Saturday, April 14, 2012

Chico Stage Race - Pro/1/2


I was hesitant at first to register because a totally flat SR does not really suit me, but the chance to race a relatively low key stage race with Cat 2's picked separately was all the convincing I needed. I was the solo SquadraSF rider in a field of about 46.

Stage 1 - Paskenta Road Race: 90mi basically pancake flat, 2 x 45mile laps w/ 5mi gravel section and rollers towards the finish. Trying to learn from my experience missing the move at TopSport, I did my best to stay near the front. The field was a weird mix of riders. A few Elite teams with lots of riders then a few PRO riders, Kenda/5hr Energy, Jelly Belly, Wonderful Postaccios, Full Circle racing..... But ended up being a tea party until the gravel section each time around, with a few all out efforts as riders attacked and weer chased down in the cross wind. Oh yea and (2-3) full field nature breaks! So all the action was in the gravel section and the last few miles before the finish. 
Lap 1: Everyone was getting really anxious for the gravel section so the pace just kept increasing as we got closer and closer. I played it safe and fought my way to the very front just before we hit the gravel. Being able to pick my line and stay on the hard-pack sections really helped. I stayed top five through the entire gravel section, trying to sit on the biggest and best wheels of Roman (Kenda/5hr Energy) or Menso (Jelly Belly). The pace through the gravel was pretty aggressive, I recall towards the end of gravel section Roman, then Menso, then myself (why now right) attacking (or simply picking up the pace) in the final rollers. We entered the gravel with 40+ riders and by the end of the first lap we had about 15 riders.
Lap 2: Unfortunately the laps were LONG and all the represented teams had several riders that were dropped in the gravel section so no one rode. The single pro riders could have towed everyone around if they wanted but didn't out of principle. By the time we hit the gravel section for the final time the group had more than doubled in size. We exited the gravel in a group of about 30. Several attempts by riders to sneak off in the final few rolling miles were shut down. I followed one promising move which may have been my last match. As we hit the final stair step section before the finish, riders were popping all over the place and I was on the limit as well, getting gapped at one point and used all of whatever pathetic sprint was left in my legs to get back onto the group. The uphill sprint began and I was basically sprinting for the back wheels of the group to make sure no time gaps formed. Small success, I finished 18th of a shattered lead group of 22. 
http://app.strava.com/rides/6743453
Placing: 18th  


Stage 2 - TT (9.9 miles FLAT point to point TT): So not much to say except the course was totally flat without too much wind. Not my specialty here, was flying for the first 5min then faded in for the middle portion and tried to pick it back up as much as I could for the final 5min. Crossed the line in a time of 22:35 respectable, but was hoping for a little better. 
http://app.strava.com/rides/6836126
Placing: 29th  


Stage 3 - Downtown Chico Crit (70min)
Started at the front followed a few moves, and grabbed the first prime through short 6 corner crit course. After my 10-15min of glory riding near the front. I setteled back in the group and was just focusing on recovering for our 70min race. It was strung out 40 riders long for the first 30min. Finally the pace started to ease every now and again. Breaks were given more leway at this point and two riders snuck off and had a solid gap. A few laps later another group of two snuck off. As we hit the wide open start finish the back bollooned again I used the momentum to attack/bridge to the group of two. Everyone in our group of three was committed, and the odds were in our favor, Mikes Bikes and Freemont Bank were up the road and I was with a Red Peleton and Stage 17 rider. Within a few minutes we are already one corner ahead of the pack (thank you short technical course). After 15min we could see the peleton about a 2/3 a lap down and we were closing on the two leaders. After some motivational conversation, and 5 more minutes of drilling it we made it to the front two with 9 laps to go. At this point we were withing lapping range of the field, but took a little breather instead of lapping the field. Everyone was most concerned about moving up on GC so we shared the work equally keeping the same high pace.
Bell Lap: Coming into the final few corners I fought for good position and hit the final 150m second wheel (perfect), I began my sprint in the draft, but it was clear that I had no snap left after bridging then doing a 30min team TTT. With my unfortunate sprint I crossed the line in 4th of 5 (1st of the Cat 2's) 1min ahead of the chasing bunch. By far the most enjoyable day of racing in the P/1/2s yet. Moving me from around 23rd on GC to 8th overall! Being able to taste my first bit of success in the P/1/2 is motivating. 
http://app.strava.com/rides/6836128
Placing: 4th (1st of Cat 2's)
Overall GC: 8th  (3rd of Cat2's)