Killington Stage Race - Stage 1 Cat 3

[JeremyC]

Lined up for Stage 1 of the Killington Stage race – Cat 3 division with 80 other idiots. After spending a week in CA for a work event/boondoggle I was a little unsure how I would perform. Legs felt solid but I had a bit of jetlag after taking the Friday AM Red eye. Luckily we had ideal conditions – oh wait no, it was like a freezing hurricane, 39 degrees, downpour, 25mph winds. We were the last race off for the day (first off tomorrow-thanks for the recovery time). It was supposed to be 4x18mile laps for 72 miles total, but as I predicted to my family they would surely chop a lap off, which they announced at the start. I was already soaked to the bone so fine by me. Remember Quabbin 2 years ago, this was just as bad if not worse due to high winds.
First lap was easy, even the climb (5-ish miles but not steep) was fairly tame until the KOM. I stayed in top 20 but didn’t go for anything. Fast downhill I moved to the front with 5 miles to go to the first “hot Sprint”. I wasn’t planning on going for intermediate stuff, but I surfed to the front for the sprint to stay safe. I actually got 6th in the sprint without sprinting.
Second lap heats up. I jumped in an early break of about 6 guys but we only stayed off the front for 2 miles or so. Got to the hill and stayed in the top 20 again, moved up on the KOM and after we went through the pace slowed dramatically. The descent is extremely steep so I decided to take a dig and move up to the front. I launched an attack and no one followed, had about 100 meters before the descent, took some risks in the weather, got a bigger gap, sprinted out of the turn and I had about 300 meters. This wasn’t exactly intentional, especially because there was a massive headwind and we still had an entire lap to go. I stayed on the gas and 2 guys were bridging across so I slowed a bit as I didn’t want go it alone with so far left. Unfortunately by waiting I lost about half of my 300 meters. Right when I’m caught I could tell we were doomed. Suddenly the Moto comes up next to us (after we had basically sat up) and tells us this is the last lap. This annoys me as it would have been nice to hear that when I was solo off the front 5 minutes earlier. There was only 3 miles left in the race. Anyway, we get caught and I slip in to the front group and rest a bit. With about 2 miles to go we hit the downhill to the finishing straight. The pace slows again so I attack thinking if they don’t react quickly I could get a gap on the downhill. This DID NOT work, everyone responded but still no harm done, slot back in 20th wheel and settle in for the crazy finish. With about 500 meters to go I’m about 12 wheel and we’re flying. People are getting antsy, I move up the right side but I’m having flashbacks from last year’s debacle. The sprint opens up and I put in a huge dig but its hard to move up in a huge head wind. I slot back onto a wheel and dodge some sketchy racers, open up my sprint one more time, almost get killed by a young jackass from Yale and since I’m pretty much out of road I just sit down and push for the line for 14th place.
Not a bad finish, but I had great legs, kinda wish the moto guy told me earlier I may have had a chance if I went for it, but probably not. The good news I should have fresh legs for tomorrow’s sufferfest road race (oh and I didn’t crash). The bad news, my dad sat at the feedzone for the next 45 minutes not realizing the race was over, so I froze my a$$ off waiting for a ride. An hour later I was standing in a puddle at a gas station with my teeth chattering. Par for the course at this race.

[PJ McQuade]

Well done, way to HTFU! Sounds like you
win most aggressive ride of the day. Good luck tomorrow.

[Jacob]

Sounds like a good time! I'm looking forward to tomorrow's report.