Driveway 6/18/09

Heath was relentless in his attacks last night, going off the front at least 5 different times. He, without question, deserved the Most Agressive Rider jersey for the second week in a row

The DW was again super hot and dry on race night. The women’s 4/5 and juniors went off at 5:10 pm and the 3/4′s at 5:40. Cat 4/5 rolled out at 6:10 – it was the super short (8/10 mile) course up top, so I knew it was going to be a sufferfest for me. Throw in a big wind and staying in the pack was critical. Our race was no different than the rest in that it splintered immediately. There were 9 corners in .8 miles, so it was turn, stand and drive to the next corner all race.

I prepped well. Watered down big time and soaked myself as well to keep my core a bit cooler. Took a few laps to find the fastest corner angles and since it was single file most of the race you could dive for those angles w/o worry of traffic in the corners. Found myself about 8th and away in a lead break of about 10 right off the bat (about lap 2). Cory May (ATC) and both my HSJ Teammates were in this break. There were about 2 solo chasers and then the big pack about 30 seconds back (which was rapidly losing ground to us and was beginning to splinter as well).

Pulling the Break - Lap 3

By about 21 minutes I found myself yo-yoing off the back of the break w/ about two others. Just couldn’t hold the acceleration off of the S after the start finish (the most technical set of turns on the track – critical to hit them with speed and smooth transition – then get out of the saddle to keep the wheel ahead). Finally lost a wheel, and despite digging deep and fighting to get back, I lost ground. Now I was solo in no mans land about 20 seconds off the back of the front group and 3/4 a lap ahead of the main pack. At 25 minutes I lapped the main pack solo, but I saw the main break (down to about 6) about 15 seconds behind me. With two to go I was lapped by this group.

No man's land between break and pack.

Weird night – lapped by the break, but I lapped the peleton. Everyone was so scattered at the end it was hard to determine who placed where. Would hate to have been a judge tonite. Really pretty happy w/ my ride (other than I lost the main break…damn !). I was reeling in folks the last three laps who’d popped off the break. Actually outsprinted 3 at the end (I think they were lapped riders), but two more powered by me in the last 20 meters. My good friend Cory May from ATC won and Omar Chavez from HSJ (who had raced the 3/4′s just before) took 2nd. I think I was again in the top 20. The many solo laps killed me though with all the wind and heat, and I was definately out of it at the finish. Was a bit dizzy and a little nauseous for just a minute or two. I rode for the shade of the tent and downed two full water bottles. That which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger.

Stephan Rothe took the P1/2 race with Kevin McCarty 2nd in a sprint, they were a lap up on Heath Blackgrove (3rd) who maintained the leaders jersey for the series and won the most aggressive rider for the night with banzai solo’s off the front time and time again. Amazing to watch. Pack was lapped and another 3/4 lap behind the top 5 finishers. 50 something started that race, I think only 20 something finished, such were the conditions and the pace.

Heath curb jumping !

This weekend lots of HSJers will be at Copperas Cove. Heath said he, and I’m assuming the other pros, will be driving to St. Louis for the Tour of Winghaven a big-time 80 mile single day crit.

Next week at the DW is my favorite course , it’s clockwise the full two miles up the corkscrew. If you are contemplating trying a race at the DW, this is THE course to ride. Very forgiving w/ the two long straights (pack sits up here typically and it’s easy to roll back into coverage if you’ve lost a wheel) and mostly flat and down hill with only the very short corkscrew to contend w/ to get back on top.

Weight back down to 170 after last nights effort and a healthy salad last night. Man, My daughter Alyssa turned me onlto a great new salad that I love now. Bowl of fresh spinich leaves, lots of green grapes & those little grape sized tomato’s, a liberal amount of cheddar cheese, walnuts and cashews and diet rasberry vinegarettes dressing. WOW ! Back close to fighting weight.

From Robert Biard:

Numbers were pretty strong in the early races once again, both overall and the THSJ turnout. Our fearless leader Bryan again was among the riders in the 3/4 race, Christian Bergh did the JR race, Heath, Danny, Charlie, and I did the open, and I saw Eardie finish up the night with the 35+ race. It is great to have so many teammates show up for the local crit.

I briefly caught some of each of the races, but I can really only speak about the open. It was hard, I was trying to follow some advice from both my coach and Heath and sit in and not do so much early in the race. That wasn’t going to be possible last night. The first move went up the road after turn 3, and counters started as soon as it was back. I sat on the back of the group as long as I could, and realized gaps were opening everywhere. Stefan Rothe, and Pat McCarty went off the front early, and eventually lapped just about everyone. In the end I think only about 10 guys, and Jen McCrae finished. I was in a chase group with Heath, Wenger, Wheeler, Scott Henry, and Daniel Carruthers for most of the race and finished in the only other group left. I’d say 75% of the riders quit in the first 20 minutes. The short loop is my favorite out there, it requires power, handling, and determination. There is no sitting in when there is wind with that loop. Heath finished up 3rd, and won the most aggressive jersey I think for the 2nd time this month. Heath, Carlos, Barry, Chris, and Sean are headed to race Tour of Winghaven this week.

For those of you racing tomorrow at Copperas Cove, good luck, I will be doing the P1/2 race. Bring water, lots of it, even if you are starting early, it is a fun course but always demanding, and windy I think just about every time I do it I fail to drink enough water and pay for it. Tomorrow I will have 4 bottles so hopefully I can manage. Drink early and drink often!

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