Soldato
Had my 2nd road race of the season this evening.
Ended up with just me and one other team mate in this race. We both know what to do, so there wasn't much discussion of tactics.
It's quite a long neutralised section out to a 7 mile loop which we'll go around 3.5 times. There's a short but steep climb up to the finish that we go up each lap. Less than half a lap into the race and my team mate has gone off the front alone. "Great", i think, I'll get an easy ride whilst the other teams organise a chase. There is no organization - just a series of attacks and counter attacks which keeps the pace high but gives me a hard time because I've got to mark all these attacks.
Another lap goes in and not much has changed, one lone rider out front and a disorganised bunch. The attacks are coming less frequently but harder as the weaker riders have tired and now the strong guys are having their go. I'm in a good position near the front, having just followed an earlier surge, coming into the climb for the second time. It's starting to feel inevitable that somebody is going to get away if this keeps up. On the climb, 2 guys make a move up the right. I'm on the left and boxed in a little but near enough to the front that i can get out. I'm determined to get up there with these guys. It hurts! I'm well into the red but i know that if i can get onto the wheel I'll be able to rest (I'm not going to work with them - I still have a man up the road). I make it across but we don't have much of a gap on the bunch and it comes back together on the fast descent. Still paying for my effort up the climb, I can't push my big gears and drift back through the bunch - and straight out the back! Took about half a lap dangling at 20-30 metres before i get back on - just as we reach the climb. We're all across the road and a car comes the other way, everyone squeezes over and grins to a halt. Somebody topples over and brings those of us behind him to a stop. It's hard to get going again on the hill and I'm off the back of the bunch again now. A friendly service car comes past and tries to help tow me back into the race. I hang on for another half lap or so but my legs are gone. A shake off the head to show that I've given up and a thumbs up to say thanks, I ride the last few miles in on my own.
It's not all points and glory, kids!
Ended up with just me and one other team mate in this race. We both know what to do, so there wasn't much discussion of tactics.
It's quite a long neutralised section out to a 7 mile loop which we'll go around 3.5 times. There's a short but steep climb up to the finish that we go up each lap. Less than half a lap into the race and my team mate has gone off the front alone. "Great", i think, I'll get an easy ride whilst the other teams organise a chase. There is no organization - just a series of attacks and counter attacks which keeps the pace high but gives me a hard time because I've got to mark all these attacks.
Another lap goes in and not much has changed, one lone rider out front and a disorganised bunch. The attacks are coming less frequently but harder as the weaker riders have tired and now the strong guys are having their go. I'm in a good position near the front, having just followed an earlier surge, coming into the climb for the second time. It's starting to feel inevitable that somebody is going to get away if this keeps up. On the climb, 2 guys make a move up the right. I'm on the left and boxed in a little but near enough to the front that i can get out. I'm determined to get up there with these guys. It hurts! I'm well into the red but i know that if i can get onto the wheel I'll be able to rest (I'm not going to work with them - I still have a man up the road). I make it across but we don't have much of a gap on the bunch and it comes back together on the fast descent. Still paying for my effort up the climb, I can't push my big gears and drift back through the bunch - and straight out the back! Took about half a lap dangling at 20-30 metres before i get back on - just as we reach the climb. We're all across the road and a car comes the other way, everyone squeezes over and grins to a halt. Somebody topples over and brings those of us behind him to a stop. It's hard to get going again on the hill and I'm off the back of the bunch again now. A friendly service car comes past and tries to help tow me back into the race. I hang on for another half lap or so but my legs are gone. A shake off the head to show that I've given up and a thumbs up to say thanks, I ride the last few miles in on my own.
It's not all points and glory, kids!
I feel even worse for not coming through now dude, I am sorry! With 3 of us things could have been different and certainly not so harsh for you! Not like you to get fired out the back and struggle these days so must have been serious work.
I am planning to blame my dodgy shoulder lol.
Was very happy to see him on back of bunch the way I was feeling it definitely lifted my morale a lot going into lap 3.
It's funny, the stereotype of triathletes not being able to climb hills is so true!
