|
|
|
Ravensdale-Cumberland Road Race
9 July 2006
Report by: Leo Katolik
Really a fun fun fun race, now two years in a row. The Masters A/B and C/D raced together.
I did not stay around to see the results, but I finished with a pack that was mostly A/B's,
so maybe I even did well.
Race was 2 mile neutral rollout, then two 28 mile loops with one very steep (20%) climb and
a few less steep climbs, then a finishing loop for a total of 64 miles.
Race started out mildly. Doug Mercer (Derik's friend and Cat 3, omnium winning type) was
one of the only guys I knew there. He told me a break would go off early. Sure enough mile
4 it did. The rest kept up a nice pace. The only Recycled guy in the race was a cat 2 who
dropped back to me a mile or so from the wall, looked over and said "you look like you have
a plan... I'll hang out here." I assured him I did not have a plan.
We hit the wall around mile 14 and starting from the back I crested in like 10th position.
Felt really easy. But no one wanted to do anything, so the pack reformed on the downhill
that followed. Doug Mercer joined me and predicted the next thing to happen would be an all
out ballistic attack on the climb that starts the second 28 mile loop. He was right. There
was an attack. It was me. I was just trying to get around some fool that was swerving. I
don't know why no one was moving, but I decided to have a go. Another C/D and two other A/B
riders joined and we had a good little group that got like 30 seconds on the pack. Ultimately
we swallowed up the initial break, and then no one wanted to work and it was all together.
This is the point where people started dropping off, pulling to the side, puking, that kind
of stuff. A few more miles up apparently one of the C/D's cramped up really badly, fell over
and was last glimpsed lying on his back with his bike above his head still clipped in.
No one said a word and the pack was really really quiet as we approached the wall again. Two
A/B's did get away, and no one seemed to care. Should have, these guys wound up staying away
the whole time.
Second time up the wall again started about 2/3 of the way back and flew up the wall. Surprised
the sh*t out of myself. My quads cramping up on both sides didn't even bother me that much.
Crested like 4th and we attacked pretty hard. The cramps would come and go the rest of the race,
mainly when I attacked, which I did often after that. I figure I don't have a sprint,
so might as well.
We were caught on the long descent by most of the remainder of the field. Rounded the corner and
a First rate guy (A/B) attacked, was joined by that hippie that rode for Subway last year, then me.
A Byrne A/B bridged up to us, worked very hard, then died, then we all slowed up and the pack
caught us.
Mile later the same First Rate guy attacked again, then the Byrne guy then Doug Mercer, then the
hippie, then me. Weird.
I am kind of hazy on the finishing loop. It did come together again. Doug Mercer congratulated
me on a strong showing. We hit 1 K to go and the hippie went. I went with him, cramped up, he
slowed down, pack got us, hit 200M to go, I did not sprint which is fine by me, and then we were
done. The finishing pack was a lot smaller that the starting pack, so that was neat.
In the parking lot a bunch of guys talked to me about what a solid team we have. So that was nice
too.
I strongly recommend this race for next year. Long enough to bring out our strengths. The repeated
attacks hurt the group and I think we are good at hurting others. If it ends in a bunch finish again,
Shawn can work the magic.
Results:
Cat 4:
Leo Katolik 12th
|
