Criterium:
On Saturday, Jake, Robert, Trey, Drew, and I lined up in a deep field of 115 or so in Anniston, Alabama. This is a race that we have been looking forward to for some time as it is the rare case where the Category 2 and 3 fields are combined. We were all very excited to pin on a number and race together.
Early in the race, as we thought, was very aggressive and after 6-7 laps, Jake attacked to establish an early break, with Trey covering attacks in between. We were very hopeful that a early break would get established, but unfortunately, with a field that deep, there were too many fresh legs to let it happen that early.
With about 20 minutes left in the race, a 3 man move had just got reeled in on the downhill portion of the course and I sensed a slight lull in the tempo of the field. I attacked on the uphill portion of the course, hoping I would bring 3-5 guys with me to get a solid break established. That did not happen. I was all by myself. I managed to create a gap of 15-20 seconds and dangled off the front of the field, I was even able to gobble up some Primes in the meantime. With 2 laps to go, I heard the race promoter calling out a Primes for the field. I knew that this was not good. The prime was going to certainly ramp up the pace of the field, while I was going all out by myself.. running out of gas. I knew the field would be getting close, and any chance of a solo victory would be hard to come by at this point. With one lap to go, I still had a slim gap of about 10 seconds and was pulled in by the front of the field going into the final 2 corners of the race. At this time, however, I did not really know this, I thought just a few guys had bridged up to me, so it actually worked to my advantage.. I thought I was just sprinting against 4-5 guys vs. the entire field. I was able to put up a decent sprint and managed a 4th place for the team. Drew and Jake managed to finish safely in the field after putting forth great work in covering moves by other teams trying to pull the break back. It was a great show case of teamwork, and a solid result for the team.
Foot Hills Road Race
On Sunday, the guys and I drove up to Piedmont, Alabama for the foothills road race. On the way there, we saw all of the participants in the Cheeha challenge starting their 100 mile adventure for the charity ride. It was great to see the 800+ folks lined down the road. Combined with the crit and road race, it was amazing to see so many people on bicycles. It was a great sense of community, and a lot of the proceeds go to the Cancer society, so overall, a wonderful event to be part of.
We had the rare chance on Sunday as well, to line up in solid 2/3 field for a race that none of us had done before. The course was short in nature at 57 miles, with 4 category 5 climbs, we knew we had our work cut out for us.
In the first 3 miles of the race, a 2 man move went up the road. Jake took a huge dig and bridged up to them. It was a very promising early break with 3 of the largest teams in the field represented. At that point, Trey, Drew, Robert, and I found ourselves at the front, impeding on any chases, trying to break up the rhythm of the chase. There were some fresh legs in the group, and after about 20 minutes in the break, it came back going into the first climb of the day. The field settled down a bit after the break came back, with a few flyer's going off the front, but nothing really seemed to stick. As we approached the 2nd climb of the day, it was a bit surprising to see how steep the pitch was. I was towards the front of the field and saw 2 guys trickle off the front. I am not sure why I did it, but I surged off the front and bridged up to them and caught them at the crest of the hill. At this point in, we where about 35 minutes into the race, and I knew it would be a long time in the break. I took charge of the break trying to get the 2 other guys to work together.. One of they guys, Stephen Leotis from Cycle Concepts was receptive and let it be known that he would work with me. The other, a guy from Mississippi, was not willing to put in much effort to work. Still, we had enough of a gap, it was too promising of a break to not at least try.
As we approached a large hill after 10 minutes of being in the break, the field was fast approaching, Stephen thought we were caught, let off the gas on the hill and faded back into the field. I still felt like there was a chance, so I made a huge surge up the hill and brought the guy from MS with me. This was a bad situation. I was now in a break with somebody who would not work with me. I was able to re-establish the break and gained time as most of the climbs were done for the day, except for the end of the course. It turns out this is a great course to get in a break in as it was twisty and windy with rolling hills for almost the entire course.
After 2 hours in the break, I was able to create a gap of 1 minute and 25 seconds or so, and knew it would be either a sprint for first. Typically, if the person you are in the break with does not work you, they will not sprint you for the podium spot. However, it appears that etiquette was not in play here. I knew my sprint would be nominal at this point since my legs were cramping in the last 5k. The guy who sat on my wheel for most of the race came around me with less than 100 meters to go and sprinted past me for the win, I rolled across the line in 2nd place. That's just bike racing. It was still a solid result for the team.
It was another showcase of great teamwork!! Drew, Jake, Trey, and Robert all managed to finish safely and upright after a hard days work. A special thanks to all those guys for all the effort this weekend!!!e, Robert, Trey, Drew, and I lined up in a deep field of 115 or so in Anniston, Alabama. This is a race that we have been looking forward to for some time as it is the rare case where the Category 2 and 3 fields are combined. We were all very excited to pin on a number and race together.
Early in the race, as we thought, was very aggressive and after 6-7 laps, Jake attacked to establish an early break, with Trey covering attacks in between. We were very hopeful that a early break would get established, but unfortunately, with a field that deep, there were too many fresh legs to let it happen that early.
With about 20 minutes left in the race, a 3 man move had just got reeled in on the downhill portion of the course and I sensed a slight lull in the tempo of the field. I attacked on the uphill portion of the course, hoping I would bring 3-5 guys with me to get a solid break established. That did not happen. I was all by myself. I managed to create a gap of 15-20 seconds and dangled off the front of the field, I was even able to gobble up some Primes in the meantime. With 2 laps to go, I heard the race promoter calling out a Primes for the field. I knew that this was not good. The prime was going to certainly ramp up the pace of the field, while I was going all out by myself.. running out of gas. I knew the field would be getting close, and any chance of a solo victory would be hard to come by at this point. With one lap to go, I still had a slim gap of about 10 seconds and was pulled in by the front of the field going into the final 2 corners of the race. At this time, however, I did not really know this, I thought just a few guys had bridged up to me, so it actually worked to my advantage.. I thought I was just sprinting against 4-5 guys vs. the entire field. I was able to put up a decent sprint and managed a 4th place for the team. Drew and Jake managed to finish safely in the field after putting forth great work in covering moves by other teams trying to pull the break back. It was a great show case of teamwork, and a solid result for the team.
Foot Hills Road Race
On Sunday, the guys and I drove up to Piedmont, Alabama for the foothills road race. On the way there, we saw all of the participants in the Cheeha challenge starting their 100 mile adventure for the charity ride. It was great to see the 800+ folks lined down the road. Combined with the crit and road race, it was amazing to see so many people on bicycles. It was a great sense of community, and a lot of the proceeds go to the Cancer society, so overall, a wonderful event to be part of.
We had the rare chance on Sunday as well, to line up in solid 2/3 field for a race that none of us had done before. The course was short in nature at 57 miles, with 4 category 5 climbs, we knew we had our work cut out for us.
In the first 3 miles of the race, a 2 man move went up the road. Jake took a huge dig and bridged up to them. It was a very promising early break with 3 of the largest teams in the field represented. At that point, Trey, Drew, Robert, and I found ourselves at the front, impeding on any chases, trying to break up the rhythm of the chase. There were some fresh legs in the group, and after about 20 minutes in the break, it came back going into the first climb of the day. The field settled down a bit after the break came back, with a few flyer's going off the front, but nothing really seemed to stick. As we approached the 2nd climb of the day, it was a bit surprising to see how steep the pitch was. I was towards the front of the field and saw 2 guys trickle off the front. I am not sure why I did it, but I surged off the front and bridged up to them and caught them at the crest of the hill. At this point in, we where about 35 minutes into the race, and I knew it would be a long time in the break. I took charge of the break trying to get the 2 other guys to work together.. One of they guys, Stephen Leotis from Cycle Concepts was receptive and let it be known that he would work with me. The other, a guy from Mississippi, was not willing to put in much effort to work. Still, we had enough of a gap, it was too promising of a break to not at least try.
As we approached a large hill after 10 minutes of being in the break, the field was fast approaching, Stephen thought we were caught, let off the gas on the hill and faded back into the field. I still felt like there was a chance, so I made a huge surge up the hill and brought the guy from MS with me. This was a bad situation. I was now in a break with somebody who would not work with me. I was able to re-establish the break and gained time as most of the climbs were done for the day, except for the end of the course. It turns out this is a great course to get in a break in as it was twisty and windy with rolling hills for almost the entire course.
After 2 hours in the break, I was able to create a gap of 1 minute and 25 seconds or so, and knew it would be either a sprint for first. Typically, if the person you are in the break with does not work you, they will not sprint you for the podium spot. However, it appears that etiquette was not in play here. I knew my sprint would be nominal at this point since my legs were cramping in the last 5k. The guy who sat on my wheel for most of the race came around me with less than 100 meters to go and sprinted past me for the win, I rolled across the line in 2nd place. That's just bike racing. It was still a solid result for the team.
It was another showcase of great teamwork!! Drew, Jake, Trey, and Robert all managed to finish safely and upright after a hard days work. A special thanks to all the guys for all the effort this weekend!!!
-John Stowe
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