Guess this was the second race of the year. First since Battenkill, three weeks ago ( though it seems like much longer).
Low key 14 mile Time Trial sponsored by Eastern Mountain Sports. Showed up, signed up, took a 15 minute spin, then road back to the shop to check in. Only about a dozen racers. One guy looked very fast, disc wheels and all. His name was Dan. We chatted a bit about my Neuvation wheels on the TT bike, wished each other luck, then sat in on the rider meeting. 30 seconds between starts. Warm day, sunny, around 75 degrees. Pretty nice.
I pulled the low number, which meant that I went first. No problem. Took off, hit the gas, got into a groove. 3 miles of flat riding. Got passed by my minute man at this point ( the fast looking guy, Dan). No problem, he took off and got out of sight pretty quickly. A small rise, then a turn and a bit bigger of a hill. Nothing major, but when you're all out, a 2-3% grade feels murderous. Climbed about 150 feet, then hit a plateau. Still cruising.
Around 9 miles in, I started to see stars. Hit another turn, looked off to the side, and saw another rider about 30 seconds back. Wasn't sure I could hold him off, and was just planning on keeping up speed and let the chips fall. Within a mile, he passed with an "on your left". This ended up being Chris. Really starting to start to feel the burn at this point. Maybe went out just slightly too hot, but not knowing the course or profile, and not having done a TT in a few years, pacing has gone out the window. Not much pacing in the points races I've been doing more of. Or cross for that matter...
Focusing on just keeping a hard pace, keeping the HR close to the red. 1 mile to go, got passed again. Tried to try to stay on this rider. Passing was not going to matter in the results, as he already had at least 30 seconds on me, but wanted to keep him close. Ended finishing about 40 feet off his wheel.
Met the other racers, went for a cruise with Dan. Ended up working a bit hard, but what should I expect trying to keep up with the guy who beat me by 5 minutes in a 14 mile TT? Had a nice conversation. He mentioned they had this TT again in the fall. I said I'd see him there as long as it did not conflict with a cross race. Gotta have your priorities straight!
Great support. Big jug of Nuun, free water bottles and cytomax chews. Every racer got a pair of wool socks. Dan won a helmet and a plaque. I think I came in 4th out of 12? 21.3 mph average, which was pretty good. 3rd overall on the Strava segment, for whatever that is worth. Happy with the performance.
Caught up to my daughter at the park. She had gone fishing with her grandfather, and had caught 2 fish in the first two minutes! Solid dinner at home with the in-laws, couple of glasses of wine. Nice end to the day.
Tomorrow should be intervals, followed by a 20+ mile ride with a friend I have not seen since last fall. Looking forward to it. Seeing the friend. The intervals, not so much.
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