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Johnny Cake Series #2 |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Sean McCarthy
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Wednesday, 04 April 2007 |
Johnny Cake Lane 2007 Spring Series #2
Presented by: Capitol Bicycle Race Club
Coxsackie, NY
March 31, 2007
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Well, this was the most I have suffered so far for the 2007 season. I just finished race #2 of the Johnny Cake Spring Training Series. The race this weekend comprised of a 7 mile circuit with one mild mannered hill that we would do over 9 laps for a total of 63 miles. I competed in the “A” race which compiled Cats 1,2,3.
This weekend the field topped out at 57 entries with one third of the entrants being regional pros and even one national pro. One of the pro teams was from Canada and had just returned from a two week training program in Europe. The national pro races for Colavita and was rumored to have just returned from a stage race in Argentina. With that in mind I new the racing would be fast and hard.
My main goal at the start of this race was survival. I started the race at the back and wanted to stay there throughout the race. The last thing I wanted was to be up front doing foolish things that would lead to wasted energy. The first 40 miles of the race went smooth with a pretty good pace that kept most attacks at bay. It was just then when the big one hit. A huge attack came from 2 guys which resulted into a significant lead. These guys went at just the right time when no big teams were up front to quickly respond. Unfortunately those absent teams moved up front and put the hammer down. That moment would be all she wrote for me.
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The field immediately strung out and everyone clung to the wheel ahead trying to hide from the head wind that hit you on the back half of the course. When I was finally able to lift my head from staring at the wheel in front of me I realized someone had let a huge gap open. A gap that me and about 20 other guys could not bridge. Myself and a few others gave it are all with no success. Our only reward would be that miserable hill to climb with toasted legs.
On the back side of the hill a group of about 10 of us organized and chased for the last 15 miles. We could always see the remainder of the field in the distance but could never close. The last couple of miles we all sat up and talked about what had happened. Until that point there was no talking amongst the ten of us, just the common knowledge of what needed to be done. At the end we drag raced each other for the finish just to find some sort of positive end to the day.
I ended up placing 33 out of those original 57 starters. Congratulations to the guy from the Sakonnet Technology team on his victory. You have to give it up to those two guys who held their break from a chasing field like that. Thanks CBRC for putting on such a great training race. My legs received some major punishment that I hope will reward me later. This race makes me look even more forward to mountain bike season when I get to dictate the pace my legs are in the mood for.
Sean
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