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Race: Wards Ferry RR
Date: 4/ 2/05
Result: 2nd
Category: 4s
Field: 50
Teammates: Lars, Rajiv
Overall, a pretty interesting and fun race. The first lap started out pretty slow, with some brief attacks that were eventually reeled in. I decided to try to do the least amount of work possible, allowing the riders in the top 10-12 places to block the wind and pull in the breaks. The course had one long, sort of technical downhill. After the first lap, I made sure I was in the top ten positions going down the hill, or else, with the inexperienced 5s in the field, I would get caught behind them due to their lack of descending skills. The last 1K of the course was mostly uphill. All within the last kilometer, a short steep uphill preceded the descent to the base of the finishing 200 Meter climb. I had decided going into lap four that I would attack on the short steep uphill---about 800 meters from the finish.
Coming into the last kilometer, I fought my way into the top ten once again. The group was riding at a moderate pace up the hill, with no one wanting, or seeming to make a move. I attacked up the left side. I soon looked back and I had a gap! Going down the hill, I could only see brief glimpses of one rider chasing. I had about a 50 meter gap on the rider. Going up the hill however, I was soon aerobically maxed out. I didn't have anything left and got passed by a Team Tam rider with about 15 feet to go, (who coincidentally got second at Sea Otter..what do ya know..) I managed to hold on to second, but I was dead at the top of the hill. A really fun race and new learning experience.
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