Minuteman Road Club

Looks like there is going to be a special race report from Purgatory according to road-results.org

I will let the nameless one post his story.

I was in the Cat 3 race with Chris, PJ, Rich, and Jeremy and in total 50-60 of our closest friends/enemies. 5 laps, 55 miles. Lots of studs in the field, including a bunch of college studs. In summary, wow. The first 2 laps were super hard. Lots of attacks, except the attacks were long. So it wasn't just a surge, it was a sustained surge. I stayed about 25-35 wheels so mid-pack. Manchaug and Lackey road were very hard. I just kept thinking to myself "this can't keep up". And sure enough, that happened. 3rd and 4th lap were much more tame. A few attacks, but they tended to be short. Manchaug and Lackey weren't too bad. I started to get my confidence up and started riding in the top 10 wheels for the last 2 laps. I kept it in my mind that there might be a split in the pack. I had told myself I wasn't going to go in small breaks, but wanted to make the selections. Mission accomplished on the second one, but a mistake to think that way on the first one which you will see in a second.

With only 3 miles to go on Whitins Road (the big major road), I am right near the front. Two guys go off the front. No one moves, including this CCB guy who I am on his wheel. This yellow kit guy (Erba?) bridges who I had seen all day at the front and seemed strong. Still the CCB guy doesn't go (and I don't go either), and now I am second wheel. The CCB guy starts weaving. I am weaving with him. Finally I give up and start doing a few pulls on Whitins and up Manchaug. The problem is that I had no strategy, caught between saving it for Lackey, and working to get Chris (who was right behind me) up to the break. With hindsight being 20/20, I should have jumped hard to join the 3 guys instead of being torn between the other two strategies, as I think I could have made the jump shortly after (or with) the Erba guy. So instead I spent some of energy doing nothing to help myself or Chris/PJ. We hit Lackey and shortly up the hill I realized I didn't have it. People were going by me on all sides. Humbling. I limped in 29th.

I really need to get the confidence and practice on jumping to get in a break. In retrospect, jumping when the Erba guy jumped was probably my best chance of doing well. I know I didn't have it but if I was in the break I would have at least started the climb with a lot of seconds to give up. Still this was a lot of fun and I am happy with my race. All a learning experience and I am really glad I did it.

I rode. I suffered. I finished. The weather was quite lovely. Congratulations to Rob!

I love it when a plan comes together…… : )
This last week John and Chris had been strategizing with me on ways to approach Purgatory. Basically the plan was to ride as easy as possible throughout the race and save myself for the final climb up Lackey. John also had a great plan to attack the final Lackey climb that perfectly matched my abilities. Push a bit up the first step but hold back some and drill it when you hit the second step, all the way up and to the finish.

This is pretty much exactly how the race played out. The first two laps were faster than I thought they would be. There were a few big guys really pushing the pace up front stringing out the pack. When things slowed a few would roll off the front. Big Kudos to Jacob for chasing these down for me. Very well done!

The third time up Lackey an Alpine rider went off the front and opened up a decent gap to the field. I gambled a little bit here hoping the pack would bring this back. It took a half a lap but we eventually caught him without me having to do any work. I could tell he was gassed, fantastic! As we hit Lackey for the final climb I’m a little bit further back than I wanted but easily worked my way to the top 5 or 6 riders on the first step of Lackey. The climb eases up slightly here, I took a few deep breaths and attacked as soon as it ramped up again. After about 20 seconds I took a quick look to see who was left, only one and I could hear him gasping for air. : ) I keep digging and the gasps of air get quieter and quieter. At the top of Lackey I take another quick look back and see two chasers both head down giving up! Holy sheet! I slam it in the big ring, grab the drops, and sprint over the top onto the little decent to get up to speed quickly and start rolling towards the line as fast as possible. 100 meters to go and I take 1 final look, it’s over! I even had a second to straighten out the shirt and pose for big Russ shooting at the line.

So guys thank you so much for the help and thank you to all the sparing partners that have been pushing me this year. This was just the result I needed.

Rob's time was 2 hours dead even. The winner of the cat 4 all ages field did 2:13:42.

Rob 3batista

Roberto Contador

I heard Rob's tale of victory before our start but it's nice to read about here. Well done!

As John noted the 3s were aggressive from the gun into lap 3. Luckily the race did ease up some because there was literally no recovery on those opening two laps. Even the long descent down Mendon Rd was tough! I was feeling better and better up Lackey each time through but rode the "midpack wave" for most of the race up until the 1 to go. I was in decent position on Whitins but I wish I had been closer to the front with John and Chris because I didn't see the break go until it was too late. I'm not sure I would have reacted to be perfectly honest because those kinds of moves were futile all day but it ended up being the one. At the base of the final go up Lackey I was in a nice little spot - not at the front but within reach- and started moving up the left side on the first kick. The moto was laying on his horn because a lot of guys were over the (invisible) yellow, probably myself included, and I got boxed in some and let off the gas to move over, fearing DQ: "Dairy Queen!" At the top of the first kick the selection was pretty apparant and a group of 7-8 was pulling away. I should have been with this group but then again who knows? I may have blown trying to stay with them. Making up a 20 meter gap on Lackey was out of the question but I rode it out as hard as I could and picked up some popped riders on the second step. At the false flat on top I hitched up to someone's wheel and caught a ride through the headwind to the finish. 13th. Meh. My best Purg result since the race started but another unsatisfying finish. GLV does a great job running this event, and I love racing so close to home, but this really isn't a course suited for me. 5 min + climbs w/ a side of attrition please

Fantastic Rob. I KNEW you could do it. Awesome result. I can't wait to see the photos.

Congrats Rob, and well deserved.

Congrats Rob!! Great job!!

Way to go Rob!

Nice work Rob! Welcome to the 3's!

Rob, we knew you could do it, even if you didn't know until yesterday. Nice job!

Way to go Rob!!!

Photos from about 1pm onward, along the false flat to the finish:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 431&type=1

Full gallery: http://russcam.com/cycling/130609_purgatory_2013/

And, last but not least, here's ROB!

You guys are the best! I’m still laughing inside about the whole thing. Thank you again for all the good comments and the pics Russ.

Also, major kudos to 16 year old Mason ZIedonis, racing for Corner Cycles this year but a former Junior Member of the MRC, for nabbing 5th place in the Cat 5 race in only his 3rd road race ever!

Front page, Rob! >>> http://www.minutemanroadclub.com

Very well done Russ, thanks again. And big kudos to you on the Sterling write-up you also posted.