Marc Trucano - 45+ 4/5's
"Started 45 + 4/5 Crit with 25
riders, about 4 laps in was first prim lap for 5 bonus second reduction
on overall stage race time so just before the 3rd right hand turn while I
was sitting about 4th wheel. I made move to left and took wide turn
rolling thru the turn and took off and took several but not enough
people by surprise. I was in lead until about 100 feet from finish line
where 3 passed me and I ended up 4th and no points. I sat back in
group to recover and then a Sierra Nevada rider and I took off the front
for about 3 turns and decided we would not get away and again blended
back into group. I finished Crit about 10th place. TT or Bee TT was
next, I was at line at my start time and seat holder almost dropped me,
we reset and I took off and about a third of a mile from start I got a
flat tire with a sharp piece of asphalt in tire. I was NOT happy, so I
turned back and start line told me to either take time of slowest
person that did not flat or go get tire and chase. So me being me, I
rode on flat about a quarter mile and borrowed Gregg's, who ad finished,
front tire, Thanks Gregg and Vinny and continued TT from the truck so
added more distance. My time started from first start time so I was way
behind. I finished in 36 minutes with all this so who knows what might
have been. Slowest guy that did not flat finished in 30. So RR was
Sunday and I was about 5 minutes behind leader, VERY rough, Roubaix,
type of road, on 2nd lap I fell off pack going up hills up to about a
quarter mile but with downhill next and my stubbornness I caught them
just before rough section and hung on until the end. This is a rolling
hill type finish and knowing that I was not going to make up 5 minutes I
did not sprint the hills and figured I had had my workout. Great race
overall and would do again. I also like these 3 event two day stage
races. Pic is me NOT smiling at end of TT. LOL -Marc"
 | |||
| Marc at finish of TT. |
Gregg Lehman - 35+ 4/5:
"Foremost, for those of you who
are roadies and have ever had aspirations of or do currently race, I
strongly recommend you try a stage race. It is an absolute blast! You
have the excitement of trying to win stages but you have an eye on the
overall goal and that makes it very interesting and fun. Also, because
you are racing with the same people for multiple stages alliances are
made (and broken) so there is a very mental aspect to the race.
Stage 1: This
was a flat four corner industrial park crit. There were two time bonus
prims (5, 4 and 3 seconds for the top three) and time bonuses in for
the top three at the end. Fun race. I contested every sprint
but finished 4th in each sprint. Really interesting because in a
typical crit there are usually only a handful of people contesting the
sprint for the prims but in this one every racer contested so it really
was a bunch sprint each time. I finished 7th.
Stage 2: Time
Trial: This was a 10 mile loop over some pretty rough roads. Started
out a bit hard because the bees in the first four miles were none stop.
If the fear of being stung does not motivate you nothing will. I
actually had one fly in my mouth and managed to spit it out before being
stung! Finished 9th with an average speed of 24mph. Not what I wanted
but for my first solo time trial in over five years I will take it.
I finished the day 10th in the GC going into the road race.
Stage 3: Let
me begin by saying I have ridden some horrible roads but these were
beyond that. Right up there or maybe even worse than Copperopolis for
those of you who have had the privilege. We had three 17 mile loops and
the "rough section" was about 2 miles. I started the day 1:45 behind
in the GC and 1 minute off of the podium so there was only on option:
ATTACK. I made an alliance with the third and fourth place riders and
the plan was to attack on every opportunity to make the leader and the
number two guy burn matches and chase. To the leader's credit, he
covered every break solo and protected his position. When you and two
other strong riders throw everything you have at a guy and he keeps
responding you have to tip your cap. He earned the overall. For my
part, I burned too many matched and cramped going into the sprint.
Finished 11 for the race and earned a top ten (10th) in the GC.
WELL DONE GUYS!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment