The weather was again dreadful, but that was to be expected. However, I thought this would be the year that I don't DNF this race and maybe get a result. I've been feeling especially strong this year and was sure I could do it. I knew that there would be a break and it would likely go early, and it did. I didn't think it would be a total gutterfest as it was realatively calm.
After about 10miles of racing a break of 3 had gone up the road, and after a few miles of people trying to bridge I was able to get off the front with a rider from Rica Buerger. I went during a short lull in the chasing just before a hill and we got a monster gap right away. A few minutes of rotating and we saw 2008 State RR Champ Mr. Wheeler himself making his way across solo. We agreed to wait up as we had a much better chance of getting across with him than without. Once on, we decided it was all or nothing, kill it getting up to the front group or we would be swallowed up and probably not have a chance at a result.
During our chase the front blew in and we had 30+mph winds, tough conditions when you are out there for almost an hour. Needless to say we didn't get across, we did close it down, but not all the way. What was left of the front group (about 10 guys) got us in sight and then Wenger and an ex-Toyota rider bridged up. By then we were all gassed. We dropped Rica Beurger, then Wheeler started having problems but we waited up. Then I had a hard turn and missed tagging back on and that was it. I had a 60min NP of 330w again! Totally drained I limped back to the finish and had to call it a day.
Pacebend:
I woke up around 8am and felt great, really great. The race was 80miles but on such a short circuit it races like a crit.
I was told the work the early stuff and I did. After the second time up the steep back section a few riders had a gap and I saw Blackgrove gun it, for what ever reason I jumped on his wheel and we where off. Wow we were off. He pulled so hard I thought i wouldn't be able to rotate through. After looking at my powerfile I saw that I was doing 400-420w just sitting on his wheel. I for sure burnt a handfull of matches on that effort, maybe not the smartest move but what can you do when you have a gap? I tried a few other moves that had promise, then that was it. I sat in the last 45miles hoping to recover enough to help the team. No dice, just didn't have the power to stay at the front when it got strung out.
I'm still pretty happy with the weekend. I had 3 weeks of very hard training and the 3rd week was told to dig a bit of a hole as I would have the week of the race to dig back out. I dug back out no problem but was flat due to the lack of miles and intensity that i'm used to.
Next week is Lago Vista!
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