Similar to last year, SquadraSF sent a few riders out to this somewhat local road-race with terrain for everyone. This year we were hoping to turn our luck around.
Race: Panoche Valley RR http://panochevalley.org/
Result: 1st Place!
Weather: Perfect temps but
extreme winds (blowing in the opposite direction than usual) headwind
out, cross tailwind back, with the 5 mile stretch on either side of the
turnaround having the usual crazy crosswinds.
Report: The notable guys
to watch were Eric Wohlberg (DS of Optum, 3 time
Olympian, ?x Canadian national champ....), Shawn R (TMB), and about 6
Marc-Pro Stava guys. So about 25 starters rolled out into an insane
headwind, it was actually kinda sketchy due to everyone trying to avoid
the wind yet stay near the front and do no work. The first portion of
the early main climb was mellow, but as the climb got steeper it became
more isolated and the attackes started coming, a few early ones no one
paid any attention to then Marc Pro hits it and the pace goes from
moderate to hard as hell. A selection was made here, I had to jump
across a gap after someone a few wheels in front of me lost contact.
Things looked good with Lee and I making the selection but towards the
top Lee's knee started acting up and he had to cool the jets. Jason,
Giuseppe, and Jesse, were farther back when this split happened so I was
alone in a group of about 8 or so. Since the odds were not in Squadra's
favor at this point I tried to balance not doing any work and keeping
my break-mates happy.
When we hit the 90deg left into the cross wind, I hit the front hard knowing this is where the race
got torn to pieces last year. Eventually Eric put in a big dig that I
immediately jumped on. Eric basically did a HUGE 3-5min effort with me
doing everything I could to ride the edge of the gutter and try stay in
his draft. We (or more like he) opened a pretty big gap and I though
this may stick, but it eventually came back closer to the top of the
false flat just with a few less riders in tow. At the turnaround, the
main field was actually coming back to our group, probably less than
30sec behind, From what I later found out, Jason, Giuseppe, and Jesse
who were caught out in second group on the main climb expected the chase
group to have no problem bring our group back, but it appeared everyone
was either faking it or tired in their group and they had to do most
the work to close it to a bridgeable distance.
Just after the turnaround Mark, Eric again puts everyone in the gutter and only Art and I stay with him. Over the top Evan Rudd (Freemont Bank) latches on. So now Teeter (MPS) and Taylor (MPS) are together up the road with about a 1minute gap and only a small gap to group behind. Teeter flats, but our group is clearly tired now, the odds are much better so I put my head down with Eric and Evan, Art is just sitting on since he has 1 teammate up the road. Eric and I doing most the work bring the gap down before the main climb. I hit the climb pretty hard in a few spots and Evan fades, but Taylor pushes on solo. Finally on the final few rollers we bring back Taylor, Eric hits it really hard over the top of me to make sure we punch Taylor's ticket and don't have to deal with (2) MPS guys in the finale.
Just after the turnaround Mark, Eric again puts everyone in the gutter and only Art and I stay with him. Over the top Evan Rudd (Freemont Bank) latches on. So now Teeter (MPS) and Taylor (MPS) are together up the road with about a 1minute gap and only a small gap to group behind. Teeter flats, but our group is clearly tired now, the odds are much better so I put my head down with Eric and Evan, Art is just sitting on since he has 1 teammate up the road. Eric and I doing most the work bring the gap down before the main climb. I hit the climb pretty hard in a few spots and Evan fades, but Taylor pushes on solo. Finally on the final few rollers we bring back Taylor, Eric hits it really hard over the top of me to make sure we punch Taylor's ticket and don't have to deal with (2) MPS guys in the finale.
Success, with just over 15mi to go it is just the (3) of us racing
for the win. Honestly I was content waiting for the 3 up sprint, but
since Art had been sitting on ALL DAY as he should have, it was time for
Eric and I to work him over a bit. Eric put in a bit attack, Art closes
it as expected, the pace slows, I counter, this time Art looks at Eric
and Eric just looks right back. I open up a pretty big gap quickly, and
think I might have a chance, a few miles into this effort, the moto
comes up yelling 20seconds, then I see the 10km to go sign, this almost
took the legs out from under me, I honestly thought there was like a
mile or two left. But I just keep saying to myself, its a tailwind, they
will be unorganized, its a tailwind, I can do this, this is my chance
at a solo win (I HAVE NEVER WON SOLO BEFORE). Next thing I know the ref
says 30second but I still have about 5mi left. At 5km to go I see some
riders in the distance, so I give it everything I got over the last
roller to look like I have fresh legs and to try to get out of sight
again. Finally I see the 1km to go sign, still kind of in shock that
this might actually happen. Sure enough I cross the line for the Win with no one in sight, unfortunately it was too windy to do a no hand salute like Dr. Wolfgang, but eh I'll take it!
Prize money was actually pretty good so I took the
SquadraSF crew (P1/2 and E3) to some Mexican food in Tres Pinos. Service
was not the best, food was good, and great to hand with everyone after
the race.
Results:
1st - James (me) Podium Shot
14th - Jason T (fitness is clearly coming back after his broken ankle, nice ride Jason, gonna be dangerous in a week or two!)
16th - Jesse C (he said this was the longest ride he has done in 2 months so nice work buddy!)
Lee, suffered some knee pain flare up which I hope is nothing
serious, but glad he didn't push through too much and will go get it
looked at in the next week or two.
Giuseppe, unfortunately was taken out by some crazy situation
on the decent prior to the turnaround, but looked strong out there, and
was in that second group before the decent fiasco.
Date Geek Info:
Time: 3:01
Dist: 67.5mi
Norm Power: 248w
Race winning effort: last 20min of race at 272w Norm power, good thing I had a tailwind and there was some lack of companionship behind!
