FLCC> Green Mountains Stage Race - Sproulls report

[Don Slice]

The prologue - 8.9 mi
  My plans for the day were to get to the front at the starting line. I'm getting tired of starting from the back and wasting energy to get up front. So I head over to the starting line 15 minutes early and get the first position at the line. Stragglers head in late and try to squeeze in at the front but get refuted by a mass of angry riders. The race starts and I get my comfortable position of 10 - 20 riders back. Although it was a controlled start for two miles eager riders try to push to the front so there was some pushing and shoving. One rider goes down in the middle of the pack just behind me. We slowed down for a bit. He manages to get back into the race eventually. The race starts after the bridge and were going fast on the flat and lower grade parts with riders jostling to get to front. I manage to stay up near the front. The mountain gets steeper the field begins to thin out. Then we hit the really steep part before the ski parking lot. We’re down to five. I was
 feeling good but was starting to feel a part of a stomach cramp. If we keep the current pace I could hold on and possible be in the top 3. We hit the last 1.7 mi to go where the road gets really steep. We pick up the pace and my side muscle cramps right up. I hold on for another half mile then had to slow down because I was starting to get a little light headed. I struggle to the top trying to stay within the top ten. Gasping for air I finish what I believe is 8th or 9th but find out that it was 10th so I still get a ticket to the front line in tomorrows race so no worrying about getting to the line early. I wasn’t too disappointed with the result my main focus was the 3rd day mountain race and I was only 10 points back from the leader. Anything could still happen.
   
  The circuit race -19.8 mi per lap 72 miles. Flat race with hill at beginning for KOM
    So with the free ticket to the front line I don't worry about being early to the starting line. I didn't warm up or anything my plan was to take it easy as possible for the first 10 miles. The race starts slow up the hill so I just spin easily taking it as light as possible. For the first lap I noted where the best place to move up the pack. About 3/4 of the first loop a break of 4 occurs. It's early but I think these are the KOM people so I bridge the gap and stay behind. We hit the KOM hill and I'm sitting in 2nd position. 3/4 up the hill two makes a break I end up 3rd in the KOM. Lap two the KOM was approaching and there was more interest in the KOM. We pace hard up the hill. There were attacks off the back I end up 5th. Near the middle of the 3rd lap we turn a corner. A trooper is passing cars in our lane coming towards us. Almost takes out the lead riders swerves to the right and takes of another cars side mirror. I manage to miss the trooper by a foot and was the
 happy recipient of the broken mirror but I didn't flat... 3rd KOM we have a pace line going up the hill. I'm sitting in 3rd position. Some attack and I go with them. I take 2nd at the KOM. We manage to have a pretty good gap on the field two people get together to break but finally give up. 4th KOM and final lap were going for the KOM there are a good number of riders trying to get it. The pack breaks leaving six for the KOM. I hold on trying not to burn too much energy. I had a feeling that this might be a good time to break. We saw that we had a good lead from the pack. KOM leader rustled us together for a break. The pace line was week so I starting yelling clear when the next rider should move over. Soon the rest of the riders were doing the same so we were more efficient. We pace line and get more of a gap. 3 mi to the finish we hit a roller. I look back and it seemed like they were only 50 meters away but were more like 100 - 150 away. I was ready to give up and the
 rest of the pack was unsure also. KOM urged us on so we continued on and managed to stay away. 1 k to go they are gaining on us. KOM yells to push harder. 500 meters to go they are right on our tail. The break is breaking up. I decide to start sprinting. It’s a long way for a sprint. Someone or all could get me wheel and sprint around me at the end but it's better than 30 riders sprinting around me. I'm going all out I see the line and push harder and harder and take 1st. One rider from the main pack got second and KOM got third. Oh - this gave me the race leader jersey by 2 points!
   
  Mountain Road Race - 64 mi last climb 2.5 mi 10% avg grade
   
  Pouring rain and 53deg. This race was not going to be fun. We take off the mountain. I was freaking freezing. The worst race I have ever started. The pace was slow. 10 miles in I wasn't as cold and the rain seemed to let up. I end up being near the back of the pack hanging out. The sprint points line was near and the race began. After the sprint points I move up to near the front of the pack then we turn for the first mountain climb. We hit the mountain. Goal for me was just to stay with the lead pack. Half way up there is around eight of us. Near the top the KOM sprinters take off I manage to hang on for 5th. We descend the mountain and get together near the bottom. KOM wanted to pace line but I said that there is no sense in doing so since we hit the last mountain climb it would be the same people. The field recollected and then sun came out. Everyone took off their rain gear while doing so a break of two went off. I don't think anyone was worried. We caught them on the
 hill going into the dirt road section. This year the dirt road section had no pot holes so there wasn't water bottles flying around. We hit baby gap the pace picks up. KOM attacks a few times but manages nothing. I'm tucked away around tenth position. We hit app gap with what it seems like the whole field. I never looked back so don't really know. I stay around 6th position going up the mountain. Wind blowing what seems like 20 mph and beginning to rain. Pace was slow as a turtle which is playing in my favor. (There is a bunch of us 20 – 30 half way up the mountain slow) I'm tucked away from the wind. We continue up the mountain. KOM attacks at 1k, a few others and I hang on. 500 meters to go three take off. I thought it was too early since its 18 - 22 % grade to the top. 300 meters the 2cd place guy in GC had just stumbled I decide to go. I'm sprinting flat out up the mountain closing in on second place. The line hits too soon I end up 3rd with way too much left in the
 tank. Should have gone earlier! I end up second in the GC race by six points. Good position for the crit.
   
  The Burlington Crit.
    Make a long story short. Pace is extremely fast. I'm on the verge of a side cramp. There is a break with 3rd place GC in it. I get to front to get ready to bridge the gap. Begin the turn and continue pedaling. (Note: don't do this) Pedal hits the ground I crash breaking rear Zipp wheel in half. Run down and get two new wheels. They let us off behind the main pack. I manage to get to the front within 1 lap to begin to bridge the gap. Turn the same corner and there is a crash right in front of me. I manage to pull away from it and continue on. I try to bridge but my day is over. I settle for pack finish, 3rd overall GC. The winner of the GC won the crit. Lesson learned!
   
  Great company, Fun Racing, What a great time!
   

 		
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