The Road Race

Tuesday June 22 was a special day for many reasons, for one it was race day but equally important it was Amelia’s first birthday. Knowing Amelia would most likely not remember any average gift I could give her I set about earning her a special gift, a Stars and Stripes National Champion Jersey. While the road race included a chunk of climbing in the profile I have worked very hard this past year to minimize my aversion to hills. Because the hills were short and punchy I knew I had the power to get up them with the leaders and so long as I could keep the pace reigned in I would have a good shot at attacking late in the game and/or taking the field sprint. On the line it was big boost to look over and see my beautiful wife and daughter there to cheer me on, Sara has not seen me race since 2008 and now I had my whole family there…and then we were off.

 The road race was scheduled to be 55km meaning we would do 10 laps of the outer course before heading back into the finish. My game plan was to do my best to keep the pace stiff when I was vulnerable to attacks and then lead the group through the technical portions. As the laps ticked by my legs felt good and I was comfortably playing out my game plan, the next step was to push the pace and throw in a soft attack to see how the group would respond.

As we cruised through a particular rolling portion of the course I put in a short dig quickly opening up a small gap, as I was only trying to feel out the group and with over 20 km of racing to go I was content to let the group catch me after a quick dig. With this new information I began accessing how I wanted to play out my bid for the win.

I had decided that on the final circuit lap I was going to hit the gas pretty hard just before toping out on the steepest pitch of the race in hopes of drawing out a select group that could then work together until the closing couple kilometers and then make a solo push as we raced back to the finish line…and then it all changed. As we came racing into the round-a-bout that diverted us on to another lap the race officials was pointing for us to head home a lap early. Suddenly, there I was in the lead heavily marked with the entire lead group intact and a few short minutes from the finishing stretch.

In general one of the worst places to attack a group from is at the front because everyone can see what you are doing. As we rolled in the final kilometers my head was awash in the best tactic to play. I tried to slide back in the group but everyone would just slow completely content on letting me make the first move.

Rolling through the 1-km banner I prepared myself to make my attack from the front and then I heard it…Justin Wess, an unknown rider to me, jumped. Immediately, I punched my lead out ticket and grabbed his wheel as he slid by me on the left.  With the pace picking up I was able to grab a few more gears and get into the sweet spot of my gearing for the sprint. Justin began to slow at 500-meters, something I had anticipated as 1-km out is a long way to go full gas, with a 90-deg right hander looming ahead 150 meters before the finish I pounced leaping past a deflated Justin. In the matter of a few calculated revolutions of the pedals I was free and clear of the group…carving through the right hander I was up and out of the saddle sprinting to full speed. With the finish in full view, Sara screaming on the sideline I slipped a look between my legs to check my gap…I was free and clear with plenty of time to sit up coasting across the line arm raised…Happy Birthday Amelia.