Story for Ambler Bike Race - Cat 4/5: Yanked with one to go. Whaaaat?

Last race of my first race season, the Ambler Bike Race. Second year running, this course felt like it could replicate my WGP experience to a T; just a hint of elevation increase in the right spots to make the legs hurt each lap, a fast, straight downhill stretch on the backside, a very large field and lastly, shoddy downtown roads. I got more excited and anxious as I watched the rider count hit the field limit the week of. Let’s do this.

I got to staging late so I began near the back of 70ish riders as we commenced with a neutral lap. There was quite a gap in strength and skill here, so while I wasn’t in touching distance of those at the top, it felt reassuring to know I was further from those at the bottom than some other races. Or maybe it was just my new bike with new carbon wheels. Vanity can do wonderful things for your confidence…

I knew I’d need to move up early and watch for any significant field splits. As we rounded the last turn, and we switched to neutral to race, I took the inside line and got myself somewhere in the upper-middle of the pack. A behavior established in my prior races, I moved to the outside of the group so I could carry some pace through the turns. For the next 12-13 laps, other than a somewhat sketchy moment near a fast turn (no fault of my own), things were pretty uneventful. I glanced behind a few times and took note I was never at the back of a split. I also never missed a split so as the race ticked down, I found myself in the final 20-25 selection of riders.

That’s when it all got uncomfortable. The heat of the day and the race meant I lost the wheel I was holding with just 4 to go. If I’m honest, I think, again, much of it was a mental hurdle I could not cross as I convinced myself already is lose it at some point. It’s hard to imagine being ok with working so hard for so long just to let it go, but you can convince yourself of anything when you’re suffering, right? I know I need a solid offseason of suffering and training to get my head in a better place next season…

So with 4 to go, the lead pack continued to fade further and further into the distance as I solo’d my way around. With 3 to go, I glanced back a time or two expecting to see the lead out car cresting the horizon, as the group sped to my lapped demise… It never happened. I crossed the line with 2 to go and flung the official a little hand signal that said “I’m going to ride this out, I don’t care.” He seemed on board; I’m just a Cat 5 going for “races finished”, my man.

With 1 lap left, I was yanked. Don’t understand why, but perhaps I just don’t have the rules and regulations quite down yet. I wouldn’t have been at risk for being lapped as those left would have finished whip I was progressing through my final lap. It was a bit disheartening, but I felt pretty good about the effort that day, and the culmination of those over the entire season. Most fun on the bike I’ve had in some time and have gained a lot of great experience.

2016 results:

- 7/34
- DNF
- 26/34
- 24/38
- DNF

Type: 
Ride
Workout_type: 
race
Date: 
2016-08-13T12:15:50Z
Avg Pace: 
1:31/km
Elevation: 
234
Distance: 
30591.2
Moving time: 
2787
Activity id: 
674477178
Strava title: 
Ambler Bike Race - Cat 4/5: Yanked with one to go. Whaaaat?
Total photo count: 
0
Title: 
Story for Ambler Bike Race - Cat 4/5: Yanked with one to go. Whaaaat?
Summary Polyline: 
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Description: 
Think the pack split pretty hard fairly early. Made the split and hung with the front 20-30. Held with them until about 4 to go and blew up. Solo'd the rest until I was yanked with one to go. Don't quite understand the official's decision but it's all good. Quite a quick race and damn HOT! Frogot HR monitor again - damnit.
Average speed: 
10.976
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