Team Spark Road

Date: 04/07/2013
Race: Grand Prix de Bethel, Bethel CT, Cat 4, 5
Course: .8 mile circuit with gently turns that ends each lap with a 8% short climb
Weather: 45 degrees 8-10 mph wind (com[pared to what we have been racing in it was quite balmy)
TSR Players: Andy, Chris Cat 5, Duane Cat 4

The race:   We arrived early as the cat 5 start was at 0745, this meant leaving at 0430.....not much sleep.  I'll leave Andy and Chris to describe their race.  My race started with the usual pre race safety brief.  Prior to the race I noticed that the "Series Leader" was there (Bethel is a 6 week series with the overall leader wearing the "Verge" yellow jersey).  He was riding from Pawling, a team from western CT or NY (can't recall which), he had about 5 teammates.  With myself being the lone TSR rider and strongest at sprinting I typically stay in the front of the race, out of trouble and let others attack and chase.  The race was pretty uneventfull until 1 guy took off, I think about 1/4 way into the race. 

I figured the "Pawling" team would chace but seems they could care less.  I got to the front a few times but to no avail, someone was calling out gap times and it was getting greater with one off the front, you have to give it to the guy there was a hefty headwind after the climb and he managed to lay it down.  I kept myself out of trouble and with a good reserve for the sprint.  With three laps to go I put myself in the top 10 and attempted to be aggressive about keeping that position.  What typically happens on this course is that it will whiden coming up the hill and get bunched up on the right after the hill, well this happend and I was now back to 20th with 1 lap to go.  I quickly moved to the outside of the pack and began my move up.  Sometimes you can hitch a ride up the side from someone with the same thought in mind, I did this.  I made it up to around 15th bu the bottom of the climb and chose the outside apex as this is the shortest on the gradual s turn going up.  I managed to pass a good number of people on the way up but had to stop peddling a few strokes becaus of a crash on the right. I managed 10th out of 44, OK but........

Andy of the Fun Climb

Chris on the Climb

Duane on the Climb

Final Sprint