Sea Otter Road Race
Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007
Riders: Willinger, McBride, Ray IV, Mendonca, Kearney
Competitors: 80 riders (appr.) Full Healthnet, Kodak and Jelly Belly squadra, Priority Health, Time Factory, etc
Results: Kearney (16th) Ray IV (27th)
So I am not sure I will do this race much justice as the Sea Otter weekend is now all a blur to me. But here goes...
The race (totaling 71 miles) consisted of 8, 8 mile laps on Fort Ord with one selective climb with a cross wind section on the top and 1 short but steep climb at the feed zone. The race finished on the top of a 2 mile climb.
It was clear that most of the teams were not ready to race hard from the gun seeing as an NRC race loomed the following day and decided to take it easy for the first half of the race and let the miles tick away, though for most it was still not comfortable on the climbs.
Upon reaching the top of the main climb Frank Pipp launched an attack with 2 from Sierra and one other. Once able to get myself out of the sedated peleton, I tried to bridge, but found myself in purgatory with the break 20 meters ahead and organizing. Luckily the pack awakened behind me and countered with Matt Willinger, Bajadali, Kilun, Mike Jones, Walters, etc.
Upon reaching the Feed Zone, Mike Jones put in a hard effort and dropped Matt Willinger among others. The break of 10 or so raced on ahead of us. The peleton took the climbs hard but were unorganized for the most part. With 2 to go I found myself with a slow leak and had to pull off to receive SRAM neutral support at one of their designated areas (they are in fact useful!). I was unable to latch on the back of what was left of the peleton immediately following the feed and was helped by Sean to get back into a small 7 man chase group that included Andy. Then Andy I took turns chasing and coaxing some of the resigned riders to fighting their way back to the pack. In about a lap I was finally back in the sanctuary of the pack.
On the final lap it was Uthman and I racing for 16th and unbeknownst to us, no money. It was unclear to us how many were up the road as a few riders went in search of the break the previous 2 laps. However, we figure we'd still race a race and I attacked before the feedzone simultaneously with Nick Hight-Huff. We were gone never to be seen again. We picked up a rider on the way who refused to work or speak a word, despite my most desparaging comments. If only he worked he may have had a chance...cause Nick and I weren't having it. So we played the "attack and let him chase" on the way up the climb with Nick allowing me the undeserved win, since I know his climbing legs were superior to mine at that point in the race. Nick snubbed him for 17th, of course: A painful and elegant lesson in racing etiquette.
Uthman rode a strong, yet cramping finish for 27th place. Great selfless teamwork by everyone in this race.
On ahead, Jesse Moore (Cal Giant) was forced into leading out the bottom section of the climb, yet was able to finish 3rd behind Bajadali (Jelly Belly) and Walters (Sierra Nevada) . A truly great ride by one of our local amateur competitors. Rounding out the top ten and receiving nothing from the coffers of Sea Otter for their overpriced race entry fee were: Kilun-HN (4th), Jones-JB (5th), Anthony-SN (6th), Timmerman-SN (7th), Rice-JB (8th), Pipp-HN(9th), Klein(10th)
Competitors: 80 riders (appr.) Full Healthnet, Kodak and Jelly Belly squadra, Priority Health, Time Factory, etc
Results: Kearney (16th) Ray IV (27th)
So I am not sure I will do this race much justice as the Sea Otter weekend is now all a blur to me. But here goes...
The race (totaling 71 miles) consisted of 8, 8 mile laps on Fort Ord with one selective climb with a cross wind section on the top and 1 short but steep climb at the feed zone. The race finished on the top of a 2 mile climb.
It was clear that most of the teams were not ready to race hard from the gun seeing as an NRC race loomed the following day and decided to take it easy for the first half of the race and let the miles tick away, though for most it was still not comfortable on the climbs.
Upon reaching the top of the main climb Frank Pipp launched an attack with 2 from Sierra and one other. Once able to get myself out of the sedated peleton, I tried to bridge, but found myself in purgatory with the break 20 meters ahead and organizing. Luckily the pack awakened behind me and countered with Matt Willinger, Bajadali, Kilun, Mike Jones, Walters, etc.
Upon reaching the Feed Zone, Mike Jones put in a hard effort and dropped Matt Willinger among others. The break of 10 or so raced on ahead of us. The peleton took the climbs hard but were unorganized for the most part. With 2 to go I found myself with a slow leak and had to pull off to receive SRAM neutral support at one of their designated areas (they are in fact useful!). I was unable to latch on the back of what was left of the peleton immediately following the feed and was helped by Sean to get back into a small 7 man chase group that included Andy. Then Andy I took turns chasing and coaxing some of the resigned riders to fighting their way back to the pack. In about a lap I was finally back in the sanctuary of the pack.
On the final lap it was Uthman and I racing for 16th and unbeknownst to us, no money. It was unclear to us how many were up the road as a few riders went in search of the break the previous 2 laps. However, we figure we'd still race a race and I attacked before the feedzone simultaneously with Nick Hight-Huff. We were gone never to be seen again. We picked up a rider on the way who refused to work or speak a word, despite my most desparaging comments. If only he worked he may have had a chance...cause Nick and I weren't having it. So we played the "attack and let him chase" on the way up the climb with Nick allowing me the undeserved win, since I know his climbing legs were superior to mine at that point in the race. Nick snubbed him for 17th, of course: A painful and elegant lesson in racing etiquette.
Uthman rode a strong, yet cramping finish for 27th place. Great selfless teamwork by everyone in this race.
On ahead, Jesse Moore (Cal Giant) was forced into leading out the bottom section of the climb, yet was able to finish 3rd behind Bajadali (Jelly Belly) and Walters (Sierra Nevada) . A truly great ride by one of our local amateur competitors. Rounding out the top ten and receiving nothing from the coffers of Sea Otter for their overpriced race entry fee were: Kilun-HN (4th), Jones-JB (5th), Anthony-SN (6th), Timmerman-SN (7th), Rice-JB (8th), Pipp-HN(9th), Klein(10th)
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