How 'bout we get to the gory details of my race at Sugar Mtn? I had returned from Vermont with the hopes that things would be dry for the NC race, as I'd had more than my share of wet riding. Alas, that was not to be. In any event, I was looking for some redemption after some bad juju got the better of me at Mt Snow. I didn't get to pre ride the course until late Friday afternoon, but as I was already familiar with the course, it was no big deal. There were some changes, but nothing too dramatic.
I was quite surprised when I came around the corner and saw this. Not exactly the kind of stuff you expect to see on/near a cross country mtb course.There was some mud in attendance on the course, but the climbs were all rideable. The techy descents were kinda iffy. If the course dried any at all, the technical parts would be rideable as well.
Wouldn't you know it...it rained in the early hours Saturday. What you had been able to ride the day before, now had to be walked, unless you wanted to expend valuable energy trying to pedal up it. This race was about getting across the finish line first, not about your ability to clean a muddy climb. You burn to much energy getting thru the mud and you might not have anything left for the rest of the race.
The race starts well, in fact, I get the holeshot. I came to my senses though, and backed off the gas a bit. Getting the holeshot, only to crack 15 min later was not in my race strategy. A couple guys come around me, and at this point I'm more than willing to let them go, but keep them in sight. This race is pretty tough, in that the steepest climbs are at the beginning of the course. There are three steep pitches within the first mile or so. By the second pitch I notice the leaders are starting to get a gap on me. The legs are feeling a little heavy, and I just can't produce the effort to reel the front guys in. My effort keeps the rest of the pack off my back, but I just can't close the gap...in fact, over the course of the first lap the gap grows to the point where I've lost sight of the leaders.
I'm nearing the section where the course levels some, and I notice that one fella is riding back up to me. I dig deep to get over the last of the climbing so I can recover and gain some speed on the flatter ground. My effort works and I don't see that guy again. I motor up the last big climb, and while not as steep as the early stuff, it is a real kick in the nuts, as it just keeps going and going. Once you get to the top though, you're pretty much home free. A little singletrack, and a few rolling paved/gravel roads and you're ready to descend down the mountain so you can repeat the pain...I mean process.
I had originally hoped/planned to ride as much of the techy stuff as possible, but the rain had really messed that up. What had been good lines the day before were no longer the good lines. The "lines" were just that...lines. A tire wide groove thru greasy, sticky black mud. If your wheel went out of the groove, then you most likely would lose momentum due to sliding out, catching a rock/root, running into a tree, or a combination of. If you stop and/or crash, then the chances of remounting were slim...so it then becomes time to do your best cyclocrosser impression.
It made me feel better that some of the pros had to "hike-a-bike" it as well.I make it thru the last technical section intact, and then I'm rewarded with a fast, if slippery, descent to the base of the mountain...so I can do it all over again. Hitting the climbs a second time, I can feel that my legs are slowing down more and more. I maintain a decent tempo, but my legs don't have the snap that I'm used to. By the time I hit the final long climb I'm spinning just trying to keep a rhythm going. I may have been stronger than I thought, as I never ever saw any of the guys behind me, but I sure felt slow and tired.
The straightaway to the descent finally appears, and now all I have to do is ride smart and not make any stupid mistakes. I'd still like to hit the good lines and ride most of the hard stuff, but I certainly won't risk too much on this last lap.
I catch onto the wheel of a rider from one of the younger classes and ride behind(not for lack of trying to get around him though) him to the finish line.
As I cross the finish line, I hear the announcer say that I was in 4th place. All things considered, getting a podium spot didn't hurt my feelings at all. Imagine my surprise though, when I'm standing at the awards ceremony and they call my name for 3rd place.
Yep, a bronze medal.My podium spot at Sugar was redemption for Mt Snow. If I had been at 100% form/fitness I have no doubt that I would not have let those guys ride away from me on the first lap...but, that's racing. Sometimes you've got it, and sometimes you don't. I fought hard that day, and had to dig deep to get the placing I did. It is a result that I am as pleased with as any win I've had to date.
This week will be a transition week, where I won't do any structured training. When I ride, it will be purely for fun. I've also got to plan out the remainder of my 2007 race schedule. There are several races to choose from over the next few months.
Ohh, I've also got one hell of a cleaning job to do on my bike.
I sprayed off my bike after the race, and it is still dirtier than it gets in 3 months of riding here in Florida.Over the next few days I'll post pics from both races.
