KSR Stage 2 - Cat 3

[JeremyC]

As usual this was a total sufferfest. I'll keep this short. I slept terrible, felt like sh1t and secretly hoped for snow, knowing the conditions were going to suck and I wouldn't have felt bad bowing out. BUT the weather stayed relatively bad but not epic, so I started with 77 other fools. No issues up the first 2 mile climb, attacked a few times on the descent and flat to try to execute my breakaway plan of getting to North Road with a small group. It didn't work, burned a few matches but I could tell my legs didn't have it. Got to the 5 mile hell climb and tried to surf the crown but got dropped earlier than usual. Strava and power numbers similar to last year (ie. 5 min bests), but much further back and I knew it was over. Got in group of 8 or so and I was suffering so I had basically decided to pack it in at the feed zone. The problem is when I got there my mind wouldn't allow me to quit so I took a bottle and trudged on. I dropped my group on the descent as I was regularly over 50mph, tried to catch a group of 5 ahead but never quite made it, rode 10 miles by myself, eventually got caught by the other crew. I set my wattage at sweet spot on east Mountain road to give me something to shoot for. I was able to do it but it was excruciating. It started to snow half way up, the wind was howling in my face (30mph+). The last climb to the gondola was atrocious, now I was in full bonk mode, crawled over the line and sat on the side of the road, I couldn't feel my hands or feet. Then I went to LongTrail and drank beer. Officially 53 out of 77 starters including a bunch of DNFs. Hey, not last place!! No TT tomorrow, I can barely walk down the stairs.

[Smudger]

Respect.

[jraguin]

Smudger said it all. I just can't believe you survived the weather and this stage. Beast of pain.

[Jacob]

Sleep well tonight!

[PJ McQuade]

Congrats on your LongTrail KOM. Race sounds fun, I'd like to join you next year.

[Bruce]

Shake it off. You had a bad day. But you ate nails for breakfast. Kudos.