Nick Skenzick scolded me last night for my lack of blog updating. …it was pretty cool to get some blog feedback. Another Hutch’s guy (maybe Andy?) also noticed me as “the guy with the blog” and mentioned how he likes reading it. I’m happy that someone likes it.
Twilight Crit. I had a couple ideas, and with 11 out of 30 of the guys out there on my team, the teamwork potential was high. I talked to Rebar and McCanna before the race a little but it’s always hard to know. I wanted to avoid the classic 4/5 race- little attacks, huge pace fluctuations, and a field sprint that I’m not very good at. The 27 lap race starts, and Derek leaps off the front. I got a little nervous because I know he’s strong, and he had a pretty sizeable gap. Everybody else got a little antsy too I guess, and he got pulled back in a lap or so. I nudged up to Andrew Bennett and said, “I think I’m going to let one more good one go and come back.” He made some sort of acknowledgement, but I wasn’t really sure if he wanted to go. I sulked around in the pack a little, and finally someone went. I used that opportunity to slink up the side during the crosswind. The guys got caught, and I waited a little bit for the huge slow-up that seem to always follows a catch, hiding on the left side. Lap 6.
I punch it after the corner. Mr. PowerTap reports 10 seconds at +900w, then about 20 seconds of +600w with a heart rate peaking at 201 bpm, yow. I look under my arm to a four or five second gap, with Andrew right on me. I put my head down and Andrew pulled through. We settle in. The crosswind was pretty brutal, the pace was pretty brutal, but we were working together well and I felt good about it. 21 laps to go. I remember looking under my arm a few minutes later and not being able to see the pack- at that point, I was pretty sure that we had a shot at sticking it. We started getting time gaps- they were between 10 and 15 seconds initially, but then it went down to 5. Andrew got nervous at that pointed and asked me whether I thought we should sit up. I didn’t really see any point in that and I pulled through. The gap went up after that, and I think at one point it was 25 or 30 seconds. We had settled into a solid tempo. My teammates were working hard for us. Somebody would pull us back a little, then it would go right back up. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.
Oh yeah! OTF!
I kept looking down at my PowerTap for the time. Time went very slowly. The prime eventually came, which was pretty funny. On the back stretch, Andrew said, “Don’t sprint for the prime. Who ever gets it gets it. It’s about the points.” (He was right, of course- sprinting for the prime would probably get us caught.) I agreed, and told him he could have it. He didn’t really seem to care, so I said, “Let’s split it” and he agreed.
The lap board got down to single digits. The gap was up around 20-25 seconds, and I felt like we would hold it. With 6 to go, I turned to ask the gap and the official said, “They’re right there.” Sure enough, right behind us was the pack. We sat up. After attacking 8 minutes in and staying away for 27, we got caught. Bummer deal. I’m told that Hutch’s wanted to set up Lee for the win, and they went to the front and pulled those 15-20 something seconds back in just over a lap. I got 11th and Andrew got 6th (I think?).
OTF: 27min, avg speed 24.7, avg hr 188, avg power 298, norm power 311, avg cadence 89
Crit: 43min, avg speed 24.6, avg hr 183, avg power 270, norm power 303, avg cadence 85
Here’s the csv.
Yesterday was one of my best days of racing ever. I’d never been in a real break before. I set new power records in every interval between 5min and 60min. I made $5. My teammates worked really hard for me, and I’m really appreciative. I don’t think we would’ve lasted nearly as long with Pacific Power workin’ the front. (Not working at the front, but working the front.) It felt good to be off the front.
Orion won the 1/2/3’s. Orion is also a freakin’ beast.
You two put in a great effort, especially with that counter-clockwise wind that seemed to be in our face 3/4’s of the race. Steve (Paul’s) did most of the work pulling you back — he’s a time trial specialist. He wanted to bridge up to you guys on his own. But as far as Hutch’s is concerned, he’s a marked man, so we tagged along for the ride. One or two more teams represented in your break and it would have stuck for sure.
Thanks! The wind was absolutely brutal. It was such a huge different to sit in the pack afterwards. That’s good to know about Steve, too. Good luck next week.
Thats supa cool! Andrew is a really strong guy and a good one to have in a breakaway. Too bad it didnt stick. But none the less, that really great!
You looked good beatin’ the wind! Steven is very strong…that’s why we recruited him for our TTT team.
You right about Orion. I showed up for the 1,2,3 race and took a beating.
Paul
Thanks Miriam and Paul.
Paul: The wind was pretty brutal. It seemed to move around a lot, and Andrew isn’t a huge shield, while I’m not especially small. We stayed away for a long time, by far the longest for me ever, and I was pretty disappointed to get reeled back. It was really great to see real race tactics play out (a break up the road, teams blocking, and then another team pulling it back for their sprinter).
Orion and I both race for UO. He’s outrageous all the time.