Stage 3 - Port Alberni to Cumberland
I am happy to report today was a good day. Well, better at least. I woke up this morning with my legs tight from quads to calves. I was feeling pretty wrecked and uncertain if i would be able to make the two big climbs of the day without much trouble. The earlier start and the promise of a cooler day was what i needed. It has been so hot even though the night. It seemed Jo was also looking for an easier day as well. Near the end of yesterday's stage she actually said she was getting tired! (Oh that's right, she pushed me up a couple climbs and dragged my ass the past couple days.) Our plan was to sit in and ride the climbs at a conservative pace.
From the start, we moved up into a position to right behind the A group to hit the singletrack with the lead mixed teams. Sure enough the trail jammed up. Then we started climbing double track.
Right with us was the German team. The steep pitches were surprisingly feeling ok on the legs. The descent was fast and by the bottom we had collected a small group that included a few me our close competitors as well as our friends Scott and Grant of BikeRX. The next several k's were flat followed by a slight incline. No one seemed to want to work. I took the front to lead the group but without expending much effort. The pace, while not blistering, unhitched a couple of the teams. After nearly overshooting the turn, we made it to the creek crossing where teams were queued up. The cold water felt great on the legs. we made a fast aid station transition as the German team decided to ride through. After another grinder we found ourselves alone with just Scott and Grant. It would stay that way for the next 40k. Working well and making sure we kept everyone together, we began riding away from the other mixed teams and gained on teams falling off the back of the front groups. Little did we know but at the time we we're 3rd on the stage. Only one team caught us as we made it to the top of the last big climb - US champ Katie Compton and her husband. We we're determined to make it to the singletrack and final 15k ahead of all other teams. A little confusion among our group on whether it was 80k to the finish or the final aid station. At 66k, we hit the aid station and were told 18k to go. While i took down an extra gel, i made the mistake of not topping off my water bottle.
Again making quick work of the aid station we continue our escape. The road pitched up with the sun finally upon us. It was the first time i started feeling weak while Jo seemed to gain strength. As we crested the hill we looked back to see no one in sight. We entered the singletrack with a huge lead...
We let the Bike RX guys lead and they quickly disappeared as they blazed the bumpy twisty and technical track with ease - at least compared to us. Both tired, the singletrack began to beat us up and with every mistake we grew weaker and more sloppy. I must have hit my privates no fewer than three times and both me us falling seemingly every 25 meters. Two men's team passed us and let us know a mixed team was gaining on us. who? We had a huge lead. Surely the would have the same difficulties. Nearing the bottom half of the first singletrack section we almost overshot another turn. "Quick! Before they see us!" i told Jo as we turn around to make the nearly hidden turn. We could hear them behind us apparently missing the turn slightly. This bought us some time but Jo was cooked. Team DeadGoat ripped past us convincingly. Struggling to hold it together we hit a dirt road with the Kopek team right behind us. Using our climbing strength we pushed the 2k climb to get out of sight and out me mind to build us a buffer for the final 2k of downhill singletrack. Having run out of water i was getting dehydrated and starting to bonk. Using every muscle to power through and maintain balance we finally broke out onto the dirt road. We crossed the finish uncontested in 4:51, good for 5th on the day. We stayed at 7th overall but made ground on the team in front of us. It was a good day for us as a team. We figured if we could breeze the singletrack like the Bike RX guys we might have had a chance a a podium.
Fusion Sport teammate Geoff Luttrell and his teammate did a good team ride as well as they figured out a pace that they could do as a team.
What was the difference today? I would say it was the cooler conditions and the shaded climbs. Let's hope it stays that way.
Tuesday's stage is an early bus and two ferries off Vancouver Island and back on the mainland for an 11 am start.
From the start, we moved up into a position to right behind the A group to hit the singletrack with the lead mixed teams. Sure enough the trail jammed up. Then we started climbing double track.
Right with us was the German team. The steep pitches were surprisingly feeling ok on the legs. The descent was fast and by the bottom we had collected a small group that included a few me our close competitors as well as our friends Scott and Grant of BikeRX. The next several k's were flat followed by a slight incline. No one seemed to want to work. I took the front to lead the group but without expending much effort. The pace, while not blistering, unhitched a couple of the teams. After nearly overshooting the turn, we made it to the creek crossing where teams were queued up. The cold water felt great on the legs. we made a fast aid station transition as the German team decided to ride through. After another grinder we found ourselves alone with just Scott and Grant. It would stay that way for the next 40k. Working well and making sure we kept everyone together, we began riding away from the other mixed teams and gained on teams falling off the back of the front groups. Little did we know but at the time we we're 3rd on the stage. Only one team caught us as we made it to the top of the last big climb - US champ Katie Compton and her husband. We we're determined to make it to the singletrack and final 15k ahead of all other teams. A little confusion among our group on whether it was 80k to the finish or the final aid station. At 66k, we hit the aid station and were told 18k to go. While i took down an extra gel, i made the mistake of not topping off my water bottle.
Again making quick work of the aid station we continue our escape. The road pitched up with the sun finally upon us. It was the first time i started feeling weak while Jo seemed to gain strength. As we crested the hill we looked back to see no one in sight. We entered the singletrack with a huge lead...
We let the Bike RX guys lead and they quickly disappeared as they blazed the bumpy twisty and technical track with ease - at least compared to us. Both tired, the singletrack began to beat us up and with every mistake we grew weaker and more sloppy. I must have hit my privates no fewer than three times and both me us falling seemingly every 25 meters. Two men's team passed us and let us know a mixed team was gaining on us. who? We had a huge lead. Surely the would have the same difficulties. Nearing the bottom half of the first singletrack section we almost overshot another turn. "Quick! Before they see us!" i told Jo as we turn around to make the nearly hidden turn. We could hear them behind us apparently missing the turn slightly. This bought us some time but Jo was cooked. Team DeadGoat ripped past us convincingly. Struggling to hold it together we hit a dirt road with the Kopek team right behind us. Using our climbing strength we pushed the 2k climb to get out of sight and out me mind to build us a buffer for the final 2k of downhill singletrack. Having run out of water i was getting dehydrated and starting to bonk. Using every muscle to power through and maintain balance we finally broke out onto the dirt road. We crossed the finish uncontested in 4:51, good for 5th on the day. We stayed at 7th overall but made ground on the team in front of us. It was a good day for us as a team. We figured if we could breeze the singletrack like the Bike RX guys we might have had a chance a a podium.
Fusion Sport teammate Geoff Luttrell and his teammate did a good team ride as well as they figured out a pace that they could do as a team.
What was the difference today? I would say it was the cooler conditions and the shaded climbs. Let's hope it stays that way.
Tuesday's stage is an early bus and two ferries off Vancouver Island and back on the mainland for an 11 am start.
The shower trailer provided necessary shade.
The finish site in Cumberland
posted by Woo @ 5:23 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home