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Fitchburg Longsjo Stage 3 |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Jerry Hughes
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Sunday, 01 July 2007 |
Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Stage Race (Cat 4)
Saturday, June 30th, 2007
Stage 3 Wachusett Mountain Road Race (44 Miles)
Princeton, MA
When I arrived at Wachusett Mountain this morning, I was psyched - the weather was perfect and I was feeling good. My goal for the day was to stay towards the front for the majority of the race and then make a move at the last final climb up the summit road. I needed to make up some time to move up in GC.
Early on 2 guys took off and I think everyone thought we would catch these dudes but it never happened. Bret Racine (a Vermont based pro-mountain biker racing this day on a Cross bike!) was able to school everyone and finish with a 4 min gap on the field. Things were going well for the rest of the field as the laps ticked by. I found that the group really only "raced" the hill part and then basically chilled out the rest of the lap until the hill came again. I was braking so much, I am amazed I still have pads left.
As the final climb came, I was exactly where I wanted to be - entering the final turn up summit road in a top 10-15 spot. I felt good and thought I attempted to mount an attack but it was shortlived and the legs were just not there. I slowed considerably and watched a ton of guys fly by so my overall finish place ended up at 46th. I am still only 1 min back from decent sub-25 placing so perhaps something funky will happen in the Crit and I can gain some ground in the GC.
All in all, it was a great day. I love my Salsa Campeon - what a sweet ride. I want to give special thanks to Ally, Paige, Wendy, Jim, Stace, Braeden, Cammy, Nolan, Neil, Audrey and Sam who all made it up to the mountain to cheer me on.
3 down, 1 to go. It's hard to make up any large amount of time in a crit - let along a short one like 17 miles but I'll come out guns blaring!
Jerry |
