My team, OKC Velo, would have seven riders registered for the Masters 40+ race. People ask me all the time how Masters racing compares to the Cat 1,2 races in which I still sometimes compete. Given the fact that a high profile race like Rouge Roubaix attracts riders from around the country, there would be several Cat 1 and Cat 2 riders racing in the Masters race, making it very fast, but with a wide range of abilities, which means that only about half would have a realistic chance for a top 10 placing. JD and I were both in the Masters field of 60 riders, Evan raced the Cat 3,4 race which had around 75 participants, and Dave raced the 4,5 race which had the most riders with close to 80.
As we lined up Sunday morning, I felt really confident that I had put in the work to be competitive in the race. I also know from past experience, however, that flats and mechanicals can end your race in a hurry, so a little luck always helps. The other thing that I have always dealt with is the length of the race. At 106 miles it is about an hour longer than I am really capable of being strong. I tend to lose about 20% of my power after three hours, or 75 miles of racing. From that point on, it is just survival, but every year I am always secretly hoping "maybe this year will be different"!
The first 3 or 4 miles are neutral through the middle of town and then the lead vehicle pulls ahead signaling that it is time to race. The first dirt section came at 17 miles and things were relatively calm until about two miles before the turn. Just like Paris Roubaix, there is a race to be among the first onto the non paved sections of the race. I made my way towards the front and was fortunate to hit the greater than 90 degree turn sitting second wheel. The gravel was thick and very loose going into that turn and I watched as several guys had to unclip with one or two actually falling over. My teammate, Paul Bonds is 40 years old and lean as a rail. He is a nationally and internationally ranked cyclocross racer and his skills are tailor made for the dirt sections on the course. Immediately after the turn onto the dirt he went to the front and set an absolutely brutal tempo. Not only were we flying down this gravel road rarely going less than 25 MPH, but we were also doing it in loose, sandy soil that sapped the strength out of the legs much faster than normal. In all of the editions of this race I have ever done (7), the condition of the dirt roads was the worst ever! Just navigating the road in a straight line was difficult, and going around even the slightest curve in the road could cause the back end of the bike to come around if not ridden perfectly. After only one mile Paul and one other rider had a large gap back to an already small group. I suggested we wait on the small group knowing we would need the horsepower once we came back out on the black top. I had no desire to ride the next 80 miles with only three guys. Once the small group got up to us we put the hammer back down again. Paul and I traded pulls at the front and we were quickly back down to only a handful of riders. Coming off the first dirt section there were probably ten guys, and we had three OKC Velo riders in the group, including JD!
I was so happy JD had made the split that I slapped him on the ass maybe a little to enthusiastically. He grinned knowing I was congratulating him on making the, extremely difficult, first selection of the day. The next dirt section was only a few miles down the road and was one of the longest at close to seven miles (with a few very short paved sections included). Once on that section, Paul and I put the hammer down again. I must admit that I was having more fun than is typical in such a hard race. The combination of being able to put down enough watts to cause pain to so many, and also having the bike handling skills to negotiate the many hazards at speed, was so much more fun than being on the receiving end of the pain while barely able to stay in control, a condition I have also experienced many times!
When we exited the second dirt section at mile 33, we were down to only six or eight guys. I was sick JD had not made the selection. He had gotten behind a crash and never could close the gap to get back in our group. The next 30 miles would be on pavement and the only goal was to go fast enough to stay ahead of any small groups chasing. It was around this point that I saw Evan riding along with Zack Smith. He had gotten a flat, and a very slow wheel change, as the wheel truck was over ten minutes behind him when he flatted. Evan hopped on the back of our group and actually made every selection with us over the next 75 miles to actually finish slightly ahead of my group. As our group rolled along, everyone did their share of the work, but it was apparent that the loose sandy conditions had taken its toll on all of us. There were no attacks at all, as everyone just wanted to get to the next dirt section at mile 65 with the group, knowing that the one mile long dirt climb at that point would explode the group anyway.
About two miles before the turn, a guy finally attacked the group. I jumped to get across to him and only one other rider came with me leaving the others in the small group looking at one another to see who was going to tow them all up to the newly forming breakaway. The three of us had a nice gap as we turned onto the dirt section at mile 65 with the one mile climb just around the corner. At this point we were riding through the remnants of the Cat 3 race. I had no desire to be behind any of them on the climb as many of them would be forced to unclip after losing momentum in the sandy conditions. We successfully passed all of the Cat 3's and hit the base of the climb where I figured the race would be won or lost. As we began the climb, one of my breakaway companions, Peter Beland from Little Rock, was able to stay with me, but the other guy, Mike brown from Dallas, came off the back. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that Evan had managed to stay with us to the top of the climb, but that none of the other Cat 3's we had ridden through were even in sight.
Once we came over the top of the climb, I was amazed to see my teammate, Paul Bonds, ride up to Peter and me. He had bridged across the gap on the climb leaving all the other guys in the original small break in his wake. The next obstacle was one in which we were all familiar from having ridden the section the day before. It was a 60 yard long "sand trap" for lack of a better description. The sand was so loose that your tires sunk as much as 5 inches while trying to ride across. As a result, it took massive wattage just to stay upright. Paul and I made it across (as did Evan), but Peter and Mike both had to come off their bikes and walk. Paul and I then began to open a sizable gap on the other two riders. By the time we came on onto the paved road we had around a one minute gap on the chasing duo. We decided to put our heads down and ride. It was apparent very quickly that the first 75 miles of the race had taken their toll on my legs. I felt like I had lost about 20% of my normal power (my secret hopes were dashed) and was simply not able to maintain the pace that would have been required for us to stay away. It was not long until Peter and Mike came into view and it was apparent they were committed to an all out chase. Paul and I decided to slow and let them catch in order to spread the work for the next 30 miles.
Once together, the four of us (Evan still with us!), began to roll through and worked together to stay away until the next dirt section which would come at mile 83. At this point we had a major headwind of between 17-23 MPH! The wind was brutal after what we had all been through, but the fact that the four of us were sharing the load meant we were probably making out better than the many guys riding by themselves or in smaller groups. As we turned onto the last dirt section we all knew what lay ahead. There is a steep climb at the beginning of the section that is difficult to climb in perfect conditions. On this day it was made virtually impossible due to the loose, sandy gravel and Mike and Peter came off their bikes about half way to the top. I made it just a little further, and Paul made it about three quarters of the way up. Peter and I would never see Paul again until the finish! Once at the top, I hooked up with Mike but Peter was now behind us. I stayed with Mike for about two more miles in spite of experiencing some major cramping. I finally came off his wheel up one of the last steep rollers on this last dirt section. Not long after that, Peter rode back up to me and we began to ride together hoping to bring back Mike. Once onto the paved road Peter and I just rode a steady pace, both realizing we were not going to catch Mike. At this point, I was absolutely cooked. I was giving Peter the occasional break, but he was doing the lion's share of the work. That last 10 miles seemed like 50! About four miles from the finish I pulled up alongside Peter and we rode side by side to the finish not wanting either one of us to have the advantage of the draft before the finish. Peter is a one hell of a bike racer and I have always respected his abilities, and as important, his sporting ethics. He jokingly asked if I was going to sprint him and I, of course said, "yes". I fully expected to lock completely up in the sprint to watch Peter ride ahead for 3rd place, but was surprised that the opposite occurred. It could have gone either way and I was just lucky to have gotten the last place on the podium.
Ahead of us, Mike had actually bridged up to Paul and the two of them rode to the finish with Paul winning out in the sprint. I was super impressed with both Paul and Mike that day. Mike has amazing endurance and does not seem to lose much power over such a long distance. Paul was definitely the strong man on the day and deserved the win.
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| Five of seven Pirates celebrating our 1st and 3rd Place! |
