Hillsboro Roubaix 2012

When the thunder started rolling Friday night I rolled over in bed and knew Saturday was going to be interesting.  Hillsboro Roubaix 2012 did not fail to disappoint in that category.  I drove down to Hillsboro, IL Friday after work which was about a 4-1/2 hour drive from Chicago.  Staying in a hotel is not the greatest thing in the world but I had high hopes that the weather would clear and that I could make a run at the top ten this year in the Cat 3’s.  Eating breakfast and watching the torrential rain come down I knew the weather was not clearing anytime soon.  Skilling’s forecast was for 20% chance of rain and temps in the 70s.  At the start line with no cool weather clothing the rain continued to fall and the temps hovered in the 50s.  Thank you sir!

At the start I was chilly but felt good and prepared for the race but as we rolled out of town and I got hit with the first spray from the wheels in front of me and the cold wind blasting through there is no other way to put it, I was cold.  When we hit the first hill going out of town the speed picked up I tried to see through my wet glasses and pick a good safe line but felt very unsteady on the wet roads and all but blind with the glasses on.  It was here that I got nipped with my first centerline warning.  Because the roads are not closed to traffic the race officials enforce strict rules about crossing the imaginary center line of the road.  Since the county roads have no centerlines this is somewhat arbitrary but strictly enforced.  Fearing for my life on the first hill I went way left over the line trying to stay safe but was instantly reprimanded for going over the line.

Mid Race Descent

 After the climb out of the river valley I ditched the glasses and settled into a nice pace with the group.  The rain let up a little and the peloton rode comfortably through the first lap.  The course is hilly with some flats that can be quite windy at time…  today was no exception.  Riding through the wind and rain I rode steady with no real action happening at the front.  Coming into town after lap one the peloton accelerated at the base of the climb and I was gapped and had to race to catch up.  Going through town for the start of the second and final lap I was struggling to regain contact with the pack after the acceleration through the brick sections.  I finally managed to get back into the group and settle into a rhythm again

Peloton Rolling Through Town

As the pace picked up more and more riders started taking risks to get to the front.  I saw numerous crashes and guys ditching to the right off the road so I chose the opposite and rode on the left near the center line knowing I was risking a DQ but thinking safety was more of a priority.  Near the 50 mile mark I made a big mistake and tried to move up the left side near the center line.  As soon as I started moving forward I knew it was a mistake but the peloton was so tight I couldn’t find a way get back in.  What I should have done is drop back to where the peloton was less dense and regroup… but I didn’t.  The official rode up alongside me and flagged me to the back.  I rode alongside the official and he said that since I had already been warned earlier I would be DQ’d.

At the time I was mad but in reflection it was the right thing to do.  I made a bad move and got busted for it.  Notwithstanding being embarrassed I was very disappointed to be riding well and then to have that result but I did learn a valuable lesson out of the experience.  I stayed in the pack and rode back into town but without any motivation to sprint or risk life and limb on the descents I took it easy rolling into town and finished with the pack.  There were many crashes and dangerous moves in the final couple miles and I was satisfied to avoid those and make it to the finish safe and sound.

Cat 3s on the Final Descent into Town

Final Downhill into Town
note: the tricky asphalt at the bottom of the hill lost a waterbottle and bar plug to those bumps

 In the end the race was disappointing for me but I learned a valuable lesson and got a nice 2.5 hour ride in.  Leave it to me to always look for the silver lining.  Full race data can be found HERE.  The rain was really a game changer for me because I felt some of the corners and descents became infinitely more dangerous with the wet conditions.  I wasn’t willing to put it all on the line and take the risks in those situations and my result reflected that.  I’m hoping for better results as the rest of the season progresses, and I am certainly glad to have this one behind me.

Me Post Race

Burnham Super Spring Crit. 2012

Cleaning Glasses Before the Start

“Let’s kick off racing in 2012” were my final words before the whistle blew starting the Burnham Super Spring Criterium on Saturday (3/24).  I was lined up in my first Cat 3 race and feeling a bit nervous despite a long winter of training.  I knew many of the guys on the start line but there were also a lot of new faces I didn’t recognize.  That always makes it hard when you don’t know who to mark or who to watch out for.  It was really nice to chat with some old friends at the start line that I hadn’t seen for a whole winter but when the whistle blew it was game on!

The nerves for these events are not really about performance but the utter pain that the next hour is going to be.  From the moment the race started and my heart rate went from 60 to 180 in about 10 seconds this race was on a new level.  Not only was the pace faster but the teams were more organized and all the riders were much more experienced at spotting when and where to make the right moves.  Overall this made the margin of error very small and the increased my focus and attention to the race as it unfolded.

A few attacks off the front never materialzed

 The Burnham course is very easy.  It’s basically a large oval with wide sweeping turns and no hard corners.  A bike racers dream… However, the lack of technicality creates a new tactic all by itself.  You can’t bank on making moves at critical times in this course.  You can move to the front or back at almost any time throughout the race.  As the first few laps unfolded I sat in the pack judging the other riders, the wind, and the conditions to determine what was going to make the difference in this race.  After a few minutes I concluded what I have for the past three years.  This race will come down to a pack sprint. 

As the laps ticked by the pace remained high but all the riders rode comfortably and without any incident.  I was surprised at how aggressive some of the moves were early but no one made any attempt to attack or put riders up the road.  As the lap counter signaled 3 to go I moved up into the first 15 places and began to pace myself for the sprint.  The pace increased steadily and with two laps to go I was in great position in the top 10.  However at the start of the last lap a rider in front of me suddenly braked hard and I also had to brake and swerve to avoid a crash.  The slowing was due to the riders at the front all wanting to rest and recover briefly before the final push to the end.

Cat 3 Finish (white arrow is me)

But this sudden and unexpected brake and swerve caused the riders behind to surge and come around those in the front and I was swamped instantly by 20+ riders going from top 5 to 30^th in seconds.  From then on it was a struggle to gain back the original position… the push was on to be in the top 10 on the final spring.  When we finally went around the last corner I was in no better position.  Trying to find a line to sprint through 20 riders was nearly impossible and when a dude leaned over and puked right in my line I knew it was over.  I did manage pick a line and get a decent sprint to put me just out of the top 20  finishing 21 overall.  But the margin of 1 to 20 was very narrow and probably no more than a second or two. 

Overall the race was a success and I did accomplish my goals of the race to test my fitness and get the Cat 3 monkey off my back.  I know this season is going to be great, my fitness needs to improve a little but overall I felt really good and am looking forward to the next big challenge down in Hillsboro on 4/14.

FULL RACE DATA HERE