Kissena holds position in GC. Konrad after today's stage is 16th in the 3s and Jeff A. Is 8th in the 4/5 field.

Andrew Da Silva said:

Kissena holds position in GC. Konrad after today's stage is 16th in the 3s and Jeff A. Is 8th in the 4/5 field.

Sweet

I think we raced awesome today. More later if I'm not eating or sleeping or holding an infant.

Efforts look very impressive all around. Every category we have guys kicking ass. Nice!

Stage 2 Master's 40+ field.

So just in case it wasn't clear, this is a tough, tough field. I'm racing a very very lean looking Roger Aspholm, the always dangerous Kevin Molloy and plenty of guys who are beating them. So you know, it's not easy out here in the land of master racers.

Today I rolled to the start with my cheat sheet of who was a) In contention for last year's sprint jersey and b) in this years race. It boiled down to about 4 guys. Yes, I know that I don't exactly have a reputation for being a sprinter, but just because I don't participate in the Low Road State Line sprints on group rides, doesn't mean I don't like to rock and roll.

After we got to gett'n, the pace was hot. A fast decent and the boys at the front were active. About 53 of us started. I quickly noticed that all of my sprinter "targets" were near the front, some with teammates. I immediately felt extra smart. I knew what they were up to...and they all have no idea who I am. (I'm pretty sure even the Weather Channel dudes think I'm JP.)

With 3 to go, I slide up on a wide open highway stretch and promptly get pushed out of line by last year's sprint jersey winner. I think about giving him an earful, but I've got to focus. I drop back onto his wheel, and think, "Okay tough guy, you've got your wheel, guess who's got yours?" I'm feeling smug and smart for about 3 seconds.

2k to go, I'm in terrible position. The finish line approaches fast, and despite a headwind that was pretty fierce on the homestretch, I'm locked into the middle of the bunch 20 or so guys back. No good! Yellow line to my left, riders layered like baclava to my right. 1k to go, things are thinning out somewhat. Still no room and I'm too far back. 500 meters...do I have a chance? No way. Way too many guys now single file in front of me and with the headwind I've got no chance. No points.

Hit the climbing stretch (about 3k of proper climbing) and I suffer like a dog but make it over in contact with the first big group. About 7 riders gunning for KOM points made life really difficult for me. They get a gap and stay away over the top. The field is having none of it and instead of coasting down the hill, I'm cranking watts to keep up. Fast hard right turn and we're strung out for a good mile or so until we catch the KOM-ers. Then we slow. And I recover and resolve to do better in the second sprint.

Having learned my lesson from the previous lap, I position myself on the right coming into the sprint. There are a few danglers off the front and the field is chasing hard. I'm 10th wheel, gaps are starting to open in front of me and soon I'm in the wind at the front, with 2 dudes way in front. No choice I have to go for it. I've got a gap, but the wind is fierce, I'm cranking and look right and see "all clear" the field significantly behind; and don't pedal as hard.

MISTAKE. BIG MISTAKE. A guy flies by me on the left and scores third place points. Damn. I have to settle for 4th place points.

Riders from the field are now flying past us "sprinters." I don't panic, I settle in for the next few miles of rollers and try to recover for the last time up the feedzone climb.

And on the climb, in a whittled down group of 40 or so, I'm doing okay, but hurting. I come off the back with 1.5k to the KOM. I can't panic here. I settle into more of my rhythm, give myself an easier gear and start closing the gap, passing failing riders, including Karl Rahn. With 500 to go, I'm just 100 meters off the back.

And that was as close as it would get. I rolled in with another dropped rider (not Karl Rahn, who got the same time as us in the official results, but was way, way behind us) for 42nd place. Frustrating to be 100 meters from "same time" and more critically worried about the implications for me tomorrow. With Middleburry Gap on the menue, if I lose a group, I will certainly miss time cut and not get to race the crit. Which as you know, would be like a dagger in the heart.

So tomorrow, I have two objectives, score some points in the sprinter's jersey competition (my 2 points puts me in 9th place currently), and make it over Middlebury Gap with a large enough group so that when I get dropped on Baby Gap, I can still make time cut and live to fight another day.

Epiloge: After the race, my wife and son went down to a rocky beach and went for a little wading in the water. Because I currently have daddy brain, I not only forgot to bring my son's toys and shoes to the car this morning, but I also forgot his swim diapers and swim suit! So I was in my kit and my son was all "Water Babies" nekked. I'm pretty sure we were adorable. And my legs loved to cool refreshing dip!

Great results guys. Care to share team strategies?

JohnMalcolmson said:

Great results guys. Care to share team strategies?

Yesterday we were aggressive. I attacked at mile 30 or so after the sprint point and ended up in a group of 8. It was fairly short lived. That seemed to ignite the race. Adam went next with a group and when that came back the day's best move went and Joaquin was in it. That move broke up on the penultimate KOM and we were temporarily un-represented. I felt the GC was riding away and organized a chase. Konrad helped, other teams helped, even the race leader helped. Joaquin recovered. We kept Adam in tow to have one set of fresh legs to follow any last moves. It came together, we all moved up the GC a bit. Today it's wide open. I believe the plan is to let Adam and Joaquin be a bit more aggro and Konrad and I just worry about the climbs. The intermediate climb is no joke so we think this race will self select for the most part. I also feel that with what is essentially a 9 mile finishing climb I like the climbers' chances at catching any group that's been away prior to that. It's raining. A lot.

Marc love reading how despite worrying about the time cut you're still in it for blood.
#alwaysberacing

Good job 3s. Keep up the good work

Stage 3 40+ race report.

Ever feel so tired that typing seems like work? Yeah, that's about where I'm at. With 63 miles and 4 KOMs and two major mountain climbs (the last of which one of the KCC cat 3s suggested is basically 9 miles of climbing when you take into account Baby Gap and App Gap), and a constant drizzle, I had my work cut out for me. Two major goals today. 1) Make time cut and 2) Score sprinter points.

With only 2 points to my name, and the leader holding onto 20, you might think that I would just give up the ghost. Except, some time ago, at the end of last year's cross season, I set myself a handful of goals and one "dream goal" was to wear/win the sprinter's jersey. I'm a firm believer in goal setting. It keeps you motivated and focused. And even if I have no shot in hell of wearing the jersey this year, the experience of going for it is perhaps more important than the jersey itself. And here's how it played out.

Rolling down the mountain the drizzle was steady, and the brake squeal constant. My mind drifts and wonders about how carbon rims would handle these conditions. We're officially under neutral, and even at this reduced pace, the steep slopes, wet, cracked and frost-heaved pavement ensure I'm just a bit terrified. Fortunately, despite the rain, it's pretty warm and I'm not struggling to operate my fingers like some years past.

We turn onto route 100, much of it mercifully repaved and gloriously smooth. Stll wet roads and new paint lines keep me on my toes. I've got roughly 19 miles before the first and only hot-spot sprint of the day. Points only go 3 deep today, so I would have to be very good to get it done. Route 100 rolls somewhat, twists and turns, rises and falls, and like a race in Central Park, I do my best to surf the field, minimizing energy output and maximizing good field position.

We're rapidly approaching the Canyons of Despair. Several miles of descending, winding roads, cut through the land. Surround walls, 15 stories high guiding us through to the open fields and soon thereafter sprint of the day. While still many miles ahead of the sprint point, I know I must be in position through this tricky and somewhat terrifying stretch. I line up on the right wait for the park road to go left and shoot up the right side and find myself from 30 riders back up to 5-10th wheel in just a flash.

Unfortunately, the route 100 repaving budget ran out long ago and there are wheel destroying longitudinal crevices EVERYWHERE. The sprint leader and all of the contenders are there. I find myself thinking, "just stay out of our way GC dudes, let us do what we have to do." I'm such a punk.

The tricky roads help keep the field in line. We're carving through turns at blazing speeds, I hear the painful sound of wheels crashing into cracks and I see a hand shoot up. I look to my right and see that the sprint leader has flatted. Holy moly...this is suddenly a new game. Not only does he have no shot at getting sprint points today with all the speed we're carrying, but if he has to ride solo from here to the finish? He very well may get time cut. And second place Karl Rhan has just 7 points. And even though I'm not very good at math, I do know that 2 points is not very far from 7 points! I'm even more motivated to do what I set out for myself 9 months ago.

Emerging from the canyon roads, the pavement becomes gloriously smooth and mostly dry. Oh yeah, game on. Last year's sprint jersey winner, currently behind me in the standings with only 1 point, launches a solo effort with 5k to go. We all look at each other. No one wants to chase. I quickly assess the situation. How many matches would I burn to bridge and ride with this beast of a rider? Would I have enough in the tank to keep me going to the finish within time cut? I decide I can't risk it. Tomorrow's crit is packed with sprint points. It's my best opportunity to score. I must complete this race in good time. MUST.

Fortunately, Weather Channel's Karl Rahn has super "domestique" Kevin Molloy (who I learned is on the John Malcolmson, "I only have to train twice a week and still will crush your will to live" training plan) working for him. Molloy gets to the front and starts chasing. Rahn with about 4k to go, makes a solo effort, but is quickly neutralized. The front of the field sits up. We start to swell in numbers, all that hard work and nerves of steel racing through the canyon poof, gone! CRAP. Molloy to the rescue, he's back on the gas. 2k to go. We're strung out again. 1k to go, I'm 5th wheel at this point, chasing Mister 5k to go. He's coming back. Perfect, then two guys in front of me give it up, 500 meters to go, Karl and one other launch, I'm stuck, but not out. I hammer out of the saddle and shoot the gap between my obstacles. I'm closing fast. I've got a shot at this!!!

But the road ran out faster. As the sprint line passes, the rider with the balls to go with 5k to go just hung on, Karl takes second, another takes third, and I'm one bike length back in fourth. Only 3 deep for points today. Damn, damn, damn.

Counter attacks launch immediately after we sprinters sit up. Of course. Can't panic, there's lots of flat between here and the first major gap climb through the Middlebury Break Loaf campus. I let them go, and gradually bring my legs back up to speed. Soon I'm tucked into the field and focused on recovery. I chat with Rahn about getting together a gruppetto after Middlebury Gap. He isn't concerned. He says, "If I get dropped I get dropped, no big deal." I'm still nervous about time cut. He doesn't know the course like I do. Middlebury gap is no joke and not to be trifled with.

As we're riding over the rollers and short bumps in the road, I feel really great about my gearing. The combination of a compact (50/34) on the front and a 12-30 in the back, lets me stay in the big ring and still spin up and over many of the climbs that forcefully eject other riders out of their saddles.

Middlebury Gap begins, it's been a few years since I've done this climb (2010 I think), and I'm not sure where it began but as the road steepened and my pain level increased dramatically, I knew where I was. In no man's land. The lead group of riders, according to my quick and often erroneous count numbered 30 or so. I just couldn't keep pace, but neither could many more. We started the day with 53. I settled into a rhythm and kept it cranking. The back of the front group started to fracture with 2K to go, I wanted desperately to catch them I wanted to be with those guys with a shot at rejoining on what is a very serious (and as it turned out very wet) descent. But no. They were all gone. And there I was cranking down the hill, nearly overcooking a screamingly fast left-handed sweeper, all by myself. No way I'm making time cut. I just can't ITT  25 miles and expect to not lose gobs of time to the field. No way.

Dejected, my thoughts turn to my son. Lately Peter has been struggling with stuttering. He's such a verbal kid and we know that to some extent this is "normal." But to see him hold his breath, face turn beet red, trying to say things that he said just weeks ago with no problem breaks my heart. And yet, he doesn't let it get him down. He continues to have such joy, his spirit is strong and an inspiration to me.

And so I pedal on. What will be, will be. But it will not be, because I gave up.

And as the descending ended, the roads start to flatten, I see about 8 riders race by. EXCELLENT. Karl Rahn and an assortment of other, ahem, *thick* riders are there and we all know what's what. The pace for the next 90 minutes is often more than I wanted. I'm fighting bilateral hamstring cramps and wondering if I can even hang with these guys. We hit the short steep climb before the miles of dirt roads (which with the exception of a few transition spots, were mercifully smooth and hard packed this year). I'm silently cursing some of the riders when my weak self thinks they are going too hard, but really I'm just glad to be here.

A glance at the watch at Baby Gap and I'm 100% confident we're all going to be racing the crit tomorrow. The pace up Baby Gap is merciful (I'm at the front), and I start to entertain visions of "winning" my group's race to the top of App Gap. App Gap begins and I'm just off the back of the first two riders from our group. No worries; keep my pace, I can still do this. In what might be the ride of the day, the Sprint Leader who double flatted 50 miles ago, chased back on to our group. Woah, that's serious riding. I'm impressed.

As we hit the first dip before App Gap climbs begins, the first two cat 3s come flying by us like we're standing still. They give each other fist bumps and I think they must be confident they'll be fighting for 1st and 2nd. Then little wave after wave of juniors follow suit. Still, I'm the third from my group on the road with one and two within striking distance. But with 2k to go, I start to crack. Even my 34x30 can't save me. A few riders from my group pass me and by 500 meters to go of some of the steepest road you'll ever race up, I am praying that I can just cross the finish line. Hip flexors screaming out in pain with every pedal stroke. And with 100 to go, I was still hoping I wasn't going to tip over, or have to take off my shoes and run up the damn mountain. It's just that kind of hard. In the end I did it. I don't really know how, but I did.

46th place ain't great, but it's what I've got to give and I made the time cut. Tomorrow's crit is going to be fun. [cue evil laughter]

After the race, my wife tells me that Peter was going ballistic on the mountain, SCREAMING, "GO DADDY, GO!" Over and over again. I wish I heard it, but I was deep in the pain cave and no light was getting in.

My son approaches me with uncharacteristic reserve, not talking. At first. But after a few minutes, he's giving me hugs and kisses and asking to ride my bike. And without prompting, he walks on over to the winner's podium, and climbs on the top step. Because that's what you do. You take what belongs to you. Daddy's not there yet, but Peter is, and I imagine he's just waiting for me to take my place beside him.

9th in the RR. Adam attacked from the gun. Ryan attacked beautifully between Baby Gap and App Gap. I just rode my pace. Outsprinted in the last few meters by two guys, who sit mere seconds before me now in GC, where I'm 9th as well. Only a few seconds between me and the next few guys above me, which I'm hoping I can make up for in the crit tomorrow. This race is coming down to the wire.

Looks like Jeff A. is killing it in the 4s too. Sitting at 7th in the GC at 2:26 back. Go get it, dude.

I flatted out of GMSR with 10k to go and hitchhiked for a while through Vermont in my socks. Jeff A. whizzed by in his Audi the opposite direction, and we sped after him in hot pursuit. The catch was made and I made it back to the house. Burned another tub and DNFd the stage race. Pretty much as expected.

It's been great riding with three great teammates. 

Jeffrey White said:

I flatted out of GMSR with 10k to go and hitchhiked for a while through Vermont in my socks. Jeff A. whizzed by in his Audi the opposite direction, and we sped after him in hot pursuit. The catch was made and I made it back to the house. Burned another tub and DNFd the stage race. Pretty much as expected.

Hello.
Was there no wheel van? This makes me a little bit upset.

All the cars were out of wheels. It was raining. And besides I wasn't in the final selection, so our wheel car was up the road. The only support is for the lead of the race.

Bummer (as we used to say)

Jeffrey White said:

All the cars were out of wheels. It was raining. And besides I wasn't in the final selection, so our wheel car was up the road. The only support is for the lead of the race.

I always race this stage with a cell phone and make sure my wife has hers. In theory, and in the bible, they tell you to bring things to change a flat, so you could stuff a tube and CO2 cartridge (or ride with an extra tubular "criss-kross" old school style) but that just seems more trouble than it's worth. That said, Jeff's adventures didn't sound fun at all.

See you guys tomorrow!

konrad said:

9th in the RR. Adam attacked from the gun. Ryan attacked beautifully between Baby Gap and App Gap. I just rode my pace. Outsprinted in the last few meters by two guys, who sit mere seconds before me now in GC, where I'm 9th as well. Only a few seconds between me and the next few guys above me, which I'm hoping I can make up for in the crit tomorrow. This race is coming down to the wire.

Study your bible. I often have trouble hearing the prime/sprint bell. And half the sprints of for sprinter's jersey, the others are for GC time.

Of course, this is a beautiful course to breakaway...if the spirit moves you. You'll rarely get such a good course such a maneuver.

Results, bros.

Serious thanks to all the dudes. Best weekend of racing I've ever had and it was all because Adam, Ryan, and Joaquin locked it down and we got to have multiple options and plans to execute. Love yaaaaa!

Hear, hear. Really great riding with Konrad, Ryan and Adam. Like, tactics n stuff are fun.

Nice work, gents. 

Short update from the 40+ race. Poor starting position meant I was working way to hard to get anywhere close to where i needed to be to go after sprint points. Took me about 10 out of 25 laps to get to the point where turn 6 and the climb wasn't a 600 watt effort every lap. Then I had to recover and then the race was over. 34 minutes of fun. Honestly, I could have used about 10 more laps to get in a better groove. 32nd place today. Blurg.

one of the most fun and hard weekends of racing I've ever done. this was an awesome race and ill definitely be back again next year for it.

This race really is the best. And that crit is fantastic. This guy who basically never does crits can't wait to do that one again.

Well done, everyone.  This one's going on next year's calendar.

@Jeff, that whole "neutral start" thing is just weird. Doesn't happen at any other crit I've ever done. And the reality of it is, it kind of makes everything worse in the first three turns. Things are unnaturally jammed up. When if we just started like a normal race, there would be some thinning almost immediately into turns one and two. I personally got jacked at the start and spent 1/2 of my race closing gaps on the climb. It's the only thing I don't like about this race.

As far as your "surfing" technique...yeah, not at Burlington, ever. You have to ride like a maniac until things settle down, then ride like a maniac some more to get even closer to the front.

We can talk more about this race, and crits in general if you want at the next cross race.

Ugh yeah, bummer to hear about the crit, Jeff, but you still came away from the weekend with solid results. Take Marc up on his offer for advice, he's great at them and his pre-race chat with the crew was exactly what I needed to get my head in the game.

Unfortunately, as happens with technical crits, I faded back from my call up to mid pack. Skidded through a crash, chased back on, then did that again a few laps later. I quickly switched to survival mode. Ryan, who ride this crit like an absolute champ, reminded me that I absolutely could not get dropped.

Last lap was full bore as guys in the field gave up and let gaps open. I couldn't lose time and sprinted to shut down gaps and made contact with the field as we crossed the line. Same time. Good enough to move me up to 7th in the GC.


Our field was really, really strong. 86 starters on the weekend, 69 finished the crit. Everyone was well matched and raced hard every single day. Again, super thankful to Ryan, Joaquin, and Adam for taking pressure off me so I could do the slow and steady thing.