Spring Series Road Race: April 25th, 2010

Sorry that's it's been a whie without a post. I had fully intended to post some stuff while we were in Japan. But seriously, who has the time?

Anyway, here's a race report from the Spring Series Road Race this weekend. Just an informal fun race, but good times!

Spring Series Road Race: April 25th, 2010

There was a lot of red and a lot of blue on the start line. I think ERTC and Juventus made up about two thirds of the field. Trouble for us handful of Lone Wolves. If there was ever any question about Hardcore and Fiera working together, it was settled quickly. We needed each other.

This one was a bit spicy from the start. I think it took all of about 4 minutes before the first ERTC attack. Though it didn't last long, it was followed immediately by ERTC attack (hereafter ERT'ack) #2. Tracy and the Juventus group did an admirable job of keeping the ERT'acks in check for most of the first few laps (when ERTC wasn't chasing down their own guys anyway). ;)

On the fourth of six laps (on about the 8th ERT'ack), a Juventus rider managed to get away also, prompting a collective slow-down from the remaining two thirds of the ERTC-Juve peloton. Suddenly our day got a lot harder.

Jan had been getting away with a few of the ERT'acks and Pat had been honourably helping to pull in the few others. They showed great form (in Pat's first road race ever!) and were doing a fair bit of work early on, but I was hoping they still had some fuel. With two and half laps to go, a widening 30 second gap to the break, and ERTC-Juve soft pedaling at the front, I knew we had to get moving.

With only a few 1200W pedal-strokes, Joe was up the outside and leading the group, me safely on his wheel, Pat and Jan close behind. The pack responded nicely and held us without drama, but the pace was set. Joe pulled his share and slid aside as I moved to the front. Getting away from the group wasn't happening, but the pace was up and we were bridging quickly. My legs started to falter, so I looked over my shoulder expecting to see Jan, Joe, or Pat: nothing but a sea of red and blue. Shit.

Well, I was committed now, so I finished the bridge to the break in about a half-lap and promptly sat up to find my lungs and quietly throw up in my mouth. And wouldn't you know it, the next ERT'ack left without a seconds hesitation. Good on you guys. But screw you all the same.

It didn't take long for the ERT'ack to get a good gap on what was left of the peloton. Jan was still in the thick of it, but I didn't see Joe or Pat. Two ERTCs were away alone for the better part of the next lap, and the peloton seemed to be faltering. We weren't going to catch them. So, with just over a lap to go, I decided (at the very least) that I would make this last ERT'ack work for it. I took off on my own and (with a bit of help from Travis, I found out later), I got away and began bridging myself.

It only took a mile of cross-wind or so to halve the gap to the break, but turning with the tailwind changed that. I made a little ground but not much more until we again turned with the cross-wind. I managed to finish the bridge just before we turned into the headwind (lucky for me, as I never could have caught them into the wind). Surprisingly, the ERTC duo seemed happy to have me sit on a wheel and recover for a few minutes before we started pulling back through the wind towards the finish.

Approaching the last corner (the pack long behind and only a mile to go), we got the 'Stop' sign from the marshall (we were yielding to traffic on this day). The three of us coasted into the corner just slow enough for traffic to clear. I figured I was toast if I let these two get out in front of me, so I used the sprint-from-stop the best I could to get away. I put my head down and went. I could hear the humming of carbon wheels behind me for a few pedal strokes, but they gradually faded and I managed to stay out front to the finish.

ERTC did an awesome job of keeping it interesting for all of us today, so thanks to Travis and the crew for that. Congrats to Pat on his first road race. He showed excellent composure and looked like a steady veteran in the pack. Jan did his share of work early on, which made all of our lives easier later on, so thanks for that! And Joe, solid the whole way, got the first bridge started off right.

Stefan also deserves credit for holding his own with the A Group all day. The shenanigans of the B Group are kiddy play compared to the heavies up in A. Nice job Stefan!

And of course, special thanks to Becky for cheering and taking photos (and freezing), all in the name of team support. Woot!

Posted some photos on my Flickr here. Thanks again Becky!