Mad River Valley and Burlington, Vermont
September 3-6, 2010
http://www.gmsr.info/
This stage race was my final and big goal of the year. I had 29 race days under my belt before this race kicked off. The [age] 50+ field had 70 racers. The field was stacked with past champions, pro’s, and a bunch of cat 1’s and 2’s.
Stage 1: Friday, Sept. 3 (Warren Village, VT) Big World Time Trial, 5.7 Miles
No TT bikes were allowed to level the playing field (good I say!). The course was challenging. Uphill for 3 miles, slight downhill for 2 miles then uphill to the finish. I warmed up good. However just 1-2-minutes into the race up the really steep hill I was gasping for breath. It was hot and sunny as I hammered away as hard as I could. After the uphill I was in the drops and chasing every second. Going up the final climb I was out of the saddle doing my best impression of a sprint. my time of 18:10 slotted me in 60th place.
Stage 2: Saturday, Sept. 4 (Duxbury, VT) The Bridges Circuit Race, 53 Miles
The circuit was nearly 20 miles and we rode it shy of 3 times. The wind was howling. The hill we traversed three times was about 2 miles long. The first time was neutral then the racing began. Going down the back side of the hill we rolled along at 48-50 mph. I tucked in the peleton and stayed sheltered from the wind. After the first loop we hit the hill again and the leaders hit the gas. The peleton strung out and I tried to stick to wheels and stay in contact. Nearing the top and the KOM (King of the Mountain) sprint points I along with 15-20 others cracked and the peleton was gone. I was with 3 guys and we worked together but with just 4 of us we could not catch the 8-man group ahead of us. The main peleton was now out of sight and going farther and farther up the road. Our little group of 4 took turns into the wind. I was perhaps the weakest rider in the group and although I took my turns into the wind it was killing me. In retrospect I should have just sat on. After the completion of the second lap going up the hill I got dropped and was all alone. This was my worst-case scenario. Alone into a howling head wind for 14 miles. I put my head down and rode ahead. My muscles were screaming and within sight of the finish the first cramp came on. Just before I crossed the line 2 guys came by me (where the heck were they the last 14 miles!?). We finished in 2:31:45, 12:33 behind the winner. Just like yesterday I finished in 60th place. As if I hadn’t suffered enough I now had a 6 mile ride back to the start were the car was waiting. My legs were cramping and I could barely turn the pedals. I was totally spent and my muscles were tearing.
Stage 3: Sunday, Sept. 5 (Waitsfield, VT) Sugarbush Mad River Road Race, 70 Miles
A point to point course with two crossings of the Green Mountains, ending with a mountain top finish. This is the queen stage of the race and rightfully so. It was another windy day but the temperature had dropped into the 50’s. Arm warmers, a base layer, and embrocation were needed. For the first 30 miles the peleton stuck together then we began to climb Middlebury Gap and the race just exploded. The climb was so long and steep you pretty much had to go at your own pace or you’d blow up. I stuck behind a guy I knew was strong and since he was going my pace (or just a tad faster) I just stuck on his wheel as we climbed mile after mile. We passed struggling riders. I eventually had to let him go. At the top I wasn’t that far behind him and another guy so I dug really deep to try and catch them. Flying downhill I hit 52 mph and finally caught them. We worked together and caught 2 more. Now we had a nice little group of 5 flying down hill and then we saw the best sight—a group of 10 riders up ahead. We had to catch them for the long ride up the valley. We worked really hard and caught them quickly. I was now with a good group — the opposite of yesterday — and I was feeling good. We hit a couple of sharp rollers and a 2-mile dirt section going through the valley northward. The final obstacle of the day was a long and often extremely steep 5 mile climb up to the summit finish on Appalachian Gap. Just like the previous mountain this one had to be taken at whatever pace you could manage. A few guys pulled ahead, I had several for company, and we left a bunch behind. I was often standing during the final 2 miles while using 39/24 and 28 gearing. It was a long slog up that mountain but I finally finished the stage in 3:45:31, 15:17 behind the winner in 45th place. I was happy that my best result (in this stage race) so far, was in the toughest stage.
Stage 4: Monday, Sept. 6 (Burlington, VT) Dealer.Com Criterium, 15.4 Miles
A 6-corner, very technical course in the heart of downtown Burlington. Although I had raced many times this year in my club training criterium, the corners there aren’t 90-degrees so it’s not really a true crit. Based upon my lack of experience in a technical multi corner and hilly crit I expected to get dropped and pulled after just a few laps. Well, not only did I hang on for much of the race, I finished 35th, 2:15 behind the winner. The race was really fun as we zipped around downtown Burlington with large crowds cheering us on.
The overall GC (General Classification) winner in the 50+ race was past Soviet National Team member, Dzmitry Buben.
My 4-day GC total was 7:13:55; 33:44 behind the winner and 43rd place. I moved way up in the GC during the last 2 days. In my mind — in this my first year of bike racing — this qualifies as a success and a great cap to the 2010 season.
Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/davekandersen/Green…
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