4.Mar: Donaldson Center - Greenville Spring Series

When things point to a bad day, or race, a surprising tendency is that things go better than normal. So when Andy was over 15 minutes late to my place (my bike and car were loaded, shocking yes) and my car wouldn't turn over, I didn't fret too much. However, looking at the forecast, and realized conditions, of 25mph winds with 35+mph wind gusts I wasn't getting too excited. The pressure was off though after yesterday's stellar performance at River Falls with Andy having an outstanding solo win.

We got to Greenville's Donaldson Center with plenty of time to spare. I love early arrivals. It allows me plenty of time to lounge and laze around, and act lazy (ie PRO). There was nary a cloud in the sky, nor an airplane at the small airport with the gusting winds. Car doors nearly slammed on knees, bikes blew over, and articles of clothing flew. Andy and I checked in on Alan and his parachute wheels he had preliminary selected, hooked up with Wade and Dan, and wondered about Tommy's (eventual) arrival. We took an easy backwards spin around the course and noted the absolutely horrible winds. The course equated to a lap of entire headwinds, sidewinds, and crosswinds.

At the lineup the plan was for Wade and I to be in any breaks, and Andy would try to chase down unwanted breaks; Tommy was the selected sprint man. A well timed 6th port-a-pot stop by me put me at the front of the group for the start of the race. At the start we had numerous idiots with hearts bigger than their legs trying to solo to the victory. The first lap was rough and hard. My thoughts were of (1) I hope my legs aren't warmed up from yesterday, or (2) I may be dropped if it is like this for ~2 hours.

For the next 3 laps I stayed at the front and marked everything to be in a potential break or field sprint. Andy did an awesome job inciting the field to increase pace when lethargy was shown to make chase to a rider or group of riders trying to get off the front. At some point two (later it was known three) riders escaped off the front and weren't seen again, taking 1-2-3. Probably on lap three with Dan corralling everyone to ride like an experience group and not a bunch of cat 4 and 5s, I asked Wade while working on the front "Is Tommy still with us?" A "no, he flatted" made me wonder if Andy had enough for a sprint finish. From then, I started to really concentrate on a break.

On lap 4 I was 95% sure I marked the perfect rider and started the perfect break. Carlos (Beast Racing) attacked hard on the hills near the beginning of the circuit into a sidewind. I followed and immediately pulled through. We were soon joined by Carlito and then VeloShineGuy. With Carlos and these riders I know not afraid to work, and with a nice constant pace, I was confident we would safely escape. Before long Hugh Brown of Slipstream Development (ie Garmin) drug some more riders up before the whole field joined back just entering the long straight backstretch.

A minute or so later I swung left to take a long drink and recover, but slowly rolled off the front. I pedaled some more, swung around the right hand bend straight into possibly the most brutal headwind I've ever raced in and the group was still back there. I pedaled more, not 100% committed given that I "initiated" this solo effort right at the headwind spot, the most brutal spot where a solo guy could get swallowed and dropped by a surging pack. A minute later I put more effort into it until reaching the crest of the hill I figured I had 30 seconds. After crossing the start/finish line for 2 laps to go I still had something of a 30 second gap, maybe less. For sure I thought I was going to get caught on the brief tailwind section when everyone would get some impetus. But thoughts went to: Tommy was out; I hadn't seen Andy for a while, was he dropped?; this is Dan and Wade's first race; this is probably our best chance for a good finish. I really wanted to continue VeloSports good momentum of the Spring Series as well.

Just after crossing the s/f line I decided to commit with two full laps remaining. Thinking of Andy's ride and how he drilled it over the hill and through the fast section at River Falls, I pushed it through the tailwind and hill section to keep the field from gaining time. Through the rest of the course my focus was on maintaing a good high tempo into the side/cross/headwinds knowing it would be tough for groups or solo riders to fight through it to me, and so I didn't blow up. I had visions of Dan and Wade frustrating the chase to calamity dancing in my head, although unbeknownst to me Andy was still there). Nearing the last hill rise before the s/f line I took my last look behind and didn't see the field. For the next lap+ I only looked ahead (or down). Crossing the s/f line for the last lap it was exciting to see Frank with him giving me a time check of 80 seconds to the front group (gaining time, though slightly). With some slight hints at leg cramps from the days multiple efforts of attacking and responding and riding, I stayed seated for the last lap and when it came time to turn into the headwind just before the train tracks, I plugged away - with indifference as to whether the field from behind would be swallowing me.

With 1k to go I finally looked behind and saw no one. While 4th place and not a win, I was able to reflect with great satisfaction on my solo effort, and efforts throughout the day. I was "victorious" in battling against conditions I hate most - strong winds - and another strong finish for the team. To make it sweeter, crossing the line was a jubilant Dan, Frank and Alan, and later I'd be informed that Andy took home 10th in the field sprint.