Snelling race report

Snelling Race Report: 23 February, 2008
By Michael O’Rourke

Weather; 41, sunny with light haze, no wind…at the start. I arrived a little later than planned due to some navigational issues (Mapquest strikes again!), so instead of warming up on the rollers per my usual routine, I only had enough time for a quick jaunt down the road and back. As I pedaled along I noticed something sounded a little funny with the drive train, but being as I barely had enough time for a warm-up I had no choice but to ignore it and hope for the best. “Maybe it was just pre-race jitters” I kept telling myself. And then it happed…my chain snapped. There I am, about two miles up the road, and starting time is in 5 minutes. As I pushed my bike along with one foot, like a really expensive skateboard, I prayed the race would start late. After a dozen or so riders pass me by commenting on my dilemma, one finally slowed and offered me a tow back to the line. As luck would have it, I happened to park right next to the Specialized team van and we were 20 yards away from the starting line. I flagged down the very nice mechanic who without hesitation hooked me up just as the race was leaving. Again fortune smiled as there is a very long slow roll-out enabling me to get on to the group before the racing actually started.
The course has a long straight rolling section, similar to English Colony, followed by a curvy section with more rollers, then right turn into a long flat section with sweeping turns, another right turn for a couple more short rollers, left turn onto a mile or so of rough paved section, and a last right turn for 200 meters up a stair stepped hill and the finish. Total distance for the loop is 11.5 miles and Cat 3's are privilaged to do 5 laps for a total just under 60 miles. Wind is usually a factor in this race, and the course is oriented so that it feels as if you’re always riding into it except for the first straight rolling section.
As the race got under way there were the usual early attacks of one, two or three riders. They would either fade or get pulled in by the group. I was expecting the field to split around lap two or three. However, this time a group of 7-10 riders managed to sneak off the front at the end of the first lap. As we started the second lap the moto went by us announcing a 30 second gap. "What the *&%#??" As I was deliberating whether the group had enough muscle to stay away for four more laps riders began bridging up one and two at a time. I wanted to jump as well, but in my efforts to stay protected for the first couple laps I found myself boxed in against the side of the road and unable to make a move.
Now the gap is up to 50 seconds and the group has grown to about 20. Definitely enough muscle to stay away. I finally work myself out and still feel confident I can bridge up as seemingly the wind hasn’t picked up yet. I grab some gears, put my head down and give it my best Eddy Merckx impersonation…..sorry Eddy! I pull as long as I can, and slide over for the next guy to pull thru. He just looked at me and apologized. “Sorry, it not personal, I just have teammates in the break” he says. Then another guy says “Yeah me too, but nice pull!”.
Great. I’m screwed. But as the saying goes, “Adversity doesn’t build character so much as it reveals it” and I believe that whole heartedly. So, I put my head back down and keep driving it. If I can’t get a win, I’m at least going to get some respect. Thru the windy section we go, around the right turn and into what has now become a nice breeze. Yup, I’m definitely screwed. Still, if you give up, your day is over anyway, so why not keep trying? I took small breaks when I needed, and every time we hit the straight at the start of each lap I drilled it for all it was worth. By the forth lap, I could hear several choice expletives being muttered as I pulled thru, which fueled the fantasy in my head that I was punishing the group. Hey, whatever it takes to keep you motivated, right?
So, by now, the wind has grown to just short of gale force, and my legs are shot. It’s almost all I can do to just keep from cramping. The wind was coming at us from the front and off to the right, so I stayed as far to the left of the road as possible. I appreciate team strategy, but I'm not going to give these guys a free ride any more than I have to.
Heading into the last lap there really was no hope of catching the lead group, but I did more than my share of holding the gap to around 1:00. I figured that some guys in this group would still take a stab at winning our little group effort, and I had no intention of being left out. So, this time I sat in and recovered as best I could. There certainly wasn’t anyone in that bunch who could criticize me for wheel sucking! I saw Josh again in the group and rode with him a bit. I hadn’t seen him since the start of lap 2 and was wondering where he went. But then, I don’t think I ever really looked back either. The rest of the lap 5 was spent fighting for a spot in the echelon, and setting up for the bumpy section followed by the 200 meters up hill, into the wind…in the snow with a broken leg and a cast on the good foot. O.K., so maybe I made that last part up. But that’s about how it felt! The bumpy section really takes its toll on tired legs as it is nearly impossible to get a rhythm. Add to that fighting a strong side/head wind and life is really hard. But, there’s only about a mile to go..yippee!
The hard right turn before the finish “sprint” is of great concern, as we are a bunch of at least 20 strong and all have the same thing in mind. Guys will be tired, lack complete control due to fatigue and yes, maybe even a little bit of panic. It is Elite Cat 3, after all. As we make our way around the corner, IT’S ON ! A bum rush to the finish. Just me and 20 of my best wheel sucking buddies. I had no idea if I would have anything at all when I stepped on the gas, and much to my surprise, I did. I started weaving my way thru the heaving bodies. Some were fighting to get in front, others just to hold position. Kind of like weaving your way thru rush hour traffic when you’re already late for work. And just to make things more interesting, there’s a straggler from one of the other groups along the right side and drifting into the middle. I think we swarmed her (at least I think it was a ‘her’) before she had time to react. Josh was somewhere just behind my wheel, we both went around to the right.I veered back into the fray as other riders who chose this route had lost their momentum and were stalled out in front of me. So much for my hopes of finding a lane up the side! I heard a crash behind me. I knew it was related to the straggler and hoped that Josh wasn’t involved, but I really couldn’t afford to look back. I found myself in a very surreal Zen like state. I was relaxed, confident yet wired and urgent all at the same time. I maintained my momentum and simply waited for small gaps to slip thru. One here, two there, and just like that I went form what felt like 100 riders back to fifth in the field sprint. 200 meters felt like 200 miles! I even passed one in the last 10 meters and held off another who I could hear charging for 20 just off my right. Sheer will, I tell you, sheer will.
Though my placing doesn’t reflect it, I have to say this was one of my best rides ever. For me, that is very significant as I am, like so many others such a results oriented person. My training has proven to be successful, I never gave up, I maintained my composure and focus, and continued to find something to fight for. These are all behaviors of champions. This time it was a fight for 20-something place. But next time, provided I pay more attention to the break, It might be a fight for the podium!