Three words: Suff Fer Fest
I knew from the warm-ups that the key would be to be near the front as long as possible, as the tight, six corner course had only one place to efficiently move up, and that was into a stiff headwind. Sure enough, as soon as the race went off, I was chewing stem, but managed to get in the first 15-20 wheels. As such, I had a front row seat for the crash on lap 2 that brought an ambulance onto the course.
When we came around for lap 3, we had to come to a dead stop. Heart rate plummets, legs freak out, and, most importantly, good position is gone as riders from the back now move up the sides. After a neutral lap and re-start, I'm now mid-pack, feeling the full brunt of the accordion effect around every turn.
Thus started a "gentleman's slide." I managed to cling to the pack until around 6 or 7 to go, though the back end was so strung out by then that it was kind of hard to define who was pack and who was popped. Ended up pulled at 4 to go (I think - I was so relieved to be done that I didn't look at the lap card).
What to improve: 1.) I need to do more intervals and training with changes of speed - the changes of speed through the corners were killing me and 2.) Need to carry more speed through turns and fight harder for position - basically be less of a wuss. Overcaution, especially in the 120 degree turn, meant that I was getting gapped, contributing to problem 1.
The good news is that we get to try again on the North Shore next week.
Stefan
ps. Chris and Smudger have less depressing stories
Beverly Grand Prix
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
I took a pile of photos yesterday. This morning, created a quick gallery of shots of just the MRC guys here: http://www.russcam.com/mrc100804/ Anyone that wants a file, just PM or email the file number(s) and I'll get them to ya.
Kudos to everyone that raced, from the sidelines, I could tell that it was extremely tough.
I'll get the rest of the photos up shortly...
Kudos to everyone that raced, from the sidelines, I could tell that it was extremely tough.
I'll get the rest of the photos up shortly...
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
Check out Chris Pare's lines through all of those turns. Nice. No wonder his mouth wasn't open gasping for air like everyone else 
Smudger got away with unfavorable lines (inside) because he's so damn strong. Nice finish nevertheless.
Didn't someone recently refer condescendingly to crits in a race report? No one is spending an hour above threshold in a road race.
Steffan -- re training for changes in speed -- Saturday AM if you're up for it.
Ciao!
Smudger got away with unfavorable lines (inside) because he's so damn strong. Nice finish nevertheless.Didn't someone recently refer condescendingly to crits in a race report? No one is spending an hour above threshold in a road race.
Steffan -- re training for changes in speed -- Saturday AM if you're up for it.
Ciao!
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
Are you thinking of this:Bruce wrote:Didn't someone recently refer condescendingly to crits in a race report? No one is spending an hour above threshold in a road race.
Scott Sweeney wrote:When I asked how this compared to Quabbin, Jeremy had the line of the day: "Quabbin is a crit compared to this".[Tour of the Hilltowns]
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
My average HR for 32 minutes was higher than any peak number I’ve seen on my HRM yet this season. And my max was 12bpm higher than that. That about sums up the intensity. I won’t say it was harder than Purgatory, it was just different kind of pain. 
So the strategy was for Stefan, Jeremy, and I to lead out Smudger, but that didn’t work out quite as planned. The race was blown apart early, of the 74 starters only 28 finished, Smudger 7th and me 23rd. I made an attempt to lead out Smudger on the last lap but it was more of a “bridge a 10-15 meter gap to the leaders so Smudger doesn’t have to” type of effort, which left him still with about 300-400m to go to the line. We were in about 10th position at the time, and from there he went forward and I went backward.
Having almost 24 hours to replay the race I think I’d change the strategy around for this race, and in essence for any of these well-attended crits. I think the designated “finishers” on our team are better served identifying one or two of the Cat4 ringers (the guys who consistently get top 5), and attaching themselves to one of those wheels for the last 2 laps. You know those guys are gonna be around at the end, so just hanging on their wheel could be a recipe for success. I dunno, food for thought….
So the strategy was for Stefan, Jeremy, and I to lead out Smudger, but that didn’t work out quite as planned. The race was blown apart early, of the 74 starters only 28 finished, Smudger 7th and me 23rd. I made an attempt to lead out Smudger on the last lap but it was more of a “bridge a 10-15 meter gap to the leaders so Smudger doesn’t have to” type of effort, which left him still with about 300-400m to go to the line. We were in about 10th position at the time, and from there he went forward and I went backward.
Having almost 24 hours to replay the race I think I’d change the strategy around for this race, and in essence for any of these well-attended crits. I think the designated “finishers” on our team are better served identifying one or two of the Cat4 ringers (the guys who consistently get top 5), and attaching themselves to one of those wheels for the last 2 laps. You know those guys are gonna be around at the end, so just hanging on their wheel could be a recipe for success. I dunno, food for thought….
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
If it wasn't for the crash I'd have been DFL
Arrived later than I wanted to. Cycled to registration and managed to get in a few warm up laps with Stefan. Secured a nice 2nd row spot in the line up. Unfortunately I had read John Raugin's Norwell report and decided to buy some new cleats yesterday. 10 seconds, GO, damn can't get my cleat in, everyone is passing me, fumble some more, and manage to pull my other foot out, now at a dead stop and eventually manage to get started but am in last place. Not panicing too much until I see just how strung out the line is. See the remnants of the crash on the 2nd lap but the pace at the front hasn't let up. Neutral 3rd and I buddy up to Stefan mid pack...phew
Trying to move up was difficult and I was really conscious that any gap would leave me with a lot of work. I was cutting corners to try an make progress (well spotted Bruce) wouldn't recommend it. As the race progressed I started to settle comfortably inside the top 20 thinking about moving up and then saw the 4 to go lap card (too soon)!!! Moved up and onto Chris's (who raced really well at the front the whole race) wheel at this point. Sitting in or around the top 10 for those laps. Saw Jerry (545 Velo that rides with us on saturday mornings and TNW) make his move heading into the last lap. He has a good TT but I knew he wouldn't stay away for a full lap. On Chris's wheel for the 2nd last corner, he accelerates out of it and I pull round and move up to the front group as they are swallowing up Jerry I take another inside line into the last corner but there are just too many wheels to make up in the short sprint that is left. Pick off 1 maybe 2 in the sprint and get 7th.
Overall, happy with the result but feel I could have raced a lot better and maybe got into the prizes if I had opened things up a bit more with 4 to go and got properly into the front of the race. Think I did a bit too much sitting in waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen. Now wishing I was around for the Witch's Cup
Final comment: Don't get on the wrong side of Taudep. He put the hex on Threshold last night and it resulted in an ambulance
Arrived later than I wanted to. Cycled to registration and managed to get in a few warm up laps with Stefan. Secured a nice 2nd row spot in the line up. Unfortunately I had read John Raugin's Norwell report and decided to buy some new cleats yesterday. 10 seconds, GO, damn can't get my cleat in, everyone is passing me, fumble some more, and manage to pull my other foot out, now at a dead stop and eventually manage to get started but am in last place. Not panicing too much until I see just how strung out the line is. See the remnants of the crash on the 2nd lap but the pace at the front hasn't let up. Neutral 3rd and I buddy up to Stefan mid pack...phew
Trying to move up was difficult and I was really conscious that any gap would leave me with a lot of work. I was cutting corners to try an make progress (well spotted Bruce) wouldn't recommend it. As the race progressed I started to settle comfortably inside the top 20 thinking about moving up and then saw the 4 to go lap card (too soon)!!! Moved up and onto Chris's (who raced really well at the front the whole race) wheel at this point. Sitting in or around the top 10 for those laps. Saw Jerry (545 Velo that rides with us on saturday mornings and TNW) make his move heading into the last lap. He has a good TT but I knew he wouldn't stay away for a full lap. On Chris's wheel for the 2nd last corner, he accelerates out of it and I pull round and move up to the front group as they are swallowing up Jerry I take another inside line into the last corner but there are just too many wheels to make up in the short sprint that is left. Pick off 1 maybe 2 in the sprint and get 7th.
Overall, happy with the result but feel I could have raced a lot better and maybe got into the prizes if I had opened things up a bit more with 4 to go and got properly into the front of the race. Think I did a bit too much sitting in waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen. Now wishing I was around for the Witch's Cup
Final comment: Don't get on the wrong side of Taudep. He put the hex on Threshold last night and it resulted in an ambulance
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
Ron,
Great summary of the Pro Race which reminds me. The standard of the pro field was immense, the organisation of the event was immense, the quality of the racing was immense (TJ's bridge and then going on to win from the front was nothing short of amazing). Closed roads, barriers, hay bails, PA blaring, great MC's, loads of merchandise, kids race, serving beer on the sidewalk the list goes on and on.......atmosphere was fantastic. If you are not racing you must go along to spectate next year.
Great summary of the Pro Race which reminds me. The standard of the pro field was immense, the organisation of the event was immense, the quality of the racing was immense (TJ's bridge and then going on to win from the front was nothing short of amazing). Closed roads, barriers, hay bails, PA blaring, great MC's, loads of merchandise, kids race, serving beer on the sidewalk the list goes on and on.......atmosphere was fantastic. If you are not racing you must go along to spectate next year.
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
A more complete gallery of images from yesterday's race is viewable here: http://www.russcam.com/beverlygp2010/
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
Some photos by MichaelZ here, starting with a crash sequence in the women's race: http://www.redberryphoto.com/Sports/Bev ... 3263_rgQox
Re: Beverly Grand Prix
Colin (of "Until the Snow Ends") posted bar-cam footage from Beverly, nice close up of Chris' butt at 1:30 