KSR Stage 3 - Sufferfest

[JeremyC]

If anyone read my race report from last year, unfortunately you can skip reading this report. No excuses, crash or no crash, broken wheels…whatever, this race is WAY out of my comfort zone. And while I’m proud and happy to have done this awful race, and will enjoy an ungodly quantity of beer tonight, I cannot climb well enough to do well in this race. I felt like a marathoner just trying to finish, and finish I did but the results weren’t pretty. The good news I’m upgrading to Cat 3, the bad news I’ll have to pick a schedule that suits my abilities. KSR won’t be in the cards. Anyway, Scott, Glenn and I had a strategy and we executed it perfectly, but then we were outclassed.
This is a 61 mile road race, with one decent 2 mile climb (5%) right at the beginning and 2 monster climbs, one 5 mile climb at mile 25 with a mile long wall, and also at the end with what is really 2 big climbs stringed together for 5 miles. My strategy was to literally be on the front for the first climb because the field split up last year and I want to set a steady pace and surf back. Mission accomplished, I was first wheel going in and made it to the top in the lead pack no harm no foul. I felt like crap at the start but was now feeling good. Rode in the top 10 for the next 20 miles and surfed the intermediate sprint 1 mile before the infamous North Road climb. The sprinters sat up and I moved to the front and hit the climb 3rd wheel. This was the strategy, the first mile of this climb is over 10% and I wanted to be at the front. About half way up I was going good and sitting about 10th wheel behind my brother Glenn. Nearing the top of the wall Glenn and I were right there, not sure where Scott was, but I was putting out personal best 5 minute wattage and cresting I started to fade and there was a false flat and then a hard roller and Glenn and I simultaneously combusted. We started getting passed but lots’ o people. Three miles to go to the actual top and I’m suffering badly. I dug deep to catch on to a chase group and hung on for dear life. I’m guessing there were 40 people in front of us. Scott is a trouper but I haven’t seen him yet, I’m hoping for the best. We descend and hit the uphill feed zone which is way harder than it should be; now the big descent. We’re picking up stragglers, go up a 1 mile dirt climb and I’m kind of finding like a 5th wind. Descend and hit the last flat 10 mile ride into East Mountain Road. We’re going pretty good and we picked up like 10 more stragglers. So now we’re 20 strong and I’m doing my fair share of work in the paceline going 24mph. BUT in the back of my mind I know E. Mountain is going to kick my butt, we hit it and I’m instantly off the back and the next 30 minutes are about as painful as I’ve ever had. My brother Glenn beat most of our 20 guy field for 38th (36th overall) and I hobbled in 4 minutes later at 47th (yeah 46th overall, faster than last year but 10 spots worse, oh well). Back to the marathon comparison, I handed my bike to someone and collapsed, I was devastated. Battenkill is hard but doesn’t even come close to this. I was wondering what happened to Scott, and then there he was rolling in another 4 minutes later solo, an admiral job considering he’s ridden 4 times in the last month.
It kind of feels weird even writing this race report, but it’s been so hard on many levels I’m just glad we sucked it up. As they say HTFU. Looking forward to some throat punching on Wednesday.

[pace21]

Where do we sign up for next year

[Gumbo]

Jeremy - great job persevering out there in the north country! Crashing must have sucked but very pro to continue and finish all stages. Hopefully you are enjoying your malt rehydration regime.

[JerryD]

Congrats on gutting it out Jeremy and Scott. You guys were behind the 8 ball from early on. Jeremy, this was just the kick in the pants to get you out of the 4s (I finished my 4s career with two horrendous races at Gloucester CX- crash in first, missed my call up on the second- raced a pit bike, not the way I wanted to go out but upgraded to 3 in CX and road in one fell swoop right after). Anywho, come back to the fold bro, we'll welcome your return to lording over the flies and throat punching while you recover physically and financially from a tough trip to the Green mtn state (who knew you had to travel all the way up there to get screwed over by a Masshole )! See ya on the roads soon I'm sure. Go Celtics!

[scott_sweeney]

I sort of felt bad for that BRC guy...as the group hit the wall on North Rd (and he was going backwards fast), I heard several guys saying, "that's the d-bag that caused the big crash" plus other not so "niceties"-wouldn't be surprised if Cento Uno shows up on eBay this week-right next to Jer's TT bike...

[Len_E]

Jeremy and Scott,
Given the circumstances, finishing the race is a hell of a gutsy result. That's a brutal course. Walking up with injuries and the prospect of another tough day and low chance of an overall result you wanted makes you a stronger man. Most would have bailed after the first day. You guys did us proud.