70 riders, but only about 10 seconds off the top ten on GC. I paced it about right I didn’t blow up on the last kicker, but then you always wonder could have I pushed it harder earlier? I was happy with my time and knew I was more of a stage hunter anyways.
Placing: 24th
Stage 2: Road Race
Course: 70 miles of endless rollers and (2) turnarounds that ended up climbing over 5,000 ft.
Report: Well the weather was not nice to me today. Just about the time we start warming up the temperature drops and the rain starts coming down. Not to mention that the wind is howling. I bundle up and hope for the best. On our way to the first turnaround everyone notices that there will be a string cross wind all day. I end up chatting with some friends near the back after jumping with a Ritta guy off the front to realize that my oversized rain cape is pretty much a sail in these conditions. As we climb up the turnaround I am still in calm collected state chatting with some Catalyst Racing riders. Then all hell breaks loose, I notice that riders at the front are sprinting down the hill as I am about to reach the turnaround that is a tight 180 that most everyone is taking at a snail’s pace. I jump hard out of the 180 and find a wheel…he’s getting gapped so I try to jump across on the decent and my wind cape is not helping at this moment. I literally did an all out sprint down the hill just to barely get back on just as we start a climb that the leaders are hammering up. I am yo-yo-ing at this point and over the top in the cross wind I totally pop, to find Jason Holden in the same situation, we work together to catch on again just to get popped in the cross wind for a second time. After blowing all my matches at mile 20 of a 70 mile race I luckily find a nice groupetto to ride with. Jason Holden (Wolf Pack), Hubert (UCC), and Richard (Catalyst) from SD and a few others complete the remaining 50mile training ride telling jokes and trying to warm out freezing limbs as the hail pounds down on us. As we rode on we say many riders pull out and riders just popping all over the course due to the insane weather and cross winds.
Placing: 48th
Stage 3: Crit. 35min (all races were shortened)
Course: Technical, narrow, and with a nice rise in it. The final turn was a sweeping 180 turn slightly off camber.
Report: On a normal day I would have bailed on the miserable road race, but I was looking forward to the possibility of a dry technical crit with a small climb in it. My kind of course. The pace from the gun was pretty quick which was nice because it kept it strung out and safe (for the most part). For the first 15min or so I just stayed up near the front making sure I could watch the moves and take the corners at full speed. One Specialized junior and a strong Helens rider jumped and I was in a good position to follow. One other rider came with as the pack sat and watched.
Everyone in the move was committed and was working well so we got a gap of 10 to 15 seconds pretty quick. People on the sidelines was thinking the break could stick, but it was still early in the race and being a stage race I knew the chances were numbered. The gap was holding but not increasing. Another rider jumped across to us and added some horsepower. This caused a chain reaction in the pack that ended up killing the break. OK so now sit in for another 15min for the sprint. I drifted back to mid-pack as the pace slowed and was supersized on how sketchy it was sitting back here. So I get the hell out of there and move up just as I get back to the top 5 or 6 riders I hear a crash behind us. The kid was OK, but glad I moved up when I did. In the last few laps my friends from Catalyst Racing were all massed at the front planning a lead out for their sprinter Matt, I fight for Matt’s wheel as the laps tick down. It shuffled a bit before the last lap and I was now second wheel as their last lead out man hits the front he ramps it up and pulls off with about a half lap to go (halfway up the climb), I am now leading it out, Matt is on my wheel and we go over the top and then down into the final turn. On the back straight a few riders hit it hard on the outside, I jump but had to slot in 3rd into the last corner. I hear a crash as I am exiting the fast off camber turn and unfortunately Matt who was on my wheel rolled a tire (but walked away without much damage to him or his bike). I give it all I had but the finish was too short and we finish in the order we entered the last turn. So I get a spot on the podium and had fun getting in a good break and staying up near all the action….but damn so close to the Win in my final Cat 3 race.
Placing: 3rd
Overall GC Placing: 33rd 36:57 back…ouch
Out of 70 starters only 37 finished the Stage Race
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