North Stonington Cycling Classic Cat 4 - Geoff Martin 5-21-07
orth Stonington Cycling Classic, CT
4 5-mile laps with a 1k hill finish.
NEBC-ers: Geoff Martin – 28th
After barely competing at Lake Sunapee in the rain the previous day I had serious misgivings about bothering to drive 2 hours to race in the rain (not something I’m fond of) at a short 5 mile, 1 hill course. Typically this race splits up on the climb.
Anyway, as luck would have it, the rain I’d been driving through all morning cleared up just after I passed the CT border. I ended up with high 50’s temps, middling to light wind and even (gasp) and occasional glimpse of sunshine.
I got a decent warm-up to make up for yesterday (zero). And took to the start with Pete Shapiro, NEBC alumn. As I was riding solo for the team and was unsure of what kind of performance I could come up with I decided the best thing was to stay in the pack as long as possible, try and make the split on the hill when it happened.
The race starts is ‘neutral’ and the dmz was extended to the top of the climb this year. So far so good. There’s a screaming descent with 4 “interesting” rain grates near the top which is a bit hair-raising in a tightly squeezed pack. I sat in, moved up a little, tore out of the descending corner, maintained position and prepared for the climb. Got up in OK position, hard work – but do-able.
Lap 1 over.
Lap 2 – Rinse repeat – only MUCH FASTER!!!! Things got much spicier on the climb this time around and I think I heard a snapping sound just behind me…
PHIL LIGGETT: “The elastic’s snapped. The lead group now have 10 bike lengths!”
Also Pete Shapiro mysteriously disappears from the tail end only to appear 4 or 5 riders from the front. That’s smart positioning. Wily little bugger..
Lap 3 – Rinse repeat – Some guy next to me says – “Why aren’t we racing. This is the last lap isn’t it?” Nope sunshine your computer might say 24 miles, but that’s cause it’s WRONG! Up the hill. Position is not that great but I’m still with the leading group. Things look OK.
Lap 4 – Rinse repeat – and let’s slow down. This allowed a group of 10 or 15 riders to get back on. Bah. All the hard work undone. Last time up the climb and I determine not to follow the early jumps as I’m worried about blowing up, and frankly, I’m getting kinda tired. I drag my ass past people who are starting to fall off the pace hoping to pick up a pack finish. A break in the line ahead of me… Argh! A time split!! I chase and make it onto the wheels at the back of the pack but cannot muster any more as the road flattens near the finish.
Sigh! Over the line. 28th. 3 guys ahead there was another gap. Oh well – it’s only a few seconds. A nominal pack finish as the other 3 I was with finished 30 secs off the winner. Oh yeah – the winner was Pete Shapiro! A lesson learned in good positioning.
Another best finish at this race in my Cat 4 career so far.. and a much more pleasant race than I anticipated.
Sometimes the second day IS better….