Tour of St Louis
Wow! I never predicted my weekend would have ended up this way. I'm incredibly happy with how everything turned out.
Friday night I went to the pony races at fairmount park and probably stayed out a bit too late, but I didn't have to race until the afternoon on Saturday so I still got plenty of sleep. At Carondolet my job was to sit in and wait for the sprint. I can do that. The race was a bit windy, with a cross wind on the downhill that put things in the gutter and a headwind on the bottoms. The crosswind came back on the climb and then turned to a tailwind up top. Everything went well during the race and I didn't do much except bring back one break, which helped to open my legs up for later. It was only Johnny, Peder and myself representin' in our race, so we didn't have much responsibilty to chase anything. I got a little nervous when it came down to laps to go, but was able to calm myself down and get my head back on straight. A break of three was up the road with a good gap, kudos to them for being able to stay away. In the field sprint I tried to mark Joe and Kurt since they're the two that I figured had the best chances for the sprint. I tried to follow Joe on the hill but got stuck when he squeezed through a gap that got closed on me. I had to route myself through traffic on the uphill and surged once I was clear. A bike throw on the line did me no good, I was third in the field sprint behind Kurt and Joe by at least a wheel. 6th overall.
The time trial was at greensfelder, as it had been for the last two years. I raced it the first year and did it in5:47. It was tough. Last year I was too hung over to race and went to the course just to heckle racers on the hill. We got to the course too late to pre-ride, but I still remember how much it hurts. My legs felt like blocks of concrete when I hopped on the bike to warm up. I had about 20 minutes to ride around before my start time at 5:40, so I threw in a couple of efforts to open everything back up. My heart rate redlined way quicker than I wanted it too, but what could I do? I jumped hard from the blocks at the start and quickly got up to speed. A bit too quick I think. I went a bit hot into the first corner and skidded my rear wheel for a while. Not so fun on chip-seal roads. That scared me. At the bottom of the hill I went around the bend too wide and rode into the gravel, losing a bit of time there. It turns out that Lonnie Kennedy had just crashed near there and was off in the woods. I think he broke his clavicle, get well soon! Earlier I had told myself I would drop into my little ring at the first rise before the big climb, but decided to wait until I started to round the corner before the wall instead. I mashed the climb in my 39x21 as best I could. The destroyers were out in full force, but I don't remember much of what they said over the sound of my own labored breathing. I saw my minute man at the top of the climb, so I had something to aim for. 3/4 of the way up my right foot unclipped. Great. I need some new cleats. I got my foot back in and sat down now, changing into my 25 cog. I got into the big ring as soon as I could and dug in. Picked up my minute man after the second climb and kept the hammer down until the finish. Almost picked up my two minute man. Final time: 5:27. I felt like I was about to exhale my right lung. Begged water off of someone at the finish; I very much appreciate their kindness. Picked up a horrible hic-cough that I held onto for a few hours. I love tt's! TT placing: 3rd (tied w/Joe Hill) Overall placing: 2nd (tied w/Kurt Fletcher)
Showing up at Forest Park on Sunday people were telling me that I was in good contention for the overall after my time trial result (I hadn't seen any results yet at that time). My thoughts: Bullshit, whatever. Well, it turns out I did ok and now I've got a job to do today: Maintain or better my overall placing by marking Joe and Kurt all day and try my damndest in the sprint. I decided that it would be best to change my 12-25 cassette out for my 11-23, even though an 11 is a huge gear and 12 is usually all you'll ever need around here. But just in case... While changing casssettes I came to the realization that it's really hot out. I don't do so well in the heat, but I've been trying harder to adapt. Johnny and Peder were there again for support, and I told them I would really need them today to make things run smoothly. My legs had a bit of tinge in them from Saturday's efforts, but it went away. Sat in all race and tried to stay near Joe and Kurt, all the while trying to save as much energy as possible. Everything was going according to plan. At about the 65 minute mark my legs started to hurt and I was feeling the effort a bit more. I suffered through it and came around those feelings. At laps to go, Johnny started guiding me through the pack. Peder brought back a potential escape. Things got busy with fewer and fewer laps to go, but having a teammate's wheel to follow made me feel much calmer and more confident. On the bell lap Joe moved up on the outside and I had Johnny drop me off on his wheel. Wow, I was really there at the end of a race for once! Sure, I've done ok in lower category races, but this is the main event now, and I'm in it! Joe ended up at the very front of the pack over the bridge, mostly due to a lull in the pack. He started to ease up a sec and I got worried about getting swarmed by the pack so I tried to get him to keep the pace up. On the rise to the last corner, he jumped, and he jumped hard. Sumbitch kicked like a mule! I wasn't quite ready for that but did what I could. Joe had several meters through the corner, but I knew that it was a long sprint and anything could happen. I dug in after the corner and put everything into the final sprint. Slowly I was gaining on him, and caught his back wheel at around 50 meters to go. I edged up along side, and threw my bike at the line to take it by half a wheel. I instinctively put my hands in the air after I crossed the line, but then began to wonder if I really did win. I mean, did really just win the race? Against local strongman Joe Hill? No way. And does that mean I got the overall as well? Winning can be so surreal. One minute you're suffering and dying in the pack, and your mind is going even faster than your heart rate. And in a split second, it's all over. There aren't any do-overs. You either did it or you didn't. This time, I did, and I think I amazed myself more than anybody else. Forest Park placing: 1st. Overall placing: 1st. Max Heartrate: 217. Max speed: 41 mph (glad I brought that 11tooth)
Last week I was talking to my friend Tom King about bike racing and life in general. He just turned 40 and graduated from college after getting a late start. Many congrats to him! He said I've come a long way, and now that I think about it I guess I have. But I don't plan on stopping yet either, I've got many more goals to reach before I'll be through with anything.
Friday night I went to the pony races at fairmount park and probably stayed out a bit too late, but I didn't have to race until the afternoon on Saturday so I still got plenty of sleep. At Carondolet my job was to sit in and wait for the sprint. I can do that. The race was a bit windy, with a cross wind on the downhill that put things in the gutter and a headwind on the bottoms. The crosswind came back on the climb and then turned to a tailwind up top. Everything went well during the race and I didn't do much except bring back one break, which helped to open my legs up for later. It was only Johnny, Peder and myself representin' in our race, so we didn't have much responsibilty to chase anything. I got a little nervous when it came down to laps to go, but was able to calm myself down and get my head back on straight. A break of three was up the road with a good gap, kudos to them for being able to stay away. In the field sprint I tried to mark Joe and Kurt since they're the two that I figured had the best chances for the sprint. I tried to follow Joe on the hill but got stuck when he squeezed through a gap that got closed on me. I had to route myself through traffic on the uphill and surged once I was clear. A bike throw on the line did me no good, I was third in the field sprint behind Kurt and Joe by at least a wheel. 6th overall.
The time trial was at greensfelder, as it had been for the last two years. I raced it the first year and did it in5:47. It was tough. Last year I was too hung over to race and went to the course just to heckle racers on the hill. We got to the course too late to pre-ride, but I still remember how much it hurts. My legs felt like blocks of concrete when I hopped on the bike to warm up. I had about 20 minutes to ride around before my start time at 5:40, so I threw in a couple of efforts to open everything back up. My heart rate redlined way quicker than I wanted it too, but what could I do? I jumped hard from the blocks at the start and quickly got up to speed. A bit too quick I think. I went a bit hot into the first corner and skidded my rear wheel for a while. Not so fun on chip-seal roads. That scared me. At the bottom of the hill I went around the bend too wide and rode into the gravel, losing a bit of time there. It turns out that Lonnie Kennedy had just crashed near there and was off in the woods. I think he broke his clavicle, get well soon! Earlier I had told myself I would drop into my little ring at the first rise before the big climb, but decided to wait until I started to round the corner before the wall instead. I mashed the climb in my 39x21 as best I could. The destroyers were out in full force, but I don't remember much of what they said over the sound of my own labored breathing. I saw my minute man at the top of the climb, so I had something to aim for. 3/4 of the way up my right foot unclipped. Great. I need some new cleats. I got my foot back in and sat down now, changing into my 25 cog. I got into the big ring as soon as I could and dug in. Picked up my minute man after the second climb and kept the hammer down until the finish. Almost picked up my two minute man. Final time: 5:27. I felt like I was about to exhale my right lung. Begged water off of someone at the finish; I very much appreciate their kindness. Picked up a horrible hic-cough that I held onto for a few hours. I love tt's! TT placing: 3rd (tied w/Joe Hill) Overall placing: 2nd (tied w/Kurt Fletcher)
Showing up at Forest Park on Sunday people were telling me that I was in good contention for the overall after my time trial result (I hadn't seen any results yet at that time). My thoughts: Bullshit, whatever. Well, it turns out I did ok and now I've got a job to do today: Maintain or better my overall placing by marking Joe and Kurt all day and try my damndest in the sprint. I decided that it would be best to change my 12-25 cassette out for my 11-23, even though an 11 is a huge gear and 12 is usually all you'll ever need around here. But just in case... While changing casssettes I came to the realization that it's really hot out. I don't do so well in the heat, but I've been trying harder to adapt. Johnny and Peder were there again for support, and I told them I would really need them today to make things run smoothly. My legs had a bit of tinge in them from Saturday's efforts, but it went away. Sat in all race and tried to stay near Joe and Kurt, all the while trying to save as much energy as possible. Everything was going according to plan. At about the 65 minute mark my legs started to hurt and I was feeling the effort a bit more. I suffered through it and came around those feelings. At laps to go, Johnny started guiding me through the pack. Peder brought back a potential escape. Things got busy with fewer and fewer laps to go, but having a teammate's wheel to follow made me feel much calmer and more confident. On the bell lap Joe moved up on the outside and I had Johnny drop me off on his wheel. Wow, I was really there at the end of a race for once! Sure, I've done ok in lower category races, but this is the main event now, and I'm in it! Joe ended up at the very front of the pack over the bridge, mostly due to a lull in the pack. He started to ease up a sec and I got worried about getting swarmed by the pack so I tried to get him to keep the pace up. On the rise to the last corner, he jumped, and he jumped hard. Sumbitch kicked like a mule! I wasn't quite ready for that but did what I could. Joe had several meters through the corner, but I knew that it was a long sprint and anything could happen. I dug in after the corner and put everything into the final sprint. Slowly I was gaining on him, and caught his back wheel at around 50 meters to go. I edged up along side, and threw my bike at the line to take it by half a wheel. I instinctively put my hands in the air after I crossed the line, but then began to wonder if I really did win. I mean, did really just win the race? Against local strongman Joe Hill? No way. And does that mean I got the overall as well? Winning can be so surreal. One minute you're suffering and dying in the pack, and your mind is going even faster than your heart rate. And in a split second, it's all over. There aren't any do-overs. You either did it or you didn't. This time, I did, and I think I amazed myself more than anybody else. Forest Park placing: 1st. Overall placing: 1st. Max Heartrate: 217. Max speed: 41 mph (glad I brought that 11tooth)
Last week I was talking to my friend Tom King about bike racing and life in general. He just turned 40 and graduated from college after getting a late start. Many congrats to him! He said I've come a long way, and now that I think about it I guess I have. But I don't plan on stopping yet either, I've got many more goals to reach before I'll be through with anything.
posted by Pigpen at 8:15 AM
3 Comments:
Nice job at Forest Park, Anthony! I doubt you remember me, but my 1st year I raced against you as a Cat4 on The Hill - we got a little tangled in a corner but didn't go down, and you were real cool to me afterwards. I really appreciated that. You've certainly gone on to greatness!
Mad props, Pigpen!
Seems like yesterday we were doing battle in the 4s, and now you're out there winning 1/2 races. WTF?!
King Furby told me to be a good cat. 3 I should be logging 10,000 miles a year... so I mulled that over for a bit, and instead went on hiatus.
Congratulations!!! You raced really well last weekend.
Post a Comment
<< Home