11.Mar: Dalton Grand Prix - Georgia Cup

The start of our Georgia Cup campaign brings Andy Kimble and I back to 3:30am departures from Asheville. When you combine the lovely fact that the time change was the morning of the race, our 3:30am departure was more like a 2:30am departure. I secretly love these things because I get away all day, driving in the insanely early morning is fast and peaceful, and we have plenty of time to warm-up and strategize; not to mention the post-race festivities. It is also nice to race different faces and characters than we are usually confronted with in SC, NC, and northeast TN.



We arrived at the start of the Dalton Grand Prix Bear City Bicycles Road Race almost four hours later; enough time to pick a prime parking spot and curl up in the driver's seat to rest. While the start was slightly cool requiring knee and arm warmers, it was a welcome change from last year in a rain cape and the shivers. The makeup of the field consisted of at least eight riders on the Krystal team, four Round Here Racing, four HomeSmart/LS Flyers, and five Mission Source racers, and a smattering of smaller represented teams - such as the duo of Andy and I.

Last year's embarrassing performance was fresh in my head as 2011 made this course seem extremely challenging. Following Andy's strong performance last weekend at River Falls and mine at Donaldson Center, I was confident this year would be a little different.

At the start we hit the 30.1km circuit's beginning hill to go straight downhill to a hard right hand turn which would follow a long stretch. People obviously were spurred on by the good weather and good sensations in the legs as the flurry of attacking began to spring right away. We started to follow a lot of attacks for something that may stick, especially watching for the aforementioned teams, especially Krystal. However, what looked like two riders then escaped off the front after Andy and I had previously tried another break. Missing this break so early in the race, and with no Krystal riders in it, I figured we were safe. Somewhere in the chaos of dropped P,1,2 riders slipping through our field, two more riders escaped off the front to everyone's surprise and disbelief. That front group consisted of a Round Here Racing, HomeSmart/LS Flyers, and DePaula Racing, and one other rider.

Halfway into the first lap two more riders darted off with a Krystal rider in it. Following them through was a Round Here Racing rider who parked himself at the front of the group with the Krystal folk. Being directly behind them, I realized they were trying to block the road. In a moment of chatter and inattention, the Round Here Racing rider left a tiny door open and I bolted through it to the second group of two riders who just escaped. I thought for sure we would be good, if not for the whole race, for a very long time.

After working hard we were joined by three more riders, comprised of Andy and another Krystal rider. We were now killing it and drilling it hard. Quite possibly every major team was represented. I honestly thought that if we wanted to, we could put our feet up and still stay away. After getting to notable hill in the circuit, we were all extremely surprised to see the field only 50-100 meters away. Not ready to give up yet and thinking they may relent yet again, I kept going over the top and down the hill. Some riders kept up as well, including Andy, and we opened another small gap. Not long after beginning the second circuit, descending the hill and hitting the flats, some other riders bridged and everyone else in the group freaked out that we were done for and people stopped working. Aside from our four leaders, it was gruppo compatto.

For the rest of the race we followed ill-fated accelerations but began to talk about the finish. We needed to bring the gap down and we debated how much to contribute to the chase; being we were a team of two and there were so many other teams without representation in the break as well. Starting the last lap we received, and saw, good news that the gap was less than a minute. Soon after it was at thirty seconds. With no one really working, Andy and I made the decision to stop working rather than harm ourselves for the benefit of the rest of the group. We misjudged the ability of the Krystal riders (or they were all hungover) and the teams with riders ahead took advantage of the disarray to frustrate the chaotic chase.

Coming closer to the end and the little hill, I made a last effort to make something happen and incite a chase; both came to naught. Staying near the front I was well positioned to lead Andy out. At a smaller hill near the end Andy came around me to the very front and I misjudged his intention. I sprinted up the hill and tried to make a break for it to the finish. I was eventually caught but still able to be at the front of the pack for the final turn to the finish line. However, I was out of position to give Andy a better lead out. Not to fear though as he was to my right taking the final right turn.

The finish line is about 150 meters downhill after talking the right hand turn. Andy had the good line being on the inside and I took the outside. No one came around Andy and he grabbed 3rd in the field sprint for 7th overall. I managed to limit my losses by finishing 7th in the field sprint for 11th place overall. I was quite amazed at 7th in the field sprint. Positioning solely contributed to that. The only misgivings I have is not getting on the front and drilling it to bring back the break all by myself closer to the finish to give Andy a shot at the win. Hindsight is 20/20 and there is always something to learn.

On the way back we stopped at The Terminal Brewhouse for some burgers, sweet potato fries and Terminal's beers. For the Dalton race this is starting to be tradition. A great weekend that saw us continue a great spring and 2012 campaign thus far.