Cherry Blossom Stage 4

So, no recap for Stage 3.  Easy 4-corner crit, stayed safe and burned as little energy as possible.  Tried making my way to the front but kept loosing spots so resigned myself to hanging on the back.  Yeah, not the ideal spot but it was safe.


Stage 4:  2 small circuits, 2 big circuits, 41 miles, how bad could it possibly be?  The proper answer is "holy f*** what the hell just happened."

Cherry Blossom Stage 2: The Humbug crushes the TT

As you saw in last night's post The Humbug, my TT bike, is finally built, decaled and ready to race.  I've spent a whole 6 minutes on it just making sure it kind of shifts and fits alright.  By the way, 6 minutes is the optimal break-in time for a new bike.  Not 5, not 7, 6.  Let's just say I was a little anxious racing a completely different type of bike with no actual workout on it.

New TT build

Behold my new TT bike.  I have spend a whopping 6 minutes riding this thing (in 2 minute sections) and am racing it tomorrow morning.  No fitting, no workouts, no nothing.  This is a good idea, no?

Cherry Blossom Stage 1: Crash

Yep, starting another stage race this weekend.  Coming off San Dimas I knew I had the legs but just not the luck.  My goal was to change that this weekend.

Picture from San Dimas

Found this photo from Stage 1 at San Dimas.

photo courtesy of Annette--SDSR Media

San Dimas Stage 2--I killed it today

I straight up dominated today.  I had read several reports (1, 2) from last year's race so I expected this to be a tough race not nothing out of my grasp.  This course is notorious for cross winds and natural attrition due to the climbs.  Also, the KOM and Sprint points on the line tend to keep the field together.  Looking at it, I didn't think it would be that bad.  Plus, I had some business to take care of after yesterday's sub-par TT.

So, race goes off, the pace is high but not unbearable.  "The climb" comes and goes.  If this is considered a climb these people need to go ride some 'real' roads.  Yes, there's a small 13% pitch in there but this thing is short.  Next lap is the KOM.  Speaking of which, the KOM is about a 200m before the summit and descent so all the climbers immediately sit up before actually cresting the summit.  KOM 1 comes and I'm with the lead group.  Everyone sits up and I attack off the front.  I get my gap on the descent and they let me just ride off the front.  The tailwind pushes me all the way through the finish line and I'm gone.  The entire field just sat up and looked at each other, waiting for someone else to chase.  Over the next 6 laps I built up a 4 minute lead and I think the field forgot about me.  40+ miles off the front, in the wind.  I'm now holding the overall with a 2:37 lead over second place.  Assuming I can just finish the crit tomorrow I've got this thing in the bag.

Right.  Want to read what really happened?  Jump past the break...

San Dimas: Glendora Mountian Time Trial--Disappointed

Today reminded me of one thing:  I need to work on time trialing.  I know I have the physical strength, now I need the mental component.  I went into this race with both a time and wattage goal, I didn't hit either.

a look at one of the switchbacks