Race: Regalado Road Race P12
Course: 72mi w/ long promenade then an almost totally flat 17mile loop with a 2mile gravel section (some hard pack near center of road and loose and deep towards the shoulder) then a series of small roller leading into the finish which is on top of the last roller. Not exactly my ideal course, but what the hell the gravel always breaks stuff up in races.
Result: 4th Place
Report: The lack of hills attracted a few more riders, but the gravel probably turned others away. But that didn't stop Chuck (MarcPro) & 6 Team Mikes Bikes guys (Roman, Dana, Rainier, Steve O., Marcus, and Jacob) from showing up. A few other teams had minor representation but it was clearly a team practice for TMB. I heard through the grapevine the TMB was planning on rolling deep so I had a quick chat with Tim the night before and again had a loose but effective plan. Stay near the front, and just play the odds game, only committing to a break when TMB has good enough odds that they will pull too, since they have the firepower to bring back just about any move in the ~25 person field..
Lap 1: Not that eventful until the gravel, a few riders were up the road by odds were not in TMB favor so it was not a real threat. Pace slows before the narrow left into the gravel. I kept some momentum on the outside and hit the corner fast, but didn't realize it turned to gravel just after the turn and hit some loose stiff but kept it upright the rider from Japan behind me was lost all momentum into the gravel just keeping it upright. I powered along able to pick my clean line through the gravel and eventually made it to the back of that small group. The There were a few loose turns that caught riders off guard. The front group and bridging riders from the field were really going for it here. As you exit the gravel it is a gradual climb and some rollers begin. Roman, Dana, Rainier, Chuck and a few others attacked during this stretch. I focused on following any move that had odds in favor of TMB and not worrying about the other attacks. After several minutes of attacks and Chuck sneaking off the front solo, I have enough time to look behind and it is clear the pack is split in half with only Roman and Dana from TMB making the move.
Lap 2, 3 & 4: The group of about 8 or 9 works pretty evenly and well together with the odds not exactly in favor of TMB yet so they are kinda soft pedaling. Chuck is off the front but within sight never more that 60seconds or so ahead of us. The pack is within sight behind, but not gaining either so all good just pull through and eat/drink up. Eventually Rainier bridges up with a Davis rider so the odds just turned in the favor of TMB, they take to the front and get everyone else to pitch in as well, but I try to cool the jets a bit knowing they will not play nice forever. Chuck stays on a shorter leash now and eventually we catch him on the 3rd lap. Now the group is up to about 10 or 11 and the real fun begins. So for about 2 full laps TMB just rotates attacking while Chuck, myself and maybe one or two other riders in the group mark their moves. Chuck did most the marking I was 2nd and then the rest of the riders filled in the gaps. It was clear that they didn't want to drag Chuck to the finish and we could always muster up enough riders to help bring a solo TMB guy back if anyone missed marking one of their attacks. So this translates to doing a 1hr + long sprint workout, riders jumping all over the road from either side, drilling it in the gutter then realizing they are not going anywhere and sitting up just in time for another rider to go. Everyone was stubborn enough to not let anything go but also stubborn enough to allow each rider to just kick them in the balls kind is this what Fight Club is like?
The Finale: By this time we were down to 8 in the break. Before the final time through the gravel a Davis rider snuck off, and everyone looked to TMB bring it back. Roman gave the order for Rainier to drive it through the dirt and keep the pressure on. The Davis rider was persistent and Rainer remained on the front until ~2km to go and it was pretty clear the Davis guy would get adsorbed in the last 1km. Roman took off with 1KM or less to go everyone looked at each other, I didn't have much snap in the legs so I let it go and watched Dana and Chuck, the cat and mouse began. At about 150m (uphill) Dana actually opened it up first with Chuck and I jumping immediately, Chuck was able to grab the Win, Dana 2nd, but I had no real pop left and was in too big a gear when the last ramp hit my legs. I faded at the top and was not able to catch Roman before the line. Everyone's legs in the break were shot so I was able to hold on to 4th Place despite a bad sprint. Really wanted that podium today, but still happy considering the odds I was up against and slotting in behind Chuck, Dana, and Roman is pretty good in my book. Overall one exciting, fun, and HARD race.
Strava File: http://app.strava.com/
Data Geek Info:
Time: 2hr 50m
Speed: 23.6mph
Norm Power: 232w
Intensity Factor: 0.86
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