Wednesday, April 2, 2014

26/03/2014 Race report: GP Des Commercants Esplechin. Finally getting in the groove

Getting ready
This would be a repeat of last Wednesdays race in Esplechin on the same course. To recap easy long hills with lots of open space meaning big cross winds well last week at least. Though it seemed the day was turning to be a pretty still day in wind terms, which is still crazy windy compared to Australia but i wasn't complaing. It was real nice to have my girlfriend from Germany visit for the week with her car, It really made pre race routine much less stressful being able to be early and have plenty of time to get ready. The main reason i try arrive early is that for registration with usually 150, 200 riders including many internationals this means a big waiting cue. If you arrive a hour before almost half of that time is spent in the line, so with putting your numbers on and packing your jersey with food, rubbing down legs, you really only get 10 mins of warm up time.

Munching on some rice crackers before the race
The race was much calmer this week round, though we were still averaging 43-45k/hr, I was able to stick around in the top 40 or so making sure to try keep shelter up the climbs. By midway it starting heating up with a few early breaks getting away in the back straight hills. Though with a big peleton including many lower class pro teams (Omega Quickstep,Lotto Belisol) It is always hard to stay away in a break.
Me and Jacob
Can see my arse up further in the pack with jazz writen on it but just posted as its a good pic of the race.
Finish
With 3 laps to go 34k i was feeling real good, i started moving up to the front preparing for what seemed was going to be once again a group finish. A high finish would be really hard as the final few corners before the line were small and tight meaning it would be very hard to get near the front. So come final lap i was riding like a madman trying to squeeze my way up front but come the last kilometre in the small roads i got caught midbunch sprinting for minor places coming in 74th. The thing people dont see usually on the results sheet is the times of each rider. For example this race from 1st to 123rd we all finished on the same time thats how big the final sprint was. Makes me think back to the times of Robbie
McCwen he really made it look so easy getting to the front. Racing in these big bunches now I can really appreciate all the tactics and skills needed just to make it near the front, as many say its not always the strongiest rider that wins but the smartest. Anyway in the end i was very pleased with my form and i am looking forward my next race in Germany this Sunday. If your curious you can always see the race results i put a link at the end of each blog. This race had 154 starters 124 finishers but you can see that all in the race results.

Race results 

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