Superweek 2011 Wrap-Up Part 3

Not knowing how long it would take me to get to the race venue I left quite early in the morning to get to the south side in time.  Arriving 2 hours early I was able to drive most of the course prior to the race and linger around talking to other riders about what was to come.  During this down time I got to talking with a pro rider about the course.  He gave me some advice about how to tackle the hilltop finish and encouraged me on getting my first win.  He laughed when I told him about my recent third and fourth place finishes, and said “oh yeah that first place... it’s elusive.”  I put those thoughts aside and went over and over in my mind how the final climb would go.

The course was a 3 mile circuit through a forest preserve with a large climb just before the finish line.  The climb goes in three sections each with varying degrees of length and grade.  At the top there is a short 50m flat before the finish line.  The course was perfect for my riding style and I knew it.  I surveyed the riders at the start line and identified those to mark from the previous two races.



The race started neutral because the start line was in a different place from the finish.  We rode neutral, climbed the large hill and rode over the finish line to officially start the race.  Right from the start the pace was blistering.  We flew down the backstretch of 95th st and the slight undulations before descending into the river bottom of Archer Ave. where we flew along the flat for about a mile before hitting the climb just after the start line.  We would do this circuit only 4 times due to the shorted race schedule because of the previous crash.  Riders were making aggressive moves off the front and a few fliers went off but nothing stuck.  The peloton was moving much to fast. 



Putting on the winners jersey



With one lap to go and my heart rate soaring we flew along the flat moving closer towards the final decisive climb.  At the base riders attacked from all sides.  I stayed in the saddle and followed their wheels up the first section. Here many started fading and I was able to power my way forward in the peloton to the second section.  The top riders pace quickened as they desperately tried to get to the front.  Taking the pros advice I waited patiently and stayed to the far left of the road.  Rounding the final corner the third section is a massive wall staring straight at you.  Here all the riders attacked.  But I didn’t...  I kept to the left and followed wheels until half way up the climb.  That's where I made my move.  I jumped out of the saddle and uncorked every bit of power I had left.  I flew by the fading riders like they were standing still.  Just before the top of the hill I passed the second place rider and could see the leader in my peripheral on the right.  I kept sprinting and as he dropped back out of sight one thought clearly ran through my head.  “oh my gosh I’m in first” 

Doesn't get any better than this!

I remember seeing clear road in front of me which was weird because there is almost always someone in front of you in a race.  On the short flat section just before the finish I could see a guy gaining a little ground and I dug deeper with everything I had to maintain the lead.  In what seemed like only a split second the line appeared and was gone.  I did it, I had won!!  In my mind I couldn’t really believe what just happened.  There was no post up or celebration and all the images I had of what it would be like to win were completely gone.  The only thing I felt was complete and utter exhaustion.  I shifted into my lowest gear and looked down at my heart rate...  194.  My head instantly exploded with the worst headache I have ever had and I struggled to stay upright and bring my body back into reality.  Finally after about 5 minutes of soft pedaling I rounded the corner and arrived back at the start.  The pro rider was there and he was asked me how I did.  I held up one finger and smiled.  He gave me a huge high five and congratulated me.  The full race data can be found here.

Final Results

I sat around and chatted with the other riders about the race.  They all wanted to know who won because I had snuck up on the left and blew by them so quick that not many had seen me.  After soaking in the congratulations for what seemed like an hour.  I went back to the car and changed out of my shoes and went up for the podium presentation.  Unfortunately there was no podium but that made no difference to me.  All I wanted was to put on that winners jersey.  When the sponsor came up and announced my name and put on the winners jersey he whispered that it was a size extra-small.  Really!?  But there was no way I wasn't putting it on.  I zipped it up and held my hands up high.   It was the most rewarding moment in my life.  I picked up my check and headed for home.  In the car on the way out I let out a yell and pounded my fists on the steering wheel.  For the next three days I slept with that jersey by my bed.