So the old guys from Team Window Gang decided to race the State Championship Road Race course today. Tom Z, Phil H., Brian G., Pat J., and myself decided to show up and give it a go! 80 miles of road racing was on tap and we were excited to all be racing together!
The race was held in Salisbury NC, home of Food Lion and great country roads. The course was a rolling 13 mile loop and we had to race 6 laps. Fortunately for us, we started at 9 am. That meant we had to get up early to race, but that also meant that we would beat the heat that was scheduled for the afternoon!
I am not sure how much of beating the heat we did. It was 82 at the start of the race and temps slowly but steadily climbed to 95+ by the time we galloped to the finish line.
Motivated and ready to give our team a shot at the Championship, we rolled to the start line. We all viewed the surrounding competition and sized up the heavy hitters. We went in with a game plan and were determined to stick to it! Phil was to get into the first break of the day. We would work to manage the field until or if the break was reeled in. If he came back then Tom or I were going to give it a go. If that came back then we were going to line it up for the sprint at the end and hope Tom could bring home the bacon. The plan sounded good and so off we went!
2 miles into the race, Brian G. (sir flats a lot) was cursed with a rear wheel let down. I did not see if he hit a hole or what gave but he was on the side of the road with a flat tire and the field passing him by. Now we were down to 4.
Phil H. took off after the second turn. One fellow was already up the road dangling and the field was not excited about chasing yet so they let him go. Phil quickly caught up to the other guy and they quickly built up a 4 minute lead on the group so all was good.
The pack was racing at a moderate pace and still had no intentions of completely ramping it up to bring back the break. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the fact that we had to race another 80 miles tomorrow, or maybe they just did not fear the men up the road. What ever the case things were nice and cheery in the group.
At some point during the second lap, Phil and his compatriot were in eye shot. Then the fireworks began. One attack after another until finally a few more guys were able to bridge across to our man. We could see all of them working together and they were all racing away from us…..again!
The calmness in the group did not subside long. They started racing with a sense of urgency that had not been seen all morning. Phil and his buddies were brought back and then attack after attack ensued until Rich Harper (Team Inferno), a pro from Raleigh, went up the road and rode away from us like we were sitting still! At least he is on a Wobblenaught bike fit! He took his pin striped inferno kit, and his wobblenaught bike fitted self up the road and we did not see him again. That is until the end!
Phil made it another lap with us and then dropped out. The heat, the break away effort, and his fatigued body was done, so now we were down to 3! I forgot to mention that Phil raced Mount Mitchell on Monday. 6 hours of racing leaves the body a little run down but we were impressed that he gave it a go.
Pat J tried hard to control the attacks for Tom and I but 4 others were allowed to roll up the highway. Pat buried himself for us one to many times and finally called it a day.
Tom and I raced for the next 2.5 laps on our own. The pack was happy to be racing for 5th place and I was quite content with it myself! All I wanted to do was get to the end and duke it out in the sprint. I think Tom felt the same way so we just stayed in the draft and let the group pull us around.
Coming into the finish, we had a short but steep uphill climb before we made a hard left turn into the finishing straight. 6 laps up that hill gave us a good idea as to what our positioning needed to be like at that point and we both were in good spots. I was following Tom on the uphill when my legs decided they had enough. Cramps are no fun and my butt was spit out the back with a little more than 1K to go. Fortunately I was able to limp into the finish. At least I can take some satisfaction in that!
Tom was still in the hunt and he gave it a go. I think his legs said the same thing mine did. Not today my friend! The pack ramped it up to 34 and he hung tight. When the speed went to 36+ Tom was done. He hung in and rolled in at the back of the pack.
Not a great day, but not a bad day either. Rich Harper won the race and that is a great accomplishment for him. He is a great rider and a nice guy. Our team made a great showing and we all enjoyed our time competing together.
Tom and I are racing in the Pro 1/2/3 race Sunday. Same course, same distance. We shall see how it goes!
