The Real Queen Stage.
After hearing so much about this race, I was half nervous and half anxious. It was hot and sunny by the time we arrived in Stillwater, and already the town was full of spectators walking the streets and lined up on "The Hill" for the amateur and women's races. Our start time was 1:30, just as the sun was at full strength. I forwent the trainer for warm-up since it was too hot, but instead got some laps in on the course. After the previous 2 days of not getting good starting positions due to everyone lining up 30 mintues before race time, I made sure I had a good spot today. After a good warmup I lined up in some shade near the front. Well it was the front for just a little while since thay called up the top 25 in GC and plus abuot 25 more people, but oh well it was only fair for them. The start was at the base of the climb, which we would be doing 20 times, or in my case 14. I really wanted to finish this race, but ater the 10th time up the 18% grade my legs were fried. The crowd was awesome though, and I even got a much needed push from a spectator when I got cut off by another rider and almost came to a stop on the hill. I was just focusing on keeping good rhytm on the ups, and not getting passed on the downhill. Eventually though I couldn't keep it going and got dropped on the hardest part of any climb, the section immediatley after it is over. I chased for 4 laps before being pulled, and my day was over. It was hotter than I thought because I went through 2 bottles of water real fast, and I didn't even last the whole race. I got to watch a great final 5 laps though with Rory Sutherland just crushing the field with 2 laps to go, leaving Tom Zirbel behind and bridging a 20 second gap to the break in less than half a lap. He would go on to win by 10 seconds, erasing Zirbels 7sec lead and stealing the yellow on the last day by 3 seconds on the last lap and the last climb of Nature Valley. It was a a pretty amazing finale to the week. Props to Colt for finishing and also Jim Camut for bridinging up to the break with Landis!
I was a bit dissapointed that I didn't reach the finish line with the main peloton in the any of the crits, but then again I did finish the week, and safely at that. I gained a ton of fitness and am looking forward to next 3 months of racing.
Also a big thanks to my mom for coming out for a couple days to help feed in the the RR's and our host family the Gorences for the house to stay in and the great food! Hopefully we will be back next year!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
NVGP Stage 5
Stage 5, Mankato RR
The queen stage. This was going to be a long day at 95 miles with a 2 mile finishing circuit of 4 laps and a killer hill thrown in each time for fun. Yet after the stage got underway there was a few aggressive moves to set up a 16 man break early. And since there was no overall GC contenders in the bunch, that meant easy pedaling for the the peloton. It was a very relaxed day in the main loop, riders chatting with each other and sharing cokes and food, it was actually half decent for a bike race. So while we left the real racing to the breakaway, Ciclismo realized that their Amateur jersey in the hands of Nick Frey was probably in trouble and started to chase at the front. Things heated up in the last 20 miles or so before the local laps and I worked to maintain my position out of trouble. There was a real bad crash on a super fast downhill and I saw Frank Pipp go down hard, caused by what I am guessing where the many deep linear cracks on the descent (I don't know how he got up and finished, but he did). The first of 4 local laps was a bit hectic for me, with another crash around the corner just prior to the climb, causing me to mis-shift, drop my chain, somehow peddle my chain back on and regain contact with the peloton. This was a little bit scary but I was climbing well and passing people. The second loop was a bit less eventful, in a good way, but on the third time up is when things got hard. I tried to get over the crest of the uphill with enough power and speed to keep the wheel infront of me insight, but I just didn't have the last bit of pop required. I tucked and chased on the downhill but they were already out of sight. The last time up the climb I went for broke, but on the downhill and flat section into the finish I got caught by a group behind me, and they received the same time as me. Overall I was pleased with the race, and I know I am so close to having the fitness to keep that contact when the race gets tough.
Colt had some bad luck with a flat right before the second feed, and got no help after a wheel change from the support car. He hooked up with Pipp who had fallen before but was denied access to the local laps and given a real shitty pro-rated time (27 minutes!). Somehow Pipp got in the local laps and finished with a much better time; odd?
If anyone knows how they pro-rate times for lapped and pulled riders in both criteriums and road races I would love some insight, because to me it seems very random and arbitrary.
The queen stage. This was going to be a long day at 95 miles with a 2 mile finishing circuit of 4 laps and a killer hill thrown in each time for fun. Yet after the stage got underway there was a few aggressive moves to set up a 16 man break early. And since there was no overall GC contenders in the bunch, that meant easy pedaling for the the peloton. It was a very relaxed day in the main loop, riders chatting with each other and sharing cokes and food, it was actually half decent for a bike race. So while we left the real racing to the breakaway, Ciclismo realized that their Amateur jersey in the hands of Nick Frey was probably in trouble and started to chase at the front. Things heated up in the last 20 miles or so before the local laps and I worked to maintain my position out of trouble. There was a real bad crash on a super fast downhill and I saw Frank Pipp go down hard, caused by what I am guessing where the many deep linear cracks on the descent (I don't know how he got up and finished, but he did). The first of 4 local laps was a bit hectic for me, with another crash around the corner just prior to the climb, causing me to mis-shift, drop my chain, somehow peddle my chain back on and regain contact with the peloton. This was a little bit scary but I was climbing well and passing people. The second loop was a bit less eventful, in a good way, but on the third time up is when things got hard. I tried to get over the crest of the uphill with enough power and speed to keep the wheel infront of me insight, but I just didn't have the last bit of pop required. I tucked and chased on the downhill but they were already out of sight. The last time up the climb I went for broke, but on the downhill and flat section into the finish I got caught by a group behind me, and they received the same time as me. Overall I was pleased with the race, and I know I am so close to having the fitness to keep that contact when the race gets tough.
Colt had some bad luck with a flat right before the second feed, and got no help after a wheel change from the support car. He hooked up with Pipp who had fallen before but was denied access to the local laps and given a real shitty pro-rated time (27 minutes!). Somehow Pipp got in the local laps and finished with a much better time; odd?
If anyone knows how they pro-rate times for lapped and pulled riders in both criteriums and road races I would love some insight, because to me it seems very random and arbitrary.
NVGP Stage 4
Stage 4 was a pancake flat 6 turn L-shape criterium in Uptown Minneapolis. Uptown is an awesome place, complete with great restaurants, bars and lots of amazing fans. It was almost 3 people deep the entire lengt h of the course. The crowds definitely helped me out, and gave me that little bit of extra motivation to keep the ridiculous speeds we were averaging, 29mph! Last Wednesday was the fastest crit I had ever done, and tonight just outdid it. Although it was not as hard, the fast corners forced me to keep my concentration the entire time. I tried moving up a couple of times throughout the race, but I was basically offsetting the people that were passing me as well. Nearing the end of the race there was a pretty bad crash in turn 4 and I barely swerved around it to keep some momentum going. Lo oking back I should have gotten off my bike and gone to the wheel pit like everyone else, but I was afraid of, A)Not getting a free lap, or B)Not being able to get back into the peloton with enough speed to make a free lap worth it. So I chased hard for that lap and got back on to the rear of the group. The final 6-8 laps I was basically tailgunning it and closing gaps that riders infront of me were creating. This took enough energy out of my legs that in the last lap I couldn't hold on anymore and got a 40 sec time gap. I was so close to actually finishing the crit with the main field, but I'm just glad I stayed upright.
Colt did a good job despite his injured k nee from Tulsa, and same with Jason, despite a rider barreling into the rear of him and braking his frame at the seat stay. Finishing a crit at those speeds and cornering on a neutral bike is pretty impressive, and something I am just barely able to do on my own bike.
Here's a sweet pic post race, the s treets must have been really dirty because we were covered in it, and our white handlebar tape was looked like we were out in the mud.
NVGP Stage 3
Stage 3, Cannon Falls RR
This 65 mile road race started in a small town about an hour southeast of our host house, in the countryside of Minnesota. The main 55 mile loop wasn't too bad, and the lack of wind surely helped. This would have been a much harder race to deal with if the winds were a factor. It finished with 5 laps of a 2 mile circuit once we arrived back in town. The racing begin once we got to the circuit. The hard part was the gravel (more like sand) section just prior to starting the circuits, and then a super fast downhill scattered with potholes. I almost got gaped here, but quickly moved up to establish decent positioning in the peloton for the start of the local laps. Each lap got faster and faster and there were many people coming backwards through the bunch. I was glad I did not try any moves while in the main loop because I needed every ounce of strength to close gaps and keep my positioning. I was doing good until the last lap when there were several gaps opening up and 2 crashes to avoid. I just missed contact with the main field and finished 28 seconds off the leader.
This 65 mile road race started in a small town about an hour southeast of our host house, in the countryside of Minnesota. The main 55 mile loop wasn't too bad, and the lack of wind surely helped. This would have been a much harder race to deal with if the winds were a factor. It finished with 5 laps of a 2 mile circuit once we arrived back in town. The racing begin once we got to the circuit. The hard part was the gravel (more like sand) section just prior to starting the circuits, and then a super fast downhill scattered with potholes. I almost got gaped here, but quickly moved up to establish decent positioning in the peloton for the start of the local laps. Each lap got faster and faster and there were many people coming backwards through the bunch. I was glad I did not try any moves while in the main loop because I needed every ounce of strength to close gaps and keep my positioning. I was doing good until the last lap when there were several gaps opening up and 2 crashes to avoid. I just missed contact with the main field and finished 28 seconds off the leader.
NVGP Stage 1 & 2
Colt and I arrived to Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon after the 6 hour drive from Chicago. We first stopped by the TT course for a recon pre-race ride. The TT route was an out an back flat course, finishing with a .4 mile uphill to the finish line. The only technical sections was the 180 turn-around and a pot-hole filled S-turn. After the ride we drove to our host house for showers and some dinner. The packet pickup was at a nearby hotel, with a managers meeting afterward. And since we didn't have a manager, all of us were forced to stay the entire hour listening to some pretty bad questions. We eventually made it home and got to sleep for the early wake up call the next morning.
Stage 1, TT
We awoke to mild temperatures with overcast and rainy skies. Colt was the first to go off at 10:22 followed by myself and then Jason 10 and 20 minutes after. I got a good warm-up in on the trainer, but looking back I probably could have gotten an even better one in. I rolled to the start line 6 minutes before my time to get my bike checked for UCI compliance. I am riding a borrowed TT bike from Robbie, and it has been working out great, I hardly had to adjust the position. But of course when the official asked to see me on the bike he first said that the angle of my elbows was not legal (I was too stretched out). But after a quick adjustment (consisting of me moving forward on the saddle, thus changing my elbow angle), he said I was OK to go. I need to do some more research on this, but it seems like being tall has it's disadvantages for legal TT positions. I mean aren't we at a disadvantage already since we need to push more wind than a shorter rider? Anyway, the TT went OK, and I would say most of time was lost in the turnaround, the technical S-turn and the final uphill. I haven't put in a ton of time on the TT bike, but as I do I'll get used to going fast on it. Colt Jason and I all finished within 5 seconds of eachother, in 77th, 78th and 84th place. This was also my first ever TT on an actual TT bike!
Stage 2, Lowertown St.Paul Criterium
The course was a 4 corner circuit in Uptown St. Paul with a gradual downhill through the start finish and uphill on the opposite side. The roads were in no great shape with several strategically placed potholes and manhole covers in the line of several corners. I had terrible starting position, and so my main focus was moving up. This was much easier said than done since I was basically offseting the people passing me as I was trying to move up in the field. Finally with about 13 laps to go I was close to last wheel and hurting. I started to become complacent around the corners and soon found myself flicking people through. The problem was there was no one left to come around me and grab a wheel, and I was chasing the gap I just opened for myself. This only lasted 3 laps and i got pulled by the officials. This has got to be one of the fastest crits I have done, and I quickly learned that losing concentration just for a second can prove costly. I got a prorated time 1:41 back, and dropped out of the top 100 in the GC.
Stage 1, TT
We awoke to mild temperatures with overcast and rainy skies. Colt was the first to go off at 10:22 followed by myself and then Jason 10 and 20 minutes after. I got a good warm-up in on the trainer, but looking back I probably could have gotten an even better one in. I rolled to the start line 6 minutes before my time to get my bike checked for UCI compliance. I am riding a borrowed TT bike from Robbie, and it has been working out great, I hardly had to adjust the position. But of course when the official asked to see me on the bike he first said that the angle of my elbows was not legal (I was too stretched out). But after a quick adjustment (consisting of me moving forward on the saddle, thus changing my elbow angle), he said I was OK to go. I need to do some more research on this, but it seems like being tall has it's disadvantages for legal TT positions. I mean aren't we at a disadvantage already since we need to push more wind than a shorter rider? Anyway, the TT went OK, and I would say most of time was lost in the turnaround, the technical S-turn and the final uphill. I haven't put in a ton of time on the TT bike, but as I do I'll get used to going fast on it. Colt Jason and I all finished within 5 seconds of eachother, in 77th, 78th and 84th place. This was also my first ever TT on an actual TT bike!
Stage 2, Lowertown St.Paul Criterium
The course was a 4 corner circuit in Uptown St. Paul with a gradual downhill through the start finish and uphill on the opposite side. The roads were in no great shape with several strategically placed potholes and manhole covers in the line of several corners. I had terrible starting position, and so my main focus was moving up. This was much easier said than done since I was basically offseting the people passing me as I was trying to move up in the field. Finally with about 13 laps to go I was close to last wheel and hurting. I started to become complacent around the corners and soon found myself flicking people through. The problem was there was no one left to come around me and grab a wheel, and I was chasing the gap I just opened for myself. This only lasted 3 laps and i got pulled by the officials. This has got to be one of the fastest crits I have done, and I quickly learned that losing concentration just for a second can prove costly. I got a prorated time 1:41 back, and dropped out of the top 100 in the GC.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Race Recaps, MO / IL / WI
I am currently in Minneapolis Minnesota for the Nature Valley Grand
Prix racing with team Richardson Bike Mart based out of Dallas. The
team here just consists of myself, Colt Trant and Jason Short. I will
have more race recaps for each stage as I get time to write them, but
for now I'll just recap the previous 3 races I did in the last couple
weeks.
Prix racing with team Richardson Bike Mart based out of Dallas. The
team here just consists of myself, Colt Trant and Jason Short. I will
have more race recaps for each stage as I get time to write them, but
for now I'll just recap the previous 3 races I did in the last couple
weeks.
Ofallon RR, St. Louis
Great course, almost identical in nature to Hillsboro Roubaix. The
only downside was that there were only about 20 riders in the P/1/2
field. 4 laps of 22 miles with lots of turns, short steep uphills and
exposed cross wind sections. I was having a good race, trying to get a
break going, wich didn't really work. So I let a group of 9 get away
and then soloed across to them. We rode in this group the whole time
until the last lap when things exploded. I got super sick with 30
miles to go, for whatever reason I don't know, but I was really
dehydrated and couldn't respond to anything. I crawled in the last 10
miles and got 10th, last in the break. I was bummed I didn't feel
better, but with the small field I figured it was better to feel bad
today then in a more important race later. This could be a great race
of the future if it can attract more riders. Thanks to Kim's sister
Heather and husband Kyle for the hospitality!
Winfield twightlight crit, IL
This is the first road cycling race I have done more than once in my
cycling career thus far. The course is great with a long steady climb
each lap. Colt was in town this week so he did the race, and we also
had good VQ representation today. Uneventful until 4 laps to go when I
got In a promising break with 3 other strong riders that I thought
would stick. We got caught with 2 to go, and even with a ton of help
from Colt to keep my position at the front I faltered a bit in the
last lap to finish 14th. Oh and we had many fans today which was
awesome!
Wisconsin state RR Champs (Spring Praire,WI)
78 mile RR, 12 laps with a very steep hill just before the start
finish. This is the second road race I have ever done more than once,
so I had some insight. First lap was a bit aggresive with an early
break, but it soon got pulled back. With about 6 laps to go a break
went free with a hard charge up the hill, consisting of the right
people to make it stick. I tried latching on with one other guy but I
just didn't have the legs to close the final small gap up to them. It
was a combination of not fully commiting to the move and my legs
yelling at me to sit up. Well they indeed stayed away and the rest of
the race I conserved for the final push up the hill. The 12th and last
time up tge hill I was second wheel with one other rider on my tail
and we gapped the field. But yet again I didnt have the legs to make
the final push for the field sprint, so I ended up 3rd, for a final
placing of 7th overall.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Memorial Weekend Racing
Four great races this past weekend. Here's a short recap on each.
Burlington Road Race, 80 miles.
The weather was very nice, a little warm, but it got cooler as the race progressed. Since this was my first time doing any of these races, I was mainly relying on other people's advice on how to handle each one, while trying to use my best racing knowledge. This race was pretty easy, and I spent almost no energy the whole time (around 173 watts for 3hrs). I stayed near the front but completely out of the wind. There was a break of about 8 that got away early, but judging from people's advice on how it would most likely come back together, I didn't worry too much. ABD and a few other people chased hard the second half of the race and brought the break back with less than 10 miles to go. I was being a bit more aggressive at this point just to stay near the front. There were several teams that were well represented, and they put their numbers to good use going into the final sprint. They were at least 2-3 lead-out trains from the teams with enough r iders to put them together and the speeds got pretty fast into the final K's. The finish was a little dicey because of the fast speeds, downhill sprint, and many riders pulling off the front and coming backwards through the charging 90+ person field sprint. It was sort of a dodge and weave sprint that I wasn't going to contest, so I rode smart across the line in 38th position.
Snake Alley Criterium
Of all races to not clip in immediately when the gun goes off, this is the one. So of course it took me 2 tries and about 4 seconds too long to attach myself to the bike. I probably lost 10-15 positions in this little mishap, but that's not the reason I didn't make the money today. The real reason is that I cannot corner in the rain as fast as many other people, at least not right now. Since the skies decided to open up just before our race was getting underway, the roads were fully saturated. I thought the snake was hard, but completely manageable. It is much nicer to ascend it first in first out, and whenever I did that I usually came out of it with a gap behind me. I will look forward to doing this race again in dry conditions, or when I learn to have no fear in the descending in the rain, whichever comes first. 30th on the day.
Melon City Criterium
This was my favorite race of the weekend. 40 laps of a non-technical course that was fast and hard. The hill each lap took enough out of people to make it a tough race, but not enough to allow a break to stay away. I went into today knowing that I wanted to be very aggressive, and I wanted to be in a break. I accomplished my goal and got into a break a bit past the halfway point, but we were reeled back within 2 laps. I conserved after that until the finish, trying to improve my position on the downhill and sustain or lose a few spots on the uphill to save energy. Going into the final 3 laps I had an OK spot in the field, but there was a 10 man break that got caught, so my OK position turned into another 30th, which is the place I finished in. Lesson learned here is get into top 10 with 2 to go, and go all out on the final hill all the way into the finish. Oh and I got some major air over the huge speed bump at the bottom of the 45 mph hill each lap.
Quad City Criterium
I kept reading how this race was being described as a cage match, and I didn't quite get it until I arrived at the course to see much of it enclosed by chicken-wire fencing. The only thing that this does is keep people off the course, because I saw first hand that it definitely doesn't keep riders inside the course. 8 turns a lap x 50 laps = 400 corners to navigate, and I did everyone of them very well, some others weren't as fortunate. This was my turning point for the season on gaining my confidence back in getting around corners safe, efficient and without sacrificing positioning. Some things that contributed to this improvement were a change in tires (Switched from Continental GrandPrix to Michelin ProRace3), lowering my tire pressure (Higher for road races, a lot lower for crits), and executing my new found skill of counter-steering (Downward pressure on the inside bar). I know all of these things are important and pretty standard for any serious bike racer, but today I executed all of them together. And 400 turns is a lot of chances to practice, so it was a good workout. I finished in 44th today, but I would say I am the most proud of myself on this race of the 4; I was aggressive, smart and safe. My form is starting to come around, and I'm feeling good, now all that's left is to start getting some results!
SCHEDULE NEWS
My schedule is about 90% accurate through June, maybe 70% through Sept 14th, and I'm excited for many of the upcoming races, as I am hoping to continue to ride into form all the way through the end of my season.
Burlington Road Race, 80 miles.
The weather was very nice, a little warm, but it got cooler as the race progressed. Since this was my first time doing any of these races, I was mainly relying on other people's advice on how to handle each one, while trying to use my best racing knowledge. This race was pretty easy, and I spent almost no energy the whole time (around 173 watts for 3hrs). I stayed near the front but completely out of the wind. There was a break of about 8 that got away early, but judging from people's advice on how it would most likely come back together, I didn't worry too much. ABD and a few other people chased hard the second half of the race and brought the break back with less than 10 miles to go. I was being a bit more aggressive at this point just to stay near the front. There were several teams that were well represented, and they put their numbers to good use going into the final sprint. They were at least 2-3 lead-out trains from the teams with enough r iders to put them together and the speeds got pretty fast into the final K's. The finish was a little dicey because of the fast speeds, downhill sprint, and many riders pulling off the front and coming backwards through the charging 90+ person field sprint. It was sort of a dodge and weave sprint that I wasn't going to contest, so I rode smart across the line in 38th position.
Snake Alley Criterium
Of all races to not clip in immediately when the gun goes off, this is the one. So of course it took me 2 tries and about 4 seconds too long to attach myself to the bike. I probably lost 10-15 positions in this little mishap, but that's not the reason I didn't make the money today. The real reason is that I cannot corner in the rain as fast as many other people, at least not right now. Since the skies decided to open up just before our race was getting underway, the roads were fully saturated. I thought the snake was hard, but completely manageable. It is much nicer to ascend it first in first out, and whenever I did that I usually came out of it with a gap behind me. I will look forward to doing this race again in dry conditions, or when I learn to have no fear in the descending in the rain, whichever comes first. 30th on the day.Melon City Criterium
This was my favorite race of the weekend. 40 laps of a non-technical course that was fast and hard. The hill each lap took enough out of people to make it a tough race, but not enough to allow a break to stay away. I went into today knowing that I wanted to be very aggressive, and I wanted to be in a break. I accomplished my goal and got into a break a bit past the halfway point, but we were reeled back within 2 laps. I conserved after that until the finish, trying to improve my position on the downhill and sustain or lose a few spots on the uphill to save energy. Going into the final 3 laps I had an OK spot in the field, but there was a 10 man break that got caught, so my OK position turned into another 30th, which is the place I finished in. Lesson learned here is get into top 10 with 2 to go, and go all out on the final hill all the way into the finish. Oh and I got some major air over the huge speed bump at the bottom of the 45 mph hill each lap.
Quad City Criterium
I kept reading how this race was being described as a cage match, and I didn't quite get it until I arrived at the course to see much of it enclosed by chicken-wire fencing. The only thing that this does is keep people off the course, because I saw first hand that it definitely doesn't keep riders inside the course. 8 turns a lap x 50 laps = 400 corners to navigate, and I did everyone of them very well, some others weren't as fortunate. This was my turning point for the season on gaining my confidence back in getting around corners safe, efficient and without sacrificing positioning. Some things that contributed to this improvement were a change in tires (Switched from Continental GrandPrix to Michelin ProRace3), lowering my tire pressure (Higher for road races, a lot lower for crits), and executing my new found skill of counter-steering (Downward pressure on the inside bar). I know all of these things are important and pretty standard for any serious bike racer, but today I executed all of them together. And 400 turns is a lot of chances to practice, so it was a good workout. I finished in 44th today, but I would say I am the most proud of myself on this race of the 4; I was aggressive, smart and safe. My form is starting to come around, and I'm feeling good, now all that's left is to start getting some results!
SCHEDULE NEWS
My schedule is about 90% accurate through June, maybe 70% through Sept 14th, and I'm excited for many of the upcoming races, as I am hoping to continue to ride into form all the way through the end of my season.
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