Saturday, June 30, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
98 Giro
For Christmas I got the 98 Giro and Tour on DVD.
Before I started road cycling, I had always been a fan of Pantani. There was something I admired I guess, about the way he road. He was always seen as being and underdog for the big stage races, since he lacked the size for the flat stages and time trialing. He was an underdog and someone who would push himself to the limit in the mountains and always attacked as soon as the road went up. Pain was written all over his face, and as soon as the speed dropped he would stand and accelerate again, he would not give in .
Back in 98 I hadn’t yet touched a road bike, didn’t really follow cycling much except the occasional news I would hear from Eurosport. I remember seeing images of his climbing and attacking over and over again.. back then I was into rowing, where the more pain you could endure the faster you went, so how could you not admire a drive like Pantani had up those mountains….just hunker down and go!!!………..
As I was watching the first few stages this weekend I was surprised how I felt about the whole thing. There was a lack of enthusiasm to say the least. As the names of the rides attacking, and riding strong started to appear I realized that just about all of these rides have since been either ,caught, suspended or emitted using illegal doping products. Zulle was climbing like a motor cycle…yeah that didn’t feel right…he was new on the Festina team that year. Camenzind was attacking like crazy, Bartoli was flying…and Pantani… we all know he was on everything…it just didn’t feel like I was watching something real… I didn’t believe what I saw, gone was the feeling of admiration of pushing though the pain, fighting, hanging on for deer life.
Riders would shoot of in the last few miles of a stage and solo hold of the pack at 40mph..I just didn’t buy it.. I wasn’t sitting there cheering them on, sharing the pain they must be in..willing them to succeed.. Instead I was catching myself wondering what and how much they were on.
A few riders I haven’t heard any implications about were doing ok, a young Bettini was trying and trying to win a stage. Guerini ended up 3ed overall… But this was 1998, I don’t know how many riders really were clean.
Hopefully when I watch the 98 tour I will feel better… but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Before I started road cycling, I had always been a fan of Pantani. There was something I admired I guess, about the way he road. He was always seen as being and underdog for the big stage races, since he lacked the size for the flat stages and time trialing. He was an underdog and someone who would push himself to the limit in the mountains and always attacked as soon as the road went up. Pain was written all over his face, and as soon as the speed dropped he would stand and accelerate again, he would not give in .
Back in 98 I hadn’t yet touched a road bike, didn’t really follow cycling much except the occasional news I would hear from Eurosport. I remember seeing images of his climbing and attacking over and over again.. back then I was into rowing, where the more pain you could endure the faster you went, so how could you not admire a drive like Pantani had up those mountains….just hunker down and go!!!………..
As I was watching the first few stages this weekend I was surprised how I felt about the whole thing. There was a lack of enthusiasm to say the least. As the names of the rides attacking, and riding strong started to appear I realized that just about all of these rides have since been either ,caught, suspended or emitted using illegal doping products. Zulle was climbing like a motor cycle…yeah that didn’t feel right…he was new on the Festina team that year. Camenzind was attacking like crazy, Bartoli was flying…and Pantani… we all know he was on everything…it just didn’t feel like I was watching something real… I didn’t believe what I saw, gone was the feeling of admiration of pushing though the pain, fighting, hanging on for deer life.
Riders would shoot of in the last few miles of a stage and solo hold of the pack at 40mph..I just didn’t buy it.. I wasn’t sitting there cheering them on, sharing the pain they must be in..willing them to succeed.. Instead I was catching myself wondering what and how much they were on.
A few riders I haven’t heard any implications about were doing ok, a young Bettini was trying and trying to win a stage. Guerini ended up 3ed overall… But this was 1998, I don’t know how many riders really were clean.
Hopefully when I watch the 98 tour I will feel better… but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Fixed
I now know how much I like freewheeling, or just the fact that even a slight down hill can be so pleasurable.
Last wednesday I decided to go and do my second Wednesday track racing session ever (I went once at the end of last season.) . As a new track rider I’m racing in the cat 4 field, I might have more endurance then most of those guys, but this no coasting and only one gear thing is all new to me.
Ok, so I know I can’t spin, so I decided to go with a slightly larger gear (not that I would really know).. Kele told me that a 50x15 is pretty big.. and since spinning isn’t exactly my strength I decided to go with that. I should to be able to go fast, as long as I have time or a draft to accelerate in.
There were 27 riders in the race, pretty big for the track I thought…better try and stay up front.
My first race was a 8 lap snowball, where the 1st lap was worth 1point, 2nd lap two..etc..A riders jumped hard right of the bat…he can have that one… I waited patiently for a few laps.. finally on lap six I moved up front and attacked hard along turn 3 and 4… I took the 7points for that lap and just kept going.. and managed to stay away for the final lap also…hmmm, that wasn’t too bad! I couldn’t believe though how tired my legs were after that effort, it was only a 2mile race, and it definitely hurt a lot more than most 2 mile efforts I’ve done…and I didn’t even go really hard until the last 1 ½ lap…
The next race was a win and out.. if you win lap 10 you are done, else you keep going for another lap for 2n’d place, and then if you have anything left another for 3ed. I had no intention of doing more laps then I had to. I managed to get up front font lap nine, helped by the fact that two Zoka teammates were driving it at the front, as soon as the second riders died (slowed down) with exactly one lap to go, I went.. and once again I managed to stay away for the win..
The final race was a points race, and I managed to win three of the four sprints..and hopefully the overall.
It was a short night, but pretty intense, maybe I’ll try it again soon…
Last wednesday I decided to go and do my second Wednesday track racing session ever (I went once at the end of last season.) . As a new track rider I’m racing in the cat 4 field, I might have more endurance then most of those guys, but this no coasting and only one gear thing is all new to me.
Ok, so I know I can’t spin, so I decided to go with a slightly larger gear (not that I would really know).. Kele told me that a 50x15 is pretty big.. and since spinning isn’t exactly my strength I decided to go with that. I should to be able to go fast, as long as I have time or a draft to accelerate in.
There were 27 riders in the race, pretty big for the track I thought…better try and stay up front.
My first race was a 8 lap snowball, where the 1st lap was worth 1point, 2nd lap two..etc..A riders jumped hard right of the bat…he can have that one… I waited patiently for a few laps.. finally on lap six I moved up front and attacked hard along turn 3 and 4… I took the 7points for that lap and just kept going.. and managed to stay away for the final lap also…hmmm, that wasn’t too bad! I couldn’t believe though how tired my legs were after that effort, it was only a 2mile race, and it definitely hurt a lot more than most 2 mile efforts I’ve done…and I didn’t even go really hard until the last 1 ½ lap…
The next race was a win and out.. if you win lap 10 you are done, else you keep going for another lap for 2n’d place, and then if you have anything left another for 3ed. I had no intention of doing more laps then I had to. I managed to get up front font lap nine, helped by the fact that two Zoka teammates were driving it at the front, as soon as the second riders died (slowed down) with exactly one lap to go, I went.. and once again I managed to stay away for the win..
The final race was a points race, and I managed to win three of the four sprints..and hopefully the overall.
It was a short night, but pretty intense, maybe I’ll try it again soon…
Monday, June 18, 2007
I really did need an 11......
A weekend full of up’s and down’s.
The Methow Valley stage race was a lot later this year and despite not conflicting with any major race in Oregon (as far as I know) the participation although twice of last year was still a bit low. The omnium format was modified from last year, making the TT a bit more important, and it was still possible to score points if out of the top 10. It’s a pretty good TT, it’s not often we do a 10mile TT on a rolling course. I tried to start out a bit slower, well aware that the return leg was considerably harder, steeper climbs and with a headwind. Morgan my 30second man caught me at mile 3 or so, as he went up the climbs considerable faster then me. As we went down the other side I caught back up, and was forced to ride of the optimum line (if there was one) to avoid the draft. At the turn around I was a sec behind… going back down and along the flat I lost a bit of ground… until the second to last climb where I went my pace and he went his… and he was gone… oh well…I’, starting to get more comfortable on the TT bike every time… I just need to ride it more… I should have the power to go fast, at least on the flats, maybe I’m just too dragy??
The crit was way too hard… not sure quite what happened… I just couldn’t keep accelerating anymore, and just died fast…every 40sec I was sprinting out of the corners at 850-950W…20min later I just couldn’t do it anymore… I needed to be further up where the surges out of the corners was less, but once you get behind.. it’s even harder to move up.
After a great nights sleep where my air mattress went flat, and I slept on hard wood floor.. I was ready for the road race…at least my back was straight.
The road race was changed, to basically one longer loop, instead of a circuit race we had last year. We did last years loop as part of this years stage in both directions. With all the head wind and an early 3man break up the road, most of the out leg was pretty easy, except for the HB guys pulling. The feed zone hill and the following side wind section was really the only selective section…. I was ready and felt good up over the top. A few small splits appeared but nothing much happened here, many of the HB guys who had been working in the head wind understandingly suffered and got gapped of. The break was close and had split, with Ongers continuing on his own. Morgan attacked on the right, I was on the left and missed it.. nobody went with him… he quickly caught Ongers and of they went. If this stayed away Tubbs would have to wind the sprint for 3ed to guarantee the overall win (depending on the tie breaker rule..) Tubbs and especially Stanko did a lot of work in the closing miles… but with the tail wind the pace was so high it was nearly impossible to close the gap. The last few miles where a bit nervous, with the average speed at nearly 40mph. I wanted to stay up front, figuring that at this speed there wouldn’t be too many people coming around in the sprint, and in case of a crash a 40mph…the front is the place to be. 1 mile to go I was 5th wheel.. then a Canadian rider (why is it always them)..comes way across the yellow line and up front causing some surges. 1km to go I’m not quite where I want to be, but I still have time… Lang surges on the right I manage to shuffle in 4th or 5th on Tubbs wheel, but as soon as I get there we hit the 200m mark…(way too soon, ) and as the front guys realize that the line is right there, the sprint is on… I just barley got in place and can’t manage to surge again… I’m pedaling my 53x12 as fast as I can on the downhill tailwind sprint, but I’m losing ground…and cross the line 10th (12th overall)..I really needed an 11…and or faster legs… I was definitely disappointed with my finish, I was in pretty good positioning and just didn’t have it in the end.. I was hoping to get one good result for the weekend…oh well. Campbell took the sprint with Tubbs in Second, Andrew in third… not sure who won the overall with Morgan and Tubbs tied on points.
The Methow Valley stage race was a lot later this year and despite not conflicting with any major race in Oregon (as far as I know) the participation although twice of last year was still a bit low. The omnium format was modified from last year, making the TT a bit more important, and it was still possible to score points if out of the top 10. It’s a pretty good TT, it’s not often we do a 10mile TT on a rolling course. I tried to start out a bit slower, well aware that the return leg was considerably harder, steeper climbs and with a headwind. Morgan my 30second man caught me at mile 3 or so, as he went up the climbs considerable faster then me. As we went down the other side I caught back up, and was forced to ride of the optimum line (if there was one) to avoid the draft. At the turn around I was a sec behind… going back down and along the flat I lost a bit of ground… until the second to last climb where I went my pace and he went his… and he was gone… oh well…I’, starting to get more comfortable on the TT bike every time… I just need to ride it more… I should have the power to go fast, at least on the flats, maybe I’m just too dragy??
The crit was way too hard… not sure quite what happened… I just couldn’t keep accelerating anymore, and just died fast…every 40sec I was sprinting out of the corners at 850-950W…20min later I just couldn’t do it anymore… I needed to be further up where the surges out of the corners was less, but once you get behind.. it’s even harder to move up.
After a great nights sleep where my air mattress went flat, and I slept on hard wood floor.. I was ready for the road race…at least my back was straight.
The road race was changed, to basically one longer loop, instead of a circuit race we had last year. We did last years loop as part of this years stage in both directions. With all the head wind and an early 3man break up the road, most of the out leg was pretty easy, except for the HB guys pulling. The feed zone hill and the following side wind section was really the only selective section…. I was ready and felt good up over the top. A few small splits appeared but nothing much happened here, many of the HB guys who had been working in the head wind understandingly suffered and got gapped of. The break was close and had split, with Ongers continuing on his own. Morgan attacked on the right, I was on the left and missed it.. nobody went with him… he quickly caught Ongers and of they went. If this stayed away Tubbs would have to wind the sprint for 3ed to guarantee the overall win (depending on the tie breaker rule..) Tubbs and especially Stanko did a lot of work in the closing miles… but with the tail wind the pace was so high it was nearly impossible to close the gap. The last few miles where a bit nervous, with the average speed at nearly 40mph. I wanted to stay up front, figuring that at this speed there wouldn’t be too many people coming around in the sprint, and in case of a crash a 40mph…the front is the place to be. 1 mile to go I was 5th wheel.. then a Canadian rider (why is it always them)..comes way across the yellow line and up front causing some surges. 1km to go I’m not quite where I want to be, but I still have time… Lang surges on the right I manage to shuffle in 4th or 5th on Tubbs wheel, but as soon as I get there we hit the 200m mark…(way too soon, ) and as the front guys realize that the line is right there, the sprint is on… I just barley got in place and can’t manage to surge again… I’m pedaling my 53x12 as fast as I can on the downhill tailwind sprint, but I’m losing ground…and cross the line 10th (12th overall)..I really needed an 11…and or faster legs… I was definitely disappointed with my finish, I was in pretty good positioning and just didn’t have it in the end.. I was hoping to get one good result for the weekend…oh well. Campbell took the sprint with Tubbs in Second, Andrew in third… not sure who won the overall with Morgan and Tubbs tied on points.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Ravendale
One of the last road races, well not really but it feels like it, since crit season is just getting started. No more road races every Saturday and Sunday like in March and April…
This is my kind of race.. Maybe a bit too easy of a course, a few more times up the steep 20% climb would have benefited me… especially if it was hot.
Ian Mensher started out fast, and never really slowed down. As the race had barely started he took of with Hone, Campbell bridged up as he realized the danger seconds later. With HB, and Garage in the break the gap went up fast. Garage had just about the entire 1-2 team out for this race, only Neil (out with a broken arm), Jay (racing masters in his first race of the year), Robert and Derrick where missing.. that still left nine. Before we got to the climb. The break already had 45sec. HB was clearly a bit worried that Hone wouldn’t last and tried to bridge continuously, we covered every move, but in the end this resulted in a pretty fast pace and by mile 20 or so, we caught the break.
As we approached the smaller climb, after the sharp left turn, I sat on the front. As the climb started, Flavio and two other riders attacked, soon a few more went by with two garage riders, with three riders of the front, I slowed down ever so slightly and made sure a gap opened over the top. Over the next mile or so there was some reorganizing of the front…but now the winning move of the day was made, eight riders of the front. We where definitely happy with those odds since we had a really good climber/TT with Nathan and a just plain strong rider with Ian in the break.
Unfortunately the last few miles were a bit too easy it came down to a sprint, with WOW taking the win, and Ian coming in second. Nathan in his last road race before moving to Charleston walked away with 6th. The main pack was eventually sprinting for 8th.. with 1k to go I was right were I wanted to be.. then we got neutralized , there had been a crash in the masters field at about 800m. For some reason I thought the race was over and sat up, drifted back…but before I know it we started up again…ops… I made an effort to make my way back up to the front, but by 400m to go I was still too far out of it, and at mid pack it was a bit too sketchy…the front was about to make the final left turn into the sprint.. it was over.. I decided to sit this one out.. no point risking a crash.. for a mid pack finish…
Strangelove took the sprint, and has just about now sealed the deal on the Washington Cup I would guess, Pete came in 10th and Chris 11th.
This is my kind of race.. Maybe a bit too easy of a course, a few more times up the steep 20% climb would have benefited me… especially if it was hot.
Ian Mensher started out fast, and never really slowed down. As the race had barely started he took of with Hone, Campbell bridged up as he realized the danger seconds later. With HB, and Garage in the break the gap went up fast. Garage had just about the entire 1-2 team out for this race, only Neil (out with a broken arm), Jay (racing masters in his first race of the year), Robert and Derrick where missing.. that still left nine. Before we got to the climb. The break already had 45sec. HB was clearly a bit worried that Hone wouldn’t last and tried to bridge continuously, we covered every move, but in the end this resulted in a pretty fast pace and by mile 20 or so, we caught the break.
As we approached the smaller climb, after the sharp left turn, I sat on the front. As the climb started, Flavio and two other riders attacked, soon a few more went by with two garage riders, with three riders of the front, I slowed down ever so slightly and made sure a gap opened over the top. Over the next mile or so there was some reorganizing of the front…but now the winning move of the day was made, eight riders of the front. We where definitely happy with those odds since we had a really good climber/TT with Nathan and a just plain strong rider with Ian in the break.
Unfortunately the last few miles were a bit too easy it came down to a sprint, with WOW taking the win, and Ian coming in second. Nathan in his last road race before moving to Charleston walked away with 6th. The main pack was eventually sprinting for 8th.. with 1k to go I was right were I wanted to be.. then we got neutralized , there had been a crash in the masters field at about 800m. For some reason I thought the race was over and sat up, drifted back…but before I know it we started up again…ops… I made an effort to make my way back up to the front, but by 400m to go I was still too far out of it, and at mid pack it was a bit too sketchy…the front was about to make the final left turn into the sprint.. it was over.. I decided to sit this one out.. no point risking a crash.. for a mid pack finish…
Strangelove took the sprint, and has just about now sealed the deal on the Washington Cup I would guess, Pete came in 10th and Chris 11th.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
