Was in the Masters 40+ with Jeremy and Rich. 45 were pre-regd so a smallish field. Bunch of studs in the field. Rain was through by the time we started, so we actually shed all our stuff before the start and it was fantastic weather. So those who skipped it missed a fantastic day for racing. The other note was there was a paving issue on one of the roads, so they used some bypass / smaller roads to route the field. Honestly, it was a better course this way. It made it a lot more interesting as these roads had lots of rollers and turns which made it more exciting than being on the main road.
Plenty of attacks in the first lap. Rich, Jeremy and I were staying right in the mix near the front, with a bunch of 545 guys (including Brian Campbell & Miles Billings (?)), Momentum Barracuda guys, Corner Cycle, Expo Wheelman, and a few other solo guys for other teams. Fast forward to mile 15 or so, where we went up this steep climb and people tried to break. Super hard. I knew there was a steep downhill right into another grinder climb, so Jeremy rode up, I went by yelled for him to get on my wheel to bridge back to the guys trying to break. The next climb was super hard but we got back on.
Then right around when we get back on the main road / right turn in Newbury, a few guys go off the front. I see Rich is with them, so I don't chase. No one else chases either. We are going up the gradual roller climb to go by the ski resort, and I see that the break includes 2 Momentum Barracuda guys, Brian Campbell of 545, Rich, and 3 other guys. I think to myself, "Wow, that is a strong break. I am surprised no one is chasing." Jeremy and I sit in and give Rich and the break more time.
Not much else to really say for me. Break is gone. Miles (545) and Expo guy try to get away. We catch back up. They try to get away again 5 miles later, and eventually stay away. I think about a break, but then at one point Ronnie Jacobs (Wheelworks) goes off the front. Ronnie helped me out a few years ago in a long ride, so there is no way I am going to chase him down as I owe him one. Later Jeremy goes, so double reason I am not going to chase them down. I will let Jeremy tell that story.
No one does anything, so I am basically at the front almost the whole way to the rotary, although I am not working very hard. One guy takes off just after the rotary. I chase. I go right by him. Stuck on the front again. Sprint for the finish, I get passed by a few guys. 15th place??
Overall, not that happy with the result. But as Jeremy said, great team tactics and I did what I was supposed to do.
Lake Sunapee Road Race
Re: Lake Sunapee Road Race
Yes it was a great team race, despite only having 3 people. As John said, with 3-4 miles to go Ron Jacobs took a solo flyer, I said to John "oh we can't let one guy get away at this point" we we're already sprinting for minor places. I decided to bridge up. It was hard and took longer than I expected but no one chased. By the time I caught him we had turned on the main road into a deadly head wind. I was totally redlined and couldn't hold Jacobs wheel. He rode away but a new guy appeared and I got the 30 seconds of the recovery I needed. At the rotary I looked back and it was still looking promising. The hill to the finish seemed like we were in slow motion, more wind and I was gassed. I HAD to put in one more effort as the peloton was closing, sprinted past the other guy and collapsed over the line in 12th.
Rich was strong and stayed away and John rode a great race. He was bummed a little but he did what he was supposed to do. I like team tactics, we need to continue this at Hahvahd!
Rich was strong and stayed away and John rode a great race. He was bummed a little but he did what he was supposed to do. I like team tactics, we need to continue this at Hahvahd!
Re: Lake Sunapee Road Race
I raced in the 4's. It was hard I was at the front for the first lap and on the second proceeded to be pummeled by the longest climb on course. I finished off the back..
Re: Lake Sunapee Road Race
Congrats to Rich for keeping in that break! It was exciting to hear the story from John and Jeremy.
Nolan - don't get down on yourself. people were going hard today, and remember you did ride a VERY tough ride only four days ago.
I rode in the cat5, and was taken a bit by surprise. At first, people seemed really edgy, and I think after we dropped some less desirables from the field it felt better, but people were very aggressive and some were very inattentive riders. One randomly started to dive into me and I had to put out my arm to push him off.
Attacks seemed to be the game on every hill of the first lap. I was afraid this would be relentless if they continued this on the second. After a while, I realized none of the guys were planning on breaking away after cresting these hills, then didn't burn so many matches to stay with the front of every climb. I think they just wanted to thin the field. Problem was that we still had at least 25 after the steep hard climb second time through. There were 2 guys with red/black jerseys that I paid most attention to and seemed to always be setting the pace. Eventually this d-bag rider in a Pear Izumi kit that looked like an 80's ski outfit went out over the yellow line to form a breakaway. He and two other guys (one was smaller red/black jerseys) looked to be working hard up ahead, but myself and a couple others brought us back on within a five minutes or so.
Cut to before the roundabout, and I worked myself up to the front. Only, too far front. Found myself behind 80's outfit guy, and took his wheel, but it was like he hit the breaks going by the cones. It was weird. I soft pedaled past him and through the turn. Got confused starting up the hill as to how hard to go. I didn't want to blow up, but guys were passing me, but my legs didn't have it to take any of their wheels. I held back in hopes they would burn themselves and I'd catch them on the shallow part. Didn't happen completely, but I did pass a few there. Retrospectively, I shouldn't have gotten so far up, but since I was there, I probably should have gassed it a little more before the final climb for momentum, and maybe had a chance to stay with the lead group to try for a place.Came in around 7 or 8, though; not too shabby.
correction - just saw I actually came in 6th
Nolan - don't get down on yourself. people were going hard today, and remember you did ride a VERY tough ride only four days ago.
I rode in the cat5, and was taken a bit by surprise. At first, people seemed really edgy, and I think after we dropped some less desirables from the field it felt better, but people were very aggressive and some were very inattentive riders. One randomly started to dive into me and I had to put out my arm to push him off.
Attacks seemed to be the game on every hill of the first lap. I was afraid this would be relentless if they continued this on the second. After a while, I realized none of the guys were planning on breaking away after cresting these hills, then didn't burn so many matches to stay with the front of every climb. I think they just wanted to thin the field. Problem was that we still had at least 25 after the steep hard climb second time through. There were 2 guys with red/black jerseys that I paid most attention to and seemed to always be setting the pace. Eventually this d-bag rider in a Pear Izumi kit that looked like an 80's ski outfit went out over the yellow line to form a breakaway. He and two other guys (one was smaller red/black jerseys) looked to be working hard up ahead, but myself and a couple others brought us back on within a five minutes or so.
Cut to before the roundabout, and I worked myself up to the front. Only, too far front. Found myself behind 80's outfit guy, and took his wheel, but it was like he hit the breaks going by the cones. It was weird. I soft pedaled past him and through the turn. Got confused starting up the hill as to how hard to go. I didn't want to blow up, but guys were passing me, but my legs didn't have it to take any of their wheels. I held back in hopes they would burn themselves and I'd catch them on the shallow part. Didn't happen completely, but I did pass a few there. Retrospectively, I shouldn't have gotten so far up, but since I was there, I probably should have gassed it a little more before the final climb for momentum, and maybe had a chance to stay with the lead group to try for a place.
correction - just saw I actually came in 6th
Re: Lake Sunapee Road Race
Raced the Masters 40+ and was tempted to turn around on the car ride to the race given the pouring rain and nonexistent visibility. Fortunately by the start of the race the skies had cleared and it was incredibly good racing weather.
Jeremy and John pointed out who to watch out for including Brian Campbell from 545velo, who was there in force, and the Momentum Barracuda guys. Race was consistent and moderate to start and it seemed somewhat tentative as we navigated the change in course brought about by unscheduled road work. Once back on the original course things started to heat up with some faux attacks that were quickly reeled in. About fifteen miles in I found myself towards the back of the peleton - bad place to be since i was expecting a break to form and wanted to be in it or in a place to chase it down depending on who went up the road. Took advantage of a descent followed by a short steep climb and moved up to the front. Soon thereafter two Momentum Barracuda guys sprinted up the right side of the road followed shortly by a Corner Cycle guy (Vinny Bolt, great name, huh?), and Brian Campbell. This was the real deal a genuine break away attempt. Three of the larger teams in the race represented meant fewer guys to chase it down. Also, two Corner Cycle guys who were in front of me were riding side by side to block. Fortunately there was a bit of room between them and I squeezed through and with some effort bridged up to six other riders.
Once we saw there was a gap we drilled it to get out of sight and through the ups and downs and corners. On the flats our pace fell and it took some encouragement to get everyone to work together and form into a paceline. This worked until the steep climb half way through the second lap. The two Momentum guys strung out the group and then reformed toward the top of the hill, Brian Campbell attacked and bridged to them. I should have jumped on his wheel, but made a tactical error and thought we would close the gap on the descent. Nope. Did a bunch of work trying and the Corner Cycle rider helped, but the other two guys didn't contribute much. Eventually we lost sight of them. The four of us agreed to work together to the traffic circle, at which time the two guys who didn't help attacked and got a gap. I closed it on the flats and came up on their wheels right before the finish, but didn't have the snap in my legs to go around them and settled for sixth.
I was psyched to have the break away stick and of course it wouldn't have worked if Jeremy and John hadn't sat in and let the break go. Thanks to both of them - next beer is on me - hope they can give me some pointers on sprinting!
Jeremy and John pointed out who to watch out for including Brian Campbell from 545velo, who was there in force, and the Momentum Barracuda guys. Race was consistent and moderate to start and it seemed somewhat tentative as we navigated the change in course brought about by unscheduled road work. Once back on the original course things started to heat up with some faux attacks that were quickly reeled in. About fifteen miles in I found myself towards the back of the peleton - bad place to be since i was expecting a break to form and wanted to be in it or in a place to chase it down depending on who went up the road. Took advantage of a descent followed by a short steep climb and moved up to the front. Soon thereafter two Momentum Barracuda guys sprinted up the right side of the road followed shortly by a Corner Cycle guy (Vinny Bolt, great name, huh?), and Brian Campbell. This was the real deal a genuine break away attempt. Three of the larger teams in the race represented meant fewer guys to chase it down. Also, two Corner Cycle guys who were in front of me were riding side by side to block. Fortunately there was a bit of room between them and I squeezed through and with some effort bridged up to six other riders.
Once we saw there was a gap we drilled it to get out of sight and through the ups and downs and corners. On the flats our pace fell and it took some encouragement to get everyone to work together and form into a paceline. This worked until the steep climb half way through the second lap. The two Momentum guys strung out the group and then reformed toward the top of the hill, Brian Campbell attacked and bridged to them. I should have jumped on his wheel, but made a tactical error and thought we would close the gap on the descent. Nope. Did a bunch of work trying and the Corner Cycle rider helped, but the other two guys didn't contribute much. Eventually we lost sight of them. The four of us agreed to work together to the traffic circle, at which time the two guys who didn't help attacked and got a gap. I closed it on the flats and came up on their wheels right before the finish, but didn't have the snap in my legs to go around them and settled for sixth.
I was psyched to have the break away stick and of course it wouldn't have worked if Jeremy and John hadn't sat in and let the break go. Thanks to both of them - next beer is on me - hope they can give me some pointers on sprinting!
Re: Lake Sunapee Road Race
Excellent result Rich. Great teamwork guys.
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PJ McQuade
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