Malabar Farms

Malabar Farms road race was today and we sure had decent weather for a late March race. I lined up with about 24 racers in the 3/4 field which also included John, Rick, Chris, Greg, and Sebastian from our team. We were doing 4 laps on the 10 mile loop, and the mid-hill finish was in place.

Rick and another rider built a good gap early into lap one. Another 2 riders started a bridge attempt on one of the rollers. By the time we were on the long stretch coming back to the hill, it looked like the 2 break groups were near contact with each other. I lost sight of them after that. They stretched the gap to probably 1-2 minutes. The pace up the hill was moderate and the pack pretty much stuck together. Other teams then started to drive the tempo up significantly on lap 2. As we headed on the home stretch again, we saw Rick coming back to the field. I and a few others from our team took turns with good pulls on the front until the base of the climb, launching John at the base of the climb. I was spent from the effort prior to the hill and drifted a good ways back and had to work with about 4 others to catch back on shortly after the top of the hill. With John off the front, we didn't have to do much work on lap 3.

As usual, I learn bike race lessons by making mistakes. Earlier in the day, I stocked up on GU packs knowing I would need them this race. I put two in my pocket of my vest while warming up, but then decided to shed the vest before the start. Not a good situation especially on this course.

Trouble started on the 3rd time up the hill. The legs were not responding too well. I crested the hill with a few others around me, but we were separated from the main group. Our small group off the back worked well together, but I was struggling. I ended up by myself off the back and then the sag vehicle passed me. Knowing that the lead group would probably ease up to save legs for the last blast up the hill, I just kept driving the pedals and staying as aero as possible. I was able to keep the main group in sight and seemed to be gaining on them.

I rounded the sharp right corner onto the long road back to Malabar and was a mere 10 seconds back. I caught back on pretty quickly after the turn as the groups pace was very slow. Right after that, Rick attacked the field and built a sizeable gap. I found myself with some leg cramping, but back in the group with Greg, Chris, and Sebastian all there. A valiant bridge attempt by Scott from Snakebite got the field moving, but by then Rick had established a lead that would stick. Scott was reeled back in. As the pace slowed, I got on the front about 1 mile from the climb. My plan was to drive the pace up at the base of the climb with the other guys on my wheel to stretch out the field. It worked well and the pace was fast early in the climb. I was toast so I pulled off. Chris and Greg were with Scott (Snakebite) and had a small gap on everyone else. I was yelling at them to go hard, because they were losing ground. As I watched the group crest the kicker before the finish, Greg had the field sprint locked up, and Chris appeared to be in good position for 2nd.

I roll up to find the guys just past the finish line and find out that John took the win by dropping his break partner on the climb. Rick's break was able to net him 4th place, and Greg and Chris did get 5th and 6th respectively.

It was a great race, and the team did well again. My first time at Malabar in the 3/4 field was successful because my goal was to help out the team and not get dropped (..well I did, but still finish with the field). Also will double check for GU packets prior to races...

BTW, while typing this, I watched the Pitt/Villanova game and WOW what a game! Villanova seemed to have it locked up, then blew it, then hit a shot with 0.5 sec left. They won, but Fields (Pitt) nearly connected on the 75 footer after the inbounds pass!

Also listening to Sound Tribe sector 9 - thanks for the tip Chris!