| When we arrived morning was cool (50's) and the sky was overcast.
There was a wind that was fairly stiff out of the east (directly
into our faces coming into the finish). But, the wind was nothing
compared to last year's Atlantic gales that ripped through the park!
Just about 9:00am the sun came out to stay and warmed things up
considerably. The wind stayed, but that was fine. In fact, it got
worse as the day progressed.
We (Fitchburg Cycling Club) had our new outfits on. Boy, we looked
good! :-)... We had the largest contingent in the Beginner class
(old CAT 5) with 6 riders. This paid off big time.
The race was only 14.2 miles so we knew it'd be quick. The course
itself was a loop of 7.1 miles (two laps for the mathematically
impared)... The course was slightly rolling with just one long
mild climb on the backside. The problem was the wind. The entire
back stretch was, pretty much, in your face.
Our race went off at 10:00am. The field had a limit of 50, but there
were only 34 riders. Then start went off well. The pace picked up
immediately, as expected. There were numerous attacks which started
less than a mile into the race. The pack wouldn't have any of it.
None of them went out further than 25-30yds. before getting yanked in.
We all realized that the course was short and any amount of lead on
the pack would be tough to swallow back up. I stayed tucked in the
middle pretty much through the first lap. The entire pack (with the
exception of a couple of riders) stayed together on the first swing.
Things started to cook immediately after crossing the start line on
the last lap. We had a decent first lap. I looked down and the time
was a 16:?? something... About 300yds. into the second lap I heard
that very distinct sound, metal and flesh slapping the pavement! It
was behind me (good place for it) and I didn't bother to look back.
I guess the guy got banged up pretty bad. He went to the aide tent
after collapsing.
As we continued, 3 guys went off the front. I was still neatly tucked
inside the pack (which was still together). Over the course of a mile
they began to build a gap. The pack wasn't responding at all, with the
exception of some genius stating the fact that they were getting away.
I could see them, so I went to te outside to work my way up. They were
probably out about 75yds. when we hit one of the small hills. I got
on it and started chasing. NOW, some of the guys in the pack respond.
I was cranking pretty hard and while I was holding, I wasn't gaining.
At this point we've got about 5 miles to go. I probably 100yds. behind
the leaders and managed a 30-40yd. gap on the next guy behind me. The
pack was destroyed after this break. There were about 3-4 individual
trailers and another group of 6-7 guys in a bunch directly behind them.
I know this because looking for help (I had been pushing between 25-28
mph for close to a mile and was fading.
Finally, (I guess I faded enough) some guys caught me. Low and behold
there were two of my team mates - Dave Lystila & John LaPlante - and
a coupla other guys. We worked for a while together. We never lost
sight of the break. Then Dave turned to me and said "Cary [a team mate]
was in the break." I told him I didn't know. John pulled up and we
decided to control things a little bit and let the break get further
out. The gang of other guys (about 5) didn't really catch on until
the break had a good 1/4 mile on us with about 2-3 miles left. Well
actually, Dave told 'em what the scoop was.
We were all taking a pull, sort of. Naturally, when one of us got in
front we backed off a little. Then we began (when positioned) not
letting the other guys of the front (snaking behind him). Well, after
a few choice words from the rest of the guys Dave finally said, "Look,
we have a guy in the break and we're not going to catch him." They
didn't like it, (tough *&%$&*), but they stopped chasing and whining.
It was really cool controlling the race like that. We never really had
enough guys in front to work effectively like that...
It paid off! Our guy in the break (Cary Blackwell) took the sprint for
first by a half wheel!
We came rumbling in. At about 500m guy broke on the side of me. Like a
dope I responded, but quickly backed off when I realized how far out we
still were. At 100m things turned up even more. The finish was on a
small hill immediately after the rise (30yds). I held the front with
about 15yds to the finish but couldn't hang. My quads, especially my
left one was on fire big time during the sprint.
I ended up 9th with Dave at 7th and John at 5th.
Great race for the FCC with 3 guys in the top 10 plus the race winner
(Cary).
There were two team members (can't remember the name) that were with us
coming in. One of them came over to us and congratulated us on the win
and the way we ran the race... That felt good.
I'm really looking forward to this year!!! It's stuff like this that
really get's you pumped!!!!
Chip
|