Tokeneke 8-14-2011

Tokeneke RR
8/14/2011
Persistent, Assertive Riding

Yesterday Monte and I drove up to beautiful Northern CT to race Tokeneke RR. As I packed my gear up it was raining hard and even though I knew I was going to get completely soaked today, the first couple drops on your head always suck. The forecast was calling for rain all day. I rode to meet Monte and the rain continued. It can be miserable riding to a race in the rain, nobody likes the limited visibility at 50mph, getting hit in the face with overspray with road grime and riding in wet clothes. At least it was above 70*. We both stayed positive and didn’t talk much about the rain. We hashed over some scenarios and how we would react if each came up. I think Monte and I have been racing together enough to bypass these conversation but it is still a requirement for pre-race routine and it kind of helps to get you in the zone.

Tokeneke is one of hilliest races in New England with around 2100 ft of climbing per lap and each lap being 22 miles. We were doing 3 laps, 66 miles. Even in perfect conditions, this was going to be tough! We had a stacked field as usual in our Master 40+. We knew who to watch and who were the bigger threats of slipping away from the field. We could almost predict who would be pushing the pace and where. Right from the gun our good friend Carl was out there, he does this all the time and has proven that he can make it work. A few guys went after him but it was not a threat, everyone was still a little too fresh. About 10 miles in, after the first stinger of a climb Monte was slowly passing riders moving to the front with a small select group. Things were already starting to get thinned out. We came through the fist stage of the 3 tiered climb and Monte was in the small group that already had time on the field. I did my job and got right to the front. I watched guys try to bridge unsuccessfully and try to motivate a chase but I did my best to stay strategically discreet and just screw things up without getting noticed. I looked up a could still see the break, maybe about 10 riders, the formation was jagged and wide. It did not give me the impression of a smooth working pace-line which you need if you will stay away. Unfortunately, it did not stick. Guys were just too fresh and they caught up to the break right at the bottom of the final climb of the lap. This one is a doozy! Not a very steep climb but long (1.8 mile) and it wears on you. Once again, the peleton mashed up the climb and the pack thinned out. Because I was just sitting in and chasing wheels for the last 10 miles, I felt pretty good.

Tactics of team say attack when your team-mate gets caught but with the climb in front of me, I was in no position to make anything stick against the whole field. We crested the climb, I looked back and naturally it was thinned out. I think riders were looking for a little break as we came onto the only flat section of the race. This is when 1 rider took off then another, then Carl hmm... 6 guys up the road I thought “maybe I should get in that”. Monte and I had talked about how reaction time is key, I couldn’t wonder about this for too many more seconds, just then B. Yarbroudy went by me and I grabbed his wheel. He wasn’t sprinting just pedaling at a creamy- smooth cadence. We hooked up with the other 5 riders looked back and I was surprised of the gap we had. Sometimes the field can get lazy and everyone waits for the next guy to pull through. With the previous statement I also knew that I had Monte back in the pack to work and if riders did bridge up he was going to be there along for the free ride and fresh as daisy. His form has been improving race by race. I knew he was one of the strongest riders back there and with his breakaway last weekend at the grueling Catskill Stage, he has proven this season that he has added one more weapon to his arsenal.

Well we had a good group and everyone in my group knew what was next. Head down, keep it smooth, fast and tight. We worked together like a dream! There was no communication just the sound of all of us turning over the gears. We hit the first climb hard and continued to work together. We had an extensive gap. This could definetly work to the finish even though we had gotten away 1 lap into a 3 lap race. I tried to do my part without over extending and conserving where I could. Everyone stayed hydrated and fueled up. We lost one struggling rider due to a flat. Minutes after that, out of nowhere came Ed Angeli, he is a friend and very competitive racer. He had bridged on his own and chased us down. Damn strong! I looked at him at disbelief and was amazed at how fresh he looked! He just grinned like it was no big deal. It took a while for the group to get comfortable with Ed but after a while we maintained our rhythm and continued on.

On the last lap as we hit the first climb we lost a guy. I looked back and he was drifting away. I felt bad for the guy but knew it could have easily been me. In looking back I let a little gap of my own open up. “Oh SHIT” I had to dig a little deeper than I wanted to get back on. There was no attack just smooth hard uphill riding and if you loose your focus for a second it could be over. I caught back on and unfortunately the thought of getting popped-off starting creeping into my head. Shortly after that, Ed asked me how I was doing “I’m freakin hurtin!”. He assured me that we were all “freakin hurtin” and just hang in there. Words of encouragement? Thanks Ed. I fought to stay in taking pulls and I think everyone was really starting to feel a little worn down. We were not playing games but we had definetly slowed and guys were starting to think about staying fresh to the finish.

I was getting tired and trying to stay focused, Truthfully, due to the fact of my condition on the last climb, I was a little worried. The finishing climb started and I tried to keep my front wheel glued to the tire in front of me. About half-way up it was slipping away. I stood up and closed back to comfortable distance. I sat down settled in and another gap, “damn” I tried clicked down a gear, then up, then I stood and I couldn’t hold on. I didn’t have it. A very sad moment and a hard one to accept. It haunts you for a couple of days after the fact. The 5 guys slipped away. Although they were still insight, I couldn’t do anything except keep pedaling at my pace. I looked over my shoulder and couldn’t see a peleton charging up on me but that didn’t keep me from getting worried about it all the way to the end. I finish 6th, last out of the break but all in all a decent effort from me.

I circled back after the finish line and saw Monte as one of the first riders coming to me. He got 8th! I knew he would do well in the field sprint but I didn’t even know if the field was together. It had broken up enormously but he did bridge and get away from the main group. Nice job Monte and thanks for the work back in the field. Great day for CYCLE FITNESS! John Funk 2nd in the 50+ (silver medal for New England), Monte 8th and myself with 6th. Not bad for a very small team in one of New England’s toughest races.

Mike