I stayed home from work today in an effort to speed up the healing process (also because I can't sit on anything without wincing). Another race in Detroit, another day of super solid positioning, and another super disappointing result. The question becomes: when does this hard work pay off? I've ridden more this year than I ever have done, I've been training smart and hard, I feel like I can hang with just about anyone, but I still can't win anything (or even come close). I know at this point it is just a game of luck and getting a good break, and I'm really hoping it happens soon.
The race in Detroit on Saturday was huge, a field on 80 to begin. I met my buddy Joe before the race started and we had a nice warm-up with him and one of his teammates. I didn't have any teammates in this race, which was too bad. Having somewhere there to keep me safe and towards the front would have been great. Anyway, I started the race in the second row, perfect positioning, and it started fast! The pace finally let up after about 4 or 5 laps and I was able to get my heart rate back down from it's thunderous pace. I was sitting pretty good, probably about between 7-10 guys off the front, but feeling good and pedaling through most corners (which is good as you won't lost momentum).
We get to about 5 laps to go, and I'm feeling super good. Holding my positioning well and not burning too many matches before the finale, I am this feeling that I might actually have a go at the sprint! 2 laps to go, things are starting to get dicey, people are making moves that aren't smart in an effort to get towards the front, and I'm following their wheels getting a free ride to move up a couple places.
Last lap comes, and I'm in the perfect spot. I'm on the outside coming into the first corner, about 6 guys in front of me. I was thinking, I will use the back straight away to move up another position or two and get behind a guy I had chatted with before the race, who I knew was very strong. As we come into the first corner, I have a guy pretty close to me on the left, and then someone else tries to fit between us. He does, but then moves to his right as we are coming around the left-corner (to get into position to take the inside line on the upcoming right-turn) and he takes someone out, who then brings me and a couple other guys down. We all slide across the pavement into the barriers.
I lay on the ground for a couple seconds, assessing the situation. If feels like no harm is done, and I didn't really hit the ground that hard. It's just the sliding across the pavement at 28mph that does the damage...I tell the paramedics I'm fine, hop on my bike, and finish the race. Of course, it seems as though I wasn't placed as I'm not on the results list, but I did ride my bike across the line. I immediately went over to the medical tent, they patched me up, and in good spirits and high hopes, I am on my way!
3/16 Waterloo G&G, Grass Lake, MI (Gravel) 34th Overall (221) / 4th AG (6)
3/23 Melting Mann, Vandalia, MI (Gravel) 61st Overall (255) / 17th AG (31)
3/30 Dirty 30 Gravel Grinder, Saranac, MI (Gravel) 81st Overall (215) / 9th AG (24)
4/6 Lowell Classic, Lowell, MI (Gravel) 27th Overall (239) / 8th AG (15)
4/13 Barry Roubaix, Hastings, MI (Gravel) 216th Overall (1342) / 6th AG (18)
4/28 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series, Ann Arbor, MI 11th Overall 4/5 (48)
5/5 Fort Custer Stampede, Battle Creek, MI (Mountain!!) 7th AG (13)
6/1 The Waterford Races, Clarkston, MI 21st Overall 4/5 (24)
6/5 Grattan Race Series, Grattan, MI 20th Overall 'B' (37)
6/9 Dirty Donut, Martin, MI (Gravel) 1st AG (11)
6/14 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI 27th Cat 4/5 (40) / 30th Cat 3/4 (38)
6/15 Ada Crit, Ada, MI 16th Cat 3/4 (25)
7/13 Detroit Cycling Championship, Detroit, MI DNF Cat 4/5 (81)
8/25 Debaets-Devos Crit, Detroit, MI 16th Cat 4 (25)
9/8 Uncle John's Dirty Ride, St. John's, MI (Gravel)
11/2 Iceman, Traverse City, MI
As the road season winds down already, I'm looking forward to cyclocross! I will shift my training to that discipline for the rest of the summer (high miles) and then pour on the intensity when we get closer to those races. The Cherry Roubaix is the state championship race for road racing, so I'm looking forward to that race.
I'm aiming to be back on the bike for the Pedal Thursday night ride. My wounds don't feel great, but my bike is fine and I've got a deep hunger to succeed now. I know my fitness is there as I was in the mix in one of the bigger races in the country, so I'm hoping for some good results and to be able to Cat up by the end of the year!
Cheers! CE
