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Race Result
| Racer: |
Richard Gendron |
| Race: |
Kelly Cup |
| Date: |
Saturday, May 24, 2008 |
| Location: |
Baltimore, MD |
| Race Type: |
Bike - Other |
| Age Group: |
Male 40 - 44 |
| Time: |
0:25:47 |
| Overall Place: |
6 / 40 |
| Comment: |
Good Performance - Missed Opportunity |
Race Report:
Pre-Race - Wednesday
The course for Bike Jam is a big circle with 2 real turns. The first is just after the start/finish after a traffic circle; the turn is a 90 degree right hander which is very basic and speeds are not high due to the traffic circle. After that, there is a fast downhill sweeping section. The downhill leads to a flat-ish section leading into the second turn. The last couple of years, it consisted of a hard right followed immediately by a hard left that led to the finishing stretch. The finishing stretch is a long uphill curve.
There are a few strong riders in the race, Trail's End Mike Hutton just won Ft Ritchy CAT 5 and we know Shaun from Wakey can be tough on any given day. Steinschneider from Evo is dangerous. The big break-away riders from earlier races this year are not in this race, in particular, Matt B from Colivita and Wiki Mike (Shucks) are not in this one. From WWVC we have J MUL, Simon "Turbo" Kim,and me. Fellow Trirat, Nathan Miller lined up against us with two Coppi teammates.
Tactics - The traffic circle will string out the peleton just before the long downhill section, so I want to be in the top 5-10 in the circle, work to stay there during the downhill and then coast without breaking on the flat section and through the back circle, then work to keep position up the approach to the finish. If I can find Simon in the last couple laps, I want to lead out Simon since he has a monster sprint.
Focus - Warm up, Warm up, Warm up. Get the line early and hit the clip-in first try. Stay up front, but conserve, fight hard for position in the last three laps - Lead out or sprint like the sky is falling when the time comes.
Race Report
Bad part of being a CAT 5 - Getting up at 5:30 for an 8:45 start. Good part - the course is open for warm ups. I got a GREAT warm up. My power numbers from the warm up were almost as good as my race. (40 min, 198w avg, 997w max, 154 HRavg, 180 HRmax). Simon was there, but no sign of J "Garmin" Mullins. Apparently he got lost on the way there and showed up with 5 minutes to race time.
I got to the line late, but was able to squeeze in next the J and Simon using early 90s grunge concert skills. Cock the Hammer , Time for Action. The start happened as advertised. A fairly large unattached rider - obese by biking standards - rabbited out in the lead, I was sitting in third. First time through the back circle we were three across. Fat boy braked, took the inside line but carried himself all the way to the outside line, sending two of us into the grass, at the same time the attacks started. I had to burn a match to get back on the pack and was sitting 10 back. I can't wait to get out of the 5s.
The first 4 laps went pretty much without incident, I was in the top 5 the entire time and focused on going into the back circle in 1-3 position so as not to scrub much speed.
With 6 to go, the officials rang a preem. I decided I wanted to see who the strong sprinters were, so I fell back to about 10the and watched the action. With 5 to go they rang another preem. The group was slow, EVO attacked to take the prime and ended up 20 yards out in front of us. I figured the boys up front would reel him in, but they did not, they let another EVO rider get in front and block. By the time I got to the front, Nathan was trying to bring EVO back all on his own, I took a full lap pull and we were making progress, but then Mike from Trail's End attacked with J MUL glued to his wheel, now I tried to block. I ended up about 10 back and Mike and J Mul got reeled in. I got back on the front with Nathan and worked again to bring back EVO. Trail's End Mike attacked again and I was boxed in and could not cover, J must have lost the scent.
With two strong riders sitting 30 yards out front, Nathan, J Mul and I pulled like crazy to close the gap with three to go. With three chasing two we needed a little help, but every time the three of us left the work to someone else, EVO's teammate moved to the front and scrubbed speed until one of us three could respond. With 2 to go, I couldn't stand it any more, so I responded as soon as he moved up and took away his inside line on the back circle. I was PISSED at Kelly and a few others for not figuring this out, despite my screams of "DON"T LET HIM DO THAT"
As we came to the line on the bell lap I was pulling again, just as we lost sight of the break around the circle, there was a wreck behind us, and the pack lost whatever will it had left. I backed off to about 15th and started to prepare for the sprint.
I could not find J or Simon, and Nathan burned his whole pack trying to bridge. From about 16 back I worked my way up to one of the wheels I saw move well during the 1st preem. HE started sprinting early giving me a nice leadout. I weaved my way into the clear and dusted about 11 riders to finish 5th or 6th (photo finish)
Mini Geek Data
Duration: 25:47
Work: 384 kJ
Distance: 10.33 mi
Max Avg
Power: 1030 248 watts
Heart Rate: 185 176 bpm
Cadence: 188 74 rpm
Speed: 33.42 24.03 mph
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