Gateway Cup – St. Louis
Hey ya’ll, I know I haven’t been much of a race report writer this season, mostly because there hasn’t been much to say from my angle. I’ve made a few positive changes in my personal life over the last few weeks and it has trickled down to the bike, I knew it would at some point, but I didn’t think it would show already.
Well, we (S. Metz and myself) took off Friday afternoon and headed to St. Louis, I didn’t race Friday because the 4’s race was too early to be able to get there in time and still be able to work Friday morning. His race wasn’t until 9:30 PM, Lafayette Square under the lights, some really intense racing if you have never been. This would be my first trip to St. Louis as a Cat 4.
Saturday morning when we got up it was a constant moderate rain that was not moving, my race was at 1:00 and at noon when I had to make the call it just unloaded again. So I said forget it, come to find out so did half my field that day.
Giro (GIRO! GIRO! GIRO!) Della Montagne
This is in an Italian neighborhood south of downtown called The Hill, basically a 4-corner rectangle with a small to moderate hill, a hill non-the less, on the backside. I really went into this weekend with no expectations except to not stop until an official stopped me, and a goal of finishing with the pack.
I started at the back end of the front third. We had 93 starters. I stayed with the field for 6 laps, the last 2 I really started sliding backwards on the hill and on the 7th lap off the back I went. From there on I just rode Maylath style, kept my head down and turned the cranks fast and hard as I could. They pulled me with 3 togo, the field was about to lap me for the third time so I’m pretty sure they wanted me out of the way. I was the only dropped rider that didn’t quit. 20 guys quit in front of me. On a side note, there was a spider monkey that went off the back with me, we rode a couple laps together and then he just drills it up the hill by himself, so I’m just like whatever dude, later! I know you’re spent. Then, when I come around turn 4 heading down to the start finish, he’s gone…he pulled out, 20 min into the 40 min race. Come to find out, he pulled off the course in turn 3, rested for 10 min, then jumped back into the field, AND POPPED AGAIN IN 1 LAP, Todd Metz told me what he did, I didn’t see it, just that he vanished. The officials placed him in front of me, whatever, didn’t really matter, it was for 70th something. He’s the one that has to look in the mirror and sleep with him every night. How are you ever going to get out of the 4’s if you quit races?? About 20 guys never finished the race.
17 Laps
Ave Speed 21.6 (first 6 laps = 24.8)
Ave HR 184
Tour of Missouri Criterium
This was one fuuun race, also happens to be my proudest effort this season. Big field, 102 starters. The course was another rectangle with a rise up to the start finish 300m from turn 4. The backstretch went right along the north side of the baseball stadium, which was pretty cool. Pic to follow. After the lap fest the day before, I didn’t know what to expect from myself.
I started a couple from the front, which was fine. The first 4 or 5 laps I rode mid pack and took the inside lines. I was having to brake a lot in the turns because of the guys around me hitting the brakes and that was getting old fast and I realized if I stay where I am all the brake and surge was going to wear me out so I moved around to look for a better spot to be, all the turns were extremely wide on wide 4-7 lane roads. At about 5 laps into the race I slid to the very back and commenced tail gunning. I have never been able to effectively tail gun until today, I got it for some reason; maybe the course suited it. I remember a talk Lance and I had on a training ride one day and he talked about quitting pedaling earlier than the guys in front of you and staying off the brakes through the turns and rolling up on them as they accelerate out of the turn, I started doing this and stayed right with everybody until lap 19 of 24 total, all the while a couple guys were quitting each lap. The last 2 laps I was with the group I got gapped out of turn 4 up the rise to the start/finish line and the first time as I was tossing the anchor chain over the side rail this guy came around me as we were going by the pit and Sean yelled at me to grab that wheel so I jumped out of the saddle and chased up to him, as I caught onto his wheel he turned back to me and said “yeah dude, just grab my wheel, I’ll pull you up!” After we went around turn 2 on that lap I looked at him and thanked him, he said back “its cool, I’m a mountain biker and I’m scared sh*tless so I’m just staying back here…” We went around turn 4 again and I buried myself to stay with him, which I did. This time through 4 I didn’t have the gas so I just eased up and rode as hard as I could by myself. On the second to last lap the field was rolling up on me as we went through turn 4, I just looked over my left shoulder and called the inside line a couple times so no one would dive in on me. As I came out of 4, 3/4ths of the field was by me so I just eased over to them and jumped on the back and was able to hold on and finish the bell lap with the field. After the last turn I gave it one more dig about half way to the line and then just cruised in, I had a 2 guys come by me, but I didn’t really care because we were in the back. I ended up 73rd out of 76 finishers; there were 26 that didn’t finish.
I don’t know what’s in the water down there, but I was the only one that didn’t quit when I got dropped, both days!
Of particular note, the local racers from the area were very cool and respecting to one another and to the out of towners. As well as the fans/spectators, they were yelling at me to stay with and banging the cowbells at me every lap I was by myself.
It’s a great weekend that should not be missed!
24 Laps
Ave Speed 24.7
Ave HR 176
