ToV Stage 3: Bedford to Covington Road Race
Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2007
We cruised out to Bedford with 8 guys in our makeshift Team Car, the Toyota Highlander SUV. Needless to say, it was a tight fit. We arrived in time to snag a box full o' bagels from the nice people at the start, along with some whipped cream cheese. Great recovery food!
At over 110 miles, this was the longest stage of the tour and featured two category 3 and one category 1 climb about 15 miles from the finish.
The pollen was in full force today and somehow my inhaler wasn't working. Great! Asthma anyone?
We rolled out and the attacks started fast and furious. Eventually, a 10-man group got away and established a 4 minute advantage over the peloton. Some bridge moves were tried, but nothing was really working at this point. Sierra missed the break and was putting full force in the chase.
With temps forecasted in the high 80s, hydration was the key to prevent the bonk. Pete De Leslie, our all star feeder, driver, etc. etc. was going to be at both feed zones. We got a great feed at the first zone, but didn't see Pete in what we thought was the second feed zone. We dropped back to the SRAM car and got a couple of bottles and then flogged ourselves to get back on. By this time, only Mark and I were still in the front group. Unfortunately, bad luck befell the remaining 5 guys on our Team.
We hit the base of the Cat 1 climb and your's truly did not feel so hot. Call it dead legs, but I was feeling the big B of the Bonk coming on. The climb was about 5-6 miles at 10-12% and I only had the 23 on the back. Shoot. Combined with the nonexistent power output, this was going to be a long climb.
Well, I hit the wall and couldn't keep the coal in the engine room. I thought I'd try to rely on the kindness of strangers and get a Coke, some bottles, etc. I doused myself with what I thought was water only to find out it was mix. Great. That will make some nice work of my hair on the descent! I eventually made it to the top of the climb with Kayle Leogrande and 10 others in a small chase group.
The group worked pretty well together coming into town. I rolled in behind Leogrande about 10 minutes off the winner's pace.
Hardman had a great day and was climbing like a madman. He finished 11th, about 1 1/2 minutes down.
The time cut for the race was set at 12% and the officials stuck to it. The officials cut over 70 people on the first road stage and this included the majority of our UVA composite Team.
At over 110 miles, this was the longest stage of the tour and featured two category 3 and one category 1 climb about 15 miles from the finish.
The pollen was in full force today and somehow my inhaler wasn't working. Great! Asthma anyone?
We rolled out and the attacks started fast and furious. Eventually, a 10-man group got away and established a 4 minute advantage over the peloton. Some bridge moves were tried, but nothing was really working at this point. Sierra missed the break and was putting full force in the chase.
With temps forecasted in the high 80s, hydration was the key to prevent the bonk. Pete De Leslie, our all star feeder, driver, etc. etc. was going to be at both feed zones. We got a great feed at the first zone, but didn't see Pete in what we thought was the second feed zone. We dropped back to the SRAM car and got a couple of bottles and then flogged ourselves to get back on. By this time, only Mark and I were still in the front group. Unfortunately, bad luck befell the remaining 5 guys on our Team.
We hit the base of the Cat 1 climb and your's truly did not feel so hot. Call it dead legs, but I was feeling the big B of the Bonk coming on. The climb was about 5-6 miles at 10-12% and I only had the 23 on the back. Shoot. Combined with the nonexistent power output, this was going to be a long climb.
Well, I hit the wall and couldn't keep the coal in the engine room. I thought I'd try to rely on the kindness of strangers and get a Coke, some bottles, etc. I doused myself with what I thought was water only to find out it was mix. Great. That will make some nice work of my hair on the descent! I eventually made it to the top of the climb with Kayle Leogrande and 10 others in a small chase group.
The group worked pretty well together coming into town. I rolled in behind Leogrande about 10 minutes off the winner's pace.
Hardman had a great day and was climbing like a madman. He finished 11th, about 1 1/2 minutes down.
The time cut for the race was set at 12% and the officials stuck to it. The officials cut over 70 people on the first road stage and this included the majority of our UVA composite Team.
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