Here is my blow by blow recall of the race.....
I went off and followed the first break two laps in.....me and some
cyclonaut guy. We had a good gap......I think he pulled through twice
while were out there. The wind was nuts....in yo face the entire
finishing stretch. I was basically alone in the break.....doing all
the work all the way around each lap. This guy would not take a pull
for love or money....rode my butt the entire time. I heard the
bell.....prime lap about 9 miles into the race......The cycloNUT still
not taking a pull at the front....did not matter....I gassed it and
left him in the dust and took the first prime....and at that point or
soon after he dropped back into the peloton. All alone out
there......still.....legs are really starting to feel it......20 min
left to go in the race. Looking back around each corner I could not
even see the peloton. The laps continue to go by....suddenly feel a
tap on my back.....two break away riders catch up to me....I latch on
to their wheel and finally get a small rest.....but continued to pull
through when it was my turn. Another bell....prime lap coming
again.......but the two escapees let me have it....they just wanted
the stage win. Doing my pulls...laps continue to trickle by.....legs
are on fire now! 5 to go! still out front....peloton still not to be
seen. 4 to go....we start to see the tail end of the peloton. 3 to
go.....almost catch the peloton......next lap the race official cut it
to 1 lap fearing that we were going to catch the peloton and get mixed
up in the pack and confuse the finish. Somehow I end up taking my pull
along the back stretch and the other two would not pull through at
this point. nearing the final corner I go for it....all out mind
numbing....leg splitting sprint! it was not enough....the other two
were to strong and nipped me with 50m to go.....I took third. What an
amazing race for me. I can't believe we almost lapped the pack! I
pretty much pulled out front the entire race. Avg speed was 22.7!
crazy considering the massive head wind today. Found out after the
race my team mates were doing all they could to block and slow down
the peloton....great team effort today. I earned 8 points and $30
bucks! Well time to rest up and go attack Bethel tomorrow.
Bethel update:
This race was great for me as well.....2nd on the first prime and 6th overall. There was a 5 man break that got away and was never caught......but I won the field sprint! First time ever winning the field sprint up the hill!! I was so psyched! Great weekend for me!