You guys missed out racing a one of the coolest race courses to date. The route kind of reminds me of the northern European back roads, very narrow, winding, and rolling. Sections of the race route were lined with stone walls, with another section lined with trees. Are race was doing seven laps of a four mile route. Field had 47 riders. Did I say anything about it being windy, but no SNOW! I think the temp was in the high thirties too.
Well the usual teams were present except for one team from the north, which I’ll leave nameless. Cycle Sport (SP) had the numbers and controlled the field and sending riders up the road. A lot of attacks today with nothing really sticking, course was very fast and the field was strong. I bridged a couple of breakaways that had some hopes of staying away but the field had to much horse power.
With two laps to go, Dale (SP) and three or four other riders got off the front. This breakaway group had a top five GC guy with them. Glen (SP) begins setting tempo at the front to discourage any bridging attempts. About half way into lap 7, two riders do jump clear and are attempting to bridge. At this point I’m near the front. Then another top GC guy attacks off the front. Well it’s time to catch my train, show my ticket and off I go. I jump across to the attacking Jeffersonville rider. We work (well kind of) together to catch the other two just up the road. We finally catch them on the home stretch but were all in difficulty and still 100 M short of catching the main break. Thank God, we finally catch the break going into turn one.
Now with one lap to go, I’m in recovery/survival mode trying to catch my breath. Man I’m in a world of hurt. It takes me about a half of a lap to recover from that bridging effort. Cycle Sport has the field completely shut down now, that’s great because our breakaway group isn’t working that well. Too many tried riders. With 500 M go to I look back and see the field off in the distance. I’m not too worried at this point, but if we keep screwing around we’re going to be caught.
Finally we begin pick the speed and we’re single file now and I’m sitting about 7th. Now with 200 M to go a couple of guys blow and pop off. I’m on Dale’s wheel and he’s towing me along…Thanks Dale! Dale starts to run out of stream and now it’s time to nail it. I roll across the line just behind Tim of Team Dayton (Top GC man) for 4th. This time I didn’t back off before the finish! But my hat goes off to Dale for being the most aggressive rider today. Also thanks goes to the entire Cycle Sport team for controlling the field, job well done!
