Cumberland University Training Race (A Race)
I was taught a big lesson in patience Saturday. I knew KK was right that the break of the day would be established early and would be especially dangerous if the major teams (Gran Fondo, Cumberland Transit, NashvilleCylist) in the field were represented. I was tempted into following a Fondo wheel (I believe it was Todd Williams) off the front early in the race. We were allowed the shortest possible leash, but just long enough for me to be gassed when it came back together. A short time after that, a bigger move went and I had no answer for it. I do not believe, however, that Fondo was represented in that move, which gave me a little hope that we’d have another shot.
At some point in what I believe was the second lap, another move went on a very narrow section of the course and I simply could not get into the break before it became established. It was especially frustrating since a Fondo rider did make it into that group and I knew that would shut down any chase efforts by their team members in the main pack. I played the role of the guy without a guy in the break, got on the front for a while, and did what I could to minimize the time splits in hopes that things would regroup.
At several points during the day, we were getting time splits that made it sound like everything was coming back together. When the Fondo rider was dropped out of the bridge attempt, it seemed like things were back on course for a successful chase.
By the end of the third lap, however, it was looking like no one was going to mount a concerted effort to chase. That being said, the bunch was stingy in closing down any bridge attempts. During the third and fourth laps, I got into two moves that I thought had the manpower to pose a serious chase and at least escape the bunch. I forget the order in which these moves occurred, but one contained three Cumberland Transit guys and me. I figured they would work with me because even though their guy was up the road, and they would be bringing serious numbers to the front of the race. I saw this as my only hope in getting back on terms with the front of the race. The bunch simply would not let us go for more than 30 secs to a minute. When the CT guys saw the bunch reconnect, they rightly shut down their efforts to avoid dragging the bunch back into the race.
The second move was me along with two CT guys and two Ohio Valley Velo guys. Here again was a good move, I thought, as everyone seemed motivated to work. The bunch, however, fought hard and closed that move down as well, and slipped back into its slumber.
Into the fifth lap, I knew we were basically playing for a bunch sprint, not for a race win. I wasn’t sure how many guys were up the road, but I knew it would not likely come back together. At some point during this lap, two CTs guys did escape the bunch and I cannot figure out where it occurred. It was a clever move, however, because I don’t think most of the bunch even realized they were gone. Coming into the home stretch, two Fondo guys beat me out of the pack and came in at what, according to one of the officials, was 12th place.
It was great to be back racing again after what seems like a long break (for me it was about 5 months). Our small numbers (2) in the field definitely hurt us on Saturday, but this was a training race. When we get into the TBRA schedule, we’ll have more cards to play with larger numbers.
- Bob 3/23/09