Jun 19, 2023 at 10:14 PM
I did the Masters 40+ and David Vibert did the men's fixed-gear. I'll let David comment on his race.
In the Masters, I figured that without a team and with little desire to wait for a field sprint, I needed to be aggressive. I expected that Edwin Morel would be on fire and Jerry Kapko would be strong, and I wanted to be up the road for them to bridge to me rather than waiting for them. 61 starters.
Fate threw in a surprise as Rahsaan Bahati, ex pro, former national champion, and someone who is still in the business of being fast, lined up. He's fresh meat, a 41 year-old still doing well in pro-ams. He suddenly became the guy to watch, and the expectation that people would wait to react to him.
I put in an early attack, which gained me a gap and then the field brought me back. I settled in, and then there was a crash coming out of turn two a few laps in. Glad I missed it, but it scattered the field with me having to chase down a sudden 10-second gap. I got little help, other than from the officials who signaled for the front to slow down, which they sort of did.
I was trying to pick moments when a small break was absorbed, or just starting to stabilize, and choosing to go shortly before corners so I could get in front, take my preferred line at a high speed and exit quickly in the hope it would help me gain a gap.
On three subsequent attacks, I picked up riders who then couldn't help, and was reabsorbed.
In the final laps, with a four-man break seemingly just beyond the range of catching, I was waiting to make a late move, late enough that the field might be discouraged to chase until getting the bell.
Made the move a bit before three to go, had two guys with me, but my legs, and theirs, weren't strong enough to carry on at the speed we needed.
We were re-absorbed less than a lap later.
I didn't seem to have much trouble getting gaps, but my power was ebbing faster than I expected. I need more race-pace efforts in training.
In the Masters, I figured that without a team and with little desire to wait for a field sprint, I needed to be aggressive. I expected that Edwin Morel would be on fire and Jerry Kapko would be strong, and I wanted to be up the road for them to bridge to me rather than waiting for them. 61 starters.
Fate threw in a surprise as Rahsaan Bahati, ex pro, former national champion, and someone who is still in the business of being fast, lined up. He's fresh meat, a 41 year-old still doing well in pro-ams. He suddenly became the guy to watch, and the expectation that people would wait to react to him.
I put in an early attack, which gained me a gap and then the field brought me back. I settled in, and then there was a crash coming out of turn two a few laps in. Glad I missed it, but it scattered the field with me having to chase down a sudden 10-second gap. I got little help, other than from the officials who signaled for the front to slow down, which they sort of did.
I was trying to pick moments when a small break was absorbed, or just starting to stabilize, and choosing to go shortly before corners so I could get in front, take my preferred line at a high speed and exit quickly in the hope it would help me gain a gap.
On three subsequent attacks, I picked up riders who then couldn't help, and was reabsorbed.
In the final laps, with a four-man break seemingly just beyond the range of catching, I was waiting to make a late move, late enough that the field might be discouraged to chase until getting the bell.
Made the move a bit before three to go, had two guys with me, but my legs, and theirs, weren't strong enough to carry on at the speed we needed.
We were re-absorbed less than a lap later.
I didn't seem to have much trouble getting gaps, but my power was ebbing faster than I expected. I need more race-pace efforts in training.
I tucked in, trying to stay behind trouble but to test if I had enough in my legs to contest such field sprints in the future. I don't think we went into the field sprint particularly fast.
I was 39th. the first four were 27 seconds ahead of the field. Jerry Kapko 3rd, Edwin Morel 5th, Rahsaan Bahati 6th.
https://www.strava.com/activities/9297659330
I was 39th. the first four were 27 seconds ahead of the field. Jerry Kapko 3rd, Edwin Morel 5th, Rahsaan Bahati 6th.
https://www.strava.com/activities/9297659330
https://youtu.be/9rk-BQrp9lc?si=oHyzNs3P7plIuiHq