Masters 40+:

I believe 4 of us lined up for the 40+ race (Wade, Wayne, Zane and yours truly).  This race was meant to be more of a warm-up for me, riding conservatively and setting up for the sprint.   I went mostly by plan, though I have to admit going of the front briefly when I was in the right place at the right time when Sean G made a move.  That one came back, but he looked determined to get off the front and win in a break. 

Within 5 to go, he and one other rider wer off the front and holding a gap.  Zane made the consumate team move and got to the front to draw the 2 closer.   By 2 or 3 to go, the two reaalized their jig was up and it was left to the sprinters to sort out their positions.  I was feeling good and trying to keep close to a long list of likely suspects.  Unfortunately, I didn’t commit to following one.  Worse still, coming off the fast turn on the back stretch, I got pinched badly agains the median/curb.  I lost several places on that and ended up somewhere back in the 15-20th range coming towards the final stretch.  Not wanting Zane’s hard work to go to waste, I drove it as hard as I could up the middle and squeeked by with 7th.  A top ten, but unfortunately money paid 5 deep.  The thing that killed me is that I felt like I had power to burn and if I hadn’t bolluxed up my position, I could’ve done better. 

Masters 30+:

The youngsters (Art and Spike) joined in for race #2.  We figured on a more aggressive race and we were oblidged.   Unfortunately, with about 8 to go (?) Zane became a casualty as he hit the deck on the fast turn #2.   At the same time, several other riders piled up on the left side of the road (at the median).   I narrowly avoided the carnage but did not realize that Zane had gone down.  I also found out later that Wayne had to come to a full stop.  And effectively, those two were out for the rest of the race.

A break of 1 plus 5 chasers were off the front.  Each time we came through the crash scene, we were slowed a bit and waved left as one of the downed riders was awaiting medical transport.   Given the situation and the fact that a good percentage of the teams were up the road, I became concerned.  During 3 to go, I started debating bridging.  During 2 to go, I decided I had to if I wanted a shot at top 5.   So, I launched myself in pursuit of the 5 chasers.   I was psyched up and timing it to catch and try riding through at about the S/F at 1 to go.

This choice was probably the worst I could’vemade.  As I was nearly on the back of the group, it was evident that the officials were waving us down – neutralized.  And for my efforts?  Nothing.  We were restarted with 2 to go.  The solo rider (Eneas F) got a 7 sec advantage on the chasers, who were given a 3 sec advantage on the pack.  After the restart, the expected 1.4 mi TT started.  As I clipped in and stood on my left foot, my lower quad twinged and started to cramp – a casualty of the cold start.  Once I actually got things moving, the chasers had built to ca 8-10. 

I launched off after, but was largely leading the pack forward with maybe a 1 bike gap.  Just after turn 1 on the last lap, I encoutered Mike N and a big Joe’s Garage rider who’d sat up.  The moment of hesitation before I went around broke my rhythm further and I started to sit up by turn 3, to force people around me.  I sprinted as best as I could, but I ended in the 20’s as the legs were pretty burned from the hard effort, hard stop, hard start, hard effort sequence.

Zane can give the laundry list of the injuries sustained, but his shorts (and corresponding skin) was ripped up pretty well.  He also had a bandage over a pretty good haematoma on his right forearm.  Heal up buddy!  At least the bike came out of it ok!

P/1/2/3

This race was bound to be interesting.  Zane took the line despite his injuries and we were again joined by Spike.  I had taken down a good amount of fluids and gels in between this race and the last, but I knew it would be a prolonged battle against the dreaded cramps.  Attacks and counters kept the pace high through most of the race.    I was trying to keep hydrated and spinning, but with 8 to go, my bottle slipped out of my sweaty hand.  Within a lap or two, the cramps really started to assert themselves. 

I made the painful effort to try to move up but seemed like each time, I picked the wrong path.  With the pace slowing a bit during the last 3 laps, things got a bit sketchy on the inside on turn 3 several times.  Somewhere around 2 to go, a crash took down a good number of CVC riders on the outside between turns 3 and 4.  I was finding it harder to dodge things and keep the legs spinning.  In the end, I geared way down, sprinting in my 14T (or 15?) to somewhere maybe in the mid 30’s, nowhere near the front.

I have to admit I was fairly pleased with a top ten, but was looking for a bit more out of the masters races.   But hey, I shouldn’t complain since I didn’t end up truly having skin in the game (as it were).   Again, Zane, thanks for the work and heal up fast!