RACE RECAP: TOUR OF WALLA WALLA

After logging some more base miles and group rides after King’s Valley I was hitting the road again up to Walla Walla, Washington. This race weekend I was accompanied by my Dad and two younger Sister’s. It was a pretty smooth drive from Bend to the start of the Waitsburg road race on Friday. Four to five hour drive, check in/registration, and pinned numbers, I was ready to begin the race weekend in the afternoon. 

The first stage was a 64 mile, 3 lap, course which included one major climb and some mild rollers. The beginning of the race was ridden under cloudy skies and mild temperatures. But each lap would see an evolution of decaying weather. Every time around the finish line my fingers grew colder, legs didn’t fire as well, and the pavement became increasingly damp. Unfortunately, it made it a bit difficult at the end to finish in the front group and I lost some time on the final two kilometer climb to the finish. Should have put on the hot embro! 

The next day was a complete change of weather. The morning was a 9.3 mile time trial which saw partly cloudy skies and a decent swirling wind. There was a fairly flat run in to a short climb followed by more flat and rollers to the finish. Pretty straight forward and one of those races you just put the head down and GO. I saved a little in the tank before hitting the climb so I wouldn’t bog down on the climb and rolled through in 19^th place with a time of 20 minutes 52 seconds. Just about a minute off the leader. 

That evening was a 55 minute twilight crit in downtown Walla Walla. A pretty fun technical course. But my main focus was to chill in the pack and stay safe for the following day as I knew there would be much attrition involved in the road race. Things seemed to roll smooth and there were no crashes. I was able to move up to the front with a few laps to go but was chopped quite hard in some of the corners before the finish. I ended up 32^nd on the day, safe and sound.

The last stage was where GC would be sorted out a bit. A rolling 91 mile course with a total of 5000 feet of climbing saw guys popping off the back quite quickly. Each lap the field was whittled down. Like wood shavings on the floor you saw remnants of the reduced field standing by as you passed around each lap. By the end there was only a group of about 35 guys to sprint to the line. I was boxed in a bit during the sprint and rolled in 22^nd which put me in 17^th on GC for the weekend. 

Overall, it was another good weekend of racing in a great area and my fitness continues to grow as I approach the Tour of the Gila only a few days away.

RACE RECAP: BACK IN OREGON

CHERRY BLOSSOM CYCLING CLASSIC

The beginning of April marked my return back to Oregon racing where I kicked things off with the Cherry Blossom Classic located in The Dalles, Oregon. It was a 3 day race comprised of 4 stages. 

The first day was a 75 mile road race where an early break was expected. It is a typical course that favors the all-rounder with gentle rolling terrain, some flats, and one 1.5 mile climb. Typically the wind plays a role in guttering the peloton as well. After rolling out from our neutral start at the Petersburg Elementary School the attacks began in a hurry. Solo attacks, twosies and threesies, big groups, etc. But nothing was sticking for the first few miles as the peloton was quite antsy and chased down everything. Eventually, a decent size break gingerly rolled off the front and the usual reduced paced of the peloton followed. Unfortunately, I missed the break and my previous attempts at trying to escape from the group failed. I ended up sitting in conserving energy with an occasional flex of the muscles. By the fourth and final lap of the circuit team Red Truck congregated at the front and began a moderate tempo chase. By the finish, the break only had a minute on the pack which would be much more manageable at trying to reduce in the next days’ time trial. I ended up finishing 24^th on the day and had quite a bit of motivation to improve the results with each stage.

The Saturday morning time trial was, to say the least, extremely windy. After rounding the first corner, just about 200 meters from the start, I was slapped in the face with a 20-30 mi/hr wall of a wind. Battling to keep the front wheel straight, I pushed a decent gear and tucked my six foot two frame as much as possible trying to make time on the first 6.5 miles to the turnaround. After motoring along at what seemed to be a turtle’s pace I looped around the turnaround cones and began the screaming stretch back to the line. Picking up the speed to an average just over 40 mi/hr my rear disk and deep dish front wheels whooshed along the country road. Sprinting past the finish clock and officials I came in 8^th place with a time of 26 minutes and 13 seconds over the 11 mile course moving me up to 8^th on GC. 

The Saturday evening race was a late night rectangular twilight crit in The Dalles’ downtown. Beginning at 9 PM the crowds were minimal and the temperature took an extreme dive. I wasn’t too thrilled about the late night 45 minute escapade so the plan was to just tail gun for the evening and save all the energy for the following day’s queen stage. Basically, my evening consisted of standing under a propane heater, lining up, avoiding sketch riders, finishing in the middle of the bunch (50^th), and getting into bed as soon as possible. 

 The last day was a 71 mile circuit which consisted of two short loops and four longer loops which included a sweet dirt climb and another longer paved climb. I was pretty excited about this stage and wanted to move up once again on GC. After concluding the neutral section the attacks began again. Only this time it looked as though the first move was the one that was going to stick. We completed the first short lap and I attacked off the front to bridge to the break which was still in sight. With a couple others in tow we rotated a few times eventually crossing the gap and joining the remaining escapees. The peloton seemed content at letting us go and we quickly began increasing the time gap. We finished the second of the shorter laps and came around to begin the long laps. Still rotating well, we hit the first big paved climb of the day where a couple riders were eventually shed off the back. We tried maintaining a decent and steady pace so we could continue rotating well. However, each lap would see riders being shed off the group and eventually would be widdled to three. I made quite a few pulls with another Red Truck rider while the third sat on our wheels the ENTIRE time since he was trying to protect a GC teammate. Talk about frustrating! 

 Coming around on the last lap we were given time splits of the shattered peloton that was putting down the hammer. Just over a minute, down to 45 seconds, down to 30, and I began the quick glances back only to see a handful of riders making contact with us just before the last time up the dirt climb. Trying to power my way up, following wheels, I lost contact with the small bunch and would eventually latch on to two others that had caught me. Making the dash to the line I came in 7^th on the day and moved up to 5^th on GC. It was a great day to be in the break and I was pretty happy to make the podium alongside some other great riders. 

KINGS VALLEY ROAD RACE

With a short week of some recovery and longer rides I was back to racing over the weekend with the one day Kings Valley road race just East of Corvallis, Oregon. This is another course which suits the all-round rider with rolling terrain, flats, and a 1 km finish climb. With 75 miles on the menu and a decent sized group the attacks were to be expected again. My goal for the day was to be very aggressive and try to make the break once again. After following my plan of attacking and trying to roll with moves the majority of the day, it finally materialized into a break of five guys at the end of the last lap. 

 Our gap grew quickly to almost two minutes. The rotations were smooth for the most part but the cat and mouse games soon followed as we approached the last few miles of the race. I wasn’t too interested in playing the games and continued pulling at the front not wanting the pack to catch us before the finish climb. Just after passing the 1 km to go sign an attack came from the break resulting in a small gap that I just couldn’t close by the finish. I rolled through second on the day. 

 After spinning back to the start and chatting with others, I capped off the day with another 70 miles around the scenic Alsea Falls loop and began the 2.5 hour drive back to Bend content with another top place and a burger in the tank.

RACE RECAP: SAN DIMAS

After completing the Tour de Murrieta race weekend, I headed back to San Diego to round out a couple more weeks of solid fair weather training. A ride or two to Julian, some loops around Ramona and Poway, out in the Alpine hills, and I was making my way back North to San Dimas to line up alongside 155 other racers. 

The first stage was a punchy 3.8 mile uphill time trial with a short 0.75 mile flat approach to the climb. As is typical with this course, it’s a bit easy to go out too hard and not have enough in the tank to ramp up to the finish. Unfortunately, I didn’t heed my own advice and went just a touch to hard from the gun. I managed to maintain a decent effort for the remainder of the climb but couldn’t increase the wattage as much as I would have liked by the end. I ended up 93^rd which was not great but I made my own personal improvement by 40 seconds from the previous two years. 

The next day was the circuit race which circled Bonelli Park 12 times for a total distance of 84 miles. The course is quite fast with some technical sections entering and exiting the park. It also weeds out racers with the 1 mile climb following a twisty chicane section. I felt quite fresh for the day and focused on maintaining position as much as possible. The peloton stayed together for the majority of the race as no breaks were really sticking. Unfortunately, with two laps to go, I was stuck behind a crash in the chicane to the climb. I lost my position with the lead group and was never able to make contact again. A little bummed with only a 92^nd place finish it was time to focus my attention for the last day. 

The third stage was a 90 minute crit in the historic downtown San Dimas. It’s a pretty fun crit as there are just enough turns, a false flat climbing section where you can move around a bit, and a ripping downhill to the last corner leading to the finish stretch.  I ended up trying the tail gun art again which conserved quite a bit of energy. I was able to pick my own lines and avoid any crashes. With about 30 minutes to go I made my approach to the front, on the false flat section, and maintained my spot in the front bulb ending up 46^th.

After cooling down and washing up, I joined my Aunt, Uncle, and Dad for dinner as it was my Aunt’s and Dad’s birthdays. We enjoyed some pasta and followed up the dinner touring around the area where my Dad grew up. It was a nice way to cap off the weekend and my time in California. I was then on my way back to Bend the following morning.

RACE RECAP: TOUR DE MURRIETA

Only a week after racing the Merco Cycling Classic, I was hopping on the TT bike for the start of the Tour de Murrieta. This time the race consisted of accumulating points versus the lowest time since it was an omnium. 

The first day consisted of a 4.1 mile time trial which included 90 degree turns, energy sapping rollers, and a 1 mile finishing dirt climb. Once again, I went through my pre-TT warm up routine and made my way to the start tent. Clipped in, computer cleared, heart thumping, a few deep breaths, and the hand countdown began. Given the go, I stomped on the pedals down the slight downhill grade to the first 90 degree right turn. Not killing myself before the turn I made my way passed the corner marshal and sprinted it out again getting back up to speed. A slight crosswind gingerly tapped at my front wheel as I made my way over the first set of rollers. Another 90 degree right turn and more rollers bogged me down just slightly. Adjusting the gear ratio appropriately, I made my way to the gravel transition where the grade picked up to a 3% incline winding up the hillside.  Trying to pick the best line through the washed out turns, I bounced and fish tailed my way up to the finish. Trying to keep traction on the rear tire as well as staying aero in the headwind was the most difficult part of trying to find my rhythm and really tap out the power to the line. I stopped the clock at 11 minutes and 30 seconds for 28^th place on the day. 

The next day began at 12:30 in old downtown Murrieta. A 75 minute, 1 mile loop, crit was on the menu. As with Merco the previous weekend, I slept in a bit and enjoyed my french press over a bowl of oats while getting inspiration from watching Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice live feeds. After rolling around for an hour and getting the legs going I lined up at the start. Only a lap into it a rider went down in the finish corner setting the mood for the race. A pretty scrappy race at the front, I found myself tail-gunning for the first 30 to 45 minutes conserving energy and picking the best lines through the corners. After seeing 30 minutes to go I began moving up a few guys at a time. Then bam, another crash! Scurrying around the mangled bikes and dispersed riders, I got back in the slipstream of the pack. Soon it was 5 laps to go and the pace picked up. Averaging 30 mph laps at the end it was a matter of just staying on the wheel inches from mine and seeing the pure sprinters battle it out to the line. Bahaati 1^st, Clarke 2^nd, Barlevav 3^rd. Yep, definitely a sprinters finish! 

The third and last day of the omnium concluded with 16 laps of a 3.5 mile loop. Pretty much a slightly longer version of a crit. The course was primarily flat with some big ring rollers and a few turns. Not being a pure sprinter my goal of the day was to be aggressive and have a bit of luck finding a break. After a fast start and zipping around the course with lap times of seven to eight minutes, a break was established. Unfortunately, I was positioned in the wrong spot and missed the move that eventually stuck to the line. I finished in the main bunch again and ended up riding another two hours after reflecting on what I can tweek in the mental and physical department.  

With Murrieta behind me I now have the San Dimas stage race to look forward to.  With just under two weeks before the next race I will continue to work on the early season fitness, which is progressing well, and improving the mental sharpness needed to be aggressive in the field.

RACE RECAP: MERCO CYCLING CLASSIC

My first stage race of the season kicked off with the Merco Cycling Classic in Merced, CA. The race consisted of 4 stages in 4 days alongside 130 other racers: an 82 mile road race, a 12 mile out and back time trial, 40 lap crit, and a 120 mile road race around the blossoming almond orchards. The last time I participated in the event was in 2009 where it only featured two optional days of a crit and road race over the weekend. 

The first day was a 6 lap circuit of rolling terrain with one decisive climb. The pace was fairly fast from the whistle with multiple attacks and a high tempo on the first go at the KOM. Testing each other’s legs and early season fitness immediately resulted in riders popping off the back on the FIRST climb. After getting a preview of the loop, I made sure to stick myself toward the front of the bunch as we approached the lower rollers leading into the climb. On the third lap I rolled off the front, following wheels, into a large breakaway represented by the majority of the teams. As we made our way up the climb I found my spot at the front where I ended up taking a strong pull until about 200 meters to the KOM. At that point, Bissell launched an attack which would break up the large front bunch into the decisive 8 man move of the day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to bridge to the attack after a couple Bissell riders sat up effectively creating a gap. Rotating with Jelly Belly in the chase group we saw the break slowly increase the time split until we were caught by the peloton (at least what was left of it).

For some reason everyone seemed to be happy with the move even with four Bissell riders away! WHAT THE?!! The peloton eased up letting the gap increase to over five minutes. By the end of the fourth lap Jelly Belly formed a rotation at the front riding tempo to minimize the damage. At this point, it was a matter of just hangin’ in the bunch and conserving energy. We made our way around the last lap to the two kilometer uphill finish where I ended up 41^st. Nothing spectacular but the legs were feeling good.

The following day was the time trial just east of town. It was a 12 mile out and back course with light winds, a slight grade, and 30 mph finish. After a decent warm up on the trainer and going through my pre-TT checklist, I made my way to start tent. The effort was pretty straight forward of trying to pace myself just a touch in the beginning and leaving it all out on the course before the end. After blazing past the finish line I plopped myself in 48^th on the stage moving up to 35^th on GC with a time of 27:05. A good cool down after and I was onto thinking about the next stage. 

The third day was an afternoon crit which always allows for the typical sleeping in and casual morning of sipping on coffee over a light breakfast. The course was a fast loop with a 180 degree turn leading into the finish stretch. The goal of the day was to work on positioning and conserving energy for the next day allowing the sprinters to do their thing. Making it through the 40 laps unscathed and finishing in the middle of the pack I was ready to tackle the last stage. 

After being treated to three beautiful days of mid 60’s and sunshine, we finally encountered the forecasted rain and wind for the region. Waking up at 5 AM to the pitter patter of rain outside the hotel door, I readied the rain gear. Once at the race parking, and finally deciding on the appropriate layering for the day, I made my way to start area. Again, the race began with a high pace over the rolling terrain. With rooster tails cascading over the peloton we sped around the 20 mile loop until it was abruptly halted by a crash. Needless to say wet brakes make it a bit difficult to stop before becoming the next domino in the pile up of bodies and carbon. After untangling the bike and making sure my body and rig were in working order I rolled away from the mess only to find the peloton absolutely GONE. That was it, the end of the day, a DNF, and no result. Uuugh!

It was a pretty crummy and abrupt end to the weekend but that’s racing and sometimes is unavoidable. Now that the bikes are all cleaned and the legs are recovered I’m ready to hit up another race weekend in Murrieta. Hungry for some results and more competition I plan on being aggressive and capturing as many points over the 3 day omnium. Stay tuned!

Photos taken by: Lyne Lamoureux! Thanks!