Holly ass whooping! I was so out of place at the Gila. Don't get me wrong. I did enjoy myself. During the first stage I hung with the pack just fine until the last feed zone at about 62 miles. I was out of water and b-lined it to the neutral support. When I did a couple of guys attacked off the front. I never recovered to catch back on before the last climb. I rode to within 50 feet of the pack but they took the turn to the Mogollon and I just ended up picking up a few stragglers before the top. I finished 59th out of 73, 12:28 down.
Stage two had me worried. I was hoping to get to the top of the first climb with the group but I fell off with about 600 meters to go. I had questionable tactics. I rode at the back of the pack and was sawed off twice. I sprinted back on both times. This cost me at the end of the climb. I couldn't cover the last surge and fell off the back. I rode the next 63 miles by myself. I felt fine riding by myself. I made it to the finish before the 120% cut off. I finished 59th out of 68, 37:28 down.
Stage three was more rewarding. I finished 47 out of 68 in the TT, 5:55 down. I watched Lance, Levi, and others during their TT. That was cool. Man! They are fast.
Stage four was the crit. I ended up flatting with 3 laps to go. Enough said!
Stage five was great. On the way out we had 3 rollers. I tried my best to stay on with each roller. I was shelled on each. I had flashbacks of day two and I wanted to ride with the group. After each climb I put my head down and motored back on. The last roller was a categorized climb. It was a category four which was easy for the slender guys. I knew there was a 2 1/2 mile decent after the climb. This helped with my stress level because I knew I could descend faster than the group even if they were pedaling all out. I ended up hitting 55.7 MPH. We rode together until the final set of climbs and as soon as it went up I was shelled. There was 18 miles to go and I took a piss and then settle into a rhythm up the climbs. I end up finishing 59 out 62, 18:10 down. I was 57 out 62 on the final GC.
Here is what I learned. I need to be lighter, how, I don't know. I know that almost everyone in this CAT3 race raced and trains with a power meter. I need to be more attentive to my position in the group. I want to go back and try to be more competitive.
Jeremy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
jeremy,
noble effort!
most riders think of the Gila as monster climbs, however, as you found out, it's those cross-winded rollers that really spit you out as the pack accelerates over the top of them...positioning is vital...you're gonna CRANK next year! let me know if you need help getting lighter...
Getting lighter? I'm new to cycling...I've read the term "getting lighter" in a few places...does it mean what it seems: to lose weight?
Thanks --
rthb...
Yeah, lose weight. I'm 181 lbs.(82.3 kg) at 5'11" (181 cm). Most of the guys that are my height that do well in the Gila are about 145 to 150 lbs. (65.9 kg to 68.2 kg). I watched people with heavier bikes out climb me but they weight 30 lbs. (13.6 kg) less. Plus, it's how much watts per kilo a person puts out at functional threshold that matters.
Thanks! I've got a similar composition, but 5'10". Now the watts per kilo discussion we'll save for another time...after perhaps I've done a bit more study!
Post a Comment