Dog is in the details... as they say.

I just look like I need a sandwich and some weights

@ John: to stand a little closer to the razor next time :P

I really like this picture because it shows just how intimidating this race was. (it's too easy to forget all the nerves beforehand)

Aw, that sucks. I mean, it's actually better for guys like me, but still, the TTs were sweet.

Yeah, I agree. But it also made the race innacessible to those without 3-4 grand to blow on a TT bike...

Second Jules on this one. Started sucking balls when the TT was changed from uphill to flat. This could be interesting though. Wonder where they would have the crit?

Dates? Flat TT seems fair to me... a handicap for all the skinny dudes.

Good to hear Sunday will be epic now, because this year was so easy.

@ Mike: Aug 3-5
@ Jeff: seriously...

Hmmm.... I don't think it was true in this case about the TT rigs making that big of a difference. It's still a climber's race. If a few people can do both, well, then they deserve to win/do well. I bellieve Norm and I got like, 7th and 8th or something, a couple of seconds apart in the TT. Neither of us had full on TT rigs (even in the pro field guys had clip ons and still finished top 10 overall). But of course, Norm was actually in shape and did well on the hills, unlike me.

Killington, however, made a bigger difference for the TT rigs as it was longer/harder and there was only one really hilly stage.

bummer... will be away at a wedding that weekend.

You and Norm are just genetic freaks
I think had they done another similar to this year we'd have seen a lot more people prepare specifically for the tt and the dedicated rigs would have made a difference.
No matter though; 2012 will have more pain (literally) thank I can imagine - since last year was the hardest thing I've ever done, if they make this year harder I don't know what to do... Weep like a small child perhaps?

J

Just went to the Facebook page and saw these posts from who else but Nick Waller - the little shit who bitched and insulted his way through every race he did last year.

"This year, I really enjoyed the ToC. I felt it was as close as I could get actual European racing. A textbook TT, and 2 exceedingly difficult road races. Why change something great? Leave it alone."

"And by the way, why do you feel it neccessary to include a dirt road in every race you put on now? After your novelty race battenkill, give it a rest. Why do I have to risk my equipment and bones as a road rider forced to ride off the road? Becoming not a fan of your races."

Okay, most people aren't noticing (I didn't the first time) that it's not just a crit - Devil's kitchen is now not part of a stage, it's a hill climb TT.

So it goes (1) crit (2) Devil's kitchen TT (3) RR

This is kind of a bummer. I doubt I would do the race with that profile.

Wow - I didn't read carefully... that's a weird format... but I do like the idea of a Devil's Kitchen TT

Crit, TT and RR. Add a Circuit Race to the mix, shake well, serve on the rocks and you have GMSR...

@ Jules. "It's never too soon to start preparing!" At least, you know what to prepare for next racing season; I'll be racing in Italy (my friend in my French club told me we would do at least 10 races in that neighbouring country) and doing cyclosportives in France, and I don't have any experience on either. I guess you have to be fast, powerful, strong, resilient, light, etc. and I'll just train to that end :)

@ Stephane. I recall reading somewhere a report of an American rider who entered a road race in France and he likened it to being raped by 40 frenchmen...

@ Jules. Given what you have just written, I might reconsider doing those cyclosportives, because the participants are between 1200 and 7000...
Seriously, I am more concerned by the Italian races... at least my friend can tell me all about these.

Sounds like they had the format spot-on in 2011.

Dieter posted something about a need to reduce time on local roads. Pretty vague, but there could be a lot of factors out of his control, especially with all the storm damage up there.

Its a bummer, having done this race since the start last year I was starting to think it was looking poised to step up as the new crown jewel of the local scene. Its still good, but this may take it down a notch.

Devil's Kitchen TT? Utter brutality --then again, I guess the previous format was a 50-mile tempo ride with this Devil's Kitchen TT tacked on.

its early enough; we could lobby Dieter for a change...

Wouldn't this shift the odds back to the pure climbers? This year's race, with its essentially flat TT, handicapped the pure climbers a bit to favor good climbers (really good climbers) who could also put in fast a TT. With the Crit/DKTT/RR format --the advantage may return to the climbing specialists. It depends on the crit course, but they probably won't stand to loose much time there compared to the time they might gain on the DKTT.

If you don't have a (light) powermeter system, it's time to get one for the DKTT.

@Norm It absolutely shifts the odds back to the pure climbers - there's really no place for them to lose time. Hang on in the crit, smash the TT, and let the attrition happen on the last day.

I would probably do better, but I still don't like it, only because the road races are so damn exciting.

@Ryan --yep, good point, I see that.

I agree - was much more dramatic with the longer TT format
Given how much time it takes to prepare properly for this race, it definitely tilts the balance away from it being an "A" race of the season, back to GMSR
Bummer

"Just a clarification - each day will essentially be a standalone event. Your can race the Crit, hill climb, or RR with no obligation to race three days."

I may try and get off to do the crit.

Sounds like an Omnium event then. In which case each stage will award points and the overall with be decided on points total. That might not favor the climbers as much since they may not score anything in the Crit.

Unlike you luck-outs who climb like Soyuz rockets, I welcome the crit. It's a race folks like me can target for a stage win while you cosmonauts sit in and stay safe. The same folks will contend the overall as in years past, don't you think?