May 17, 2009
Modesto Road Race (RR)
The RR stands for River Ride – same cast of characters with Sactown doing its thing. Of course, the RR could also stand for Really Roastin’ - 110° on the pavement. Knowing that hydration was going to be an issue for my diminutive 200 pound frame, I enthusiastically worked my way to the front and right as we entered the first feed zone, I stuck out my receiver like “soft hands” and proceeded to take out the first 4 bottles those poor volunteers attempted to hand me. As water bottles scattered into the road behind me, there were obvious guttural sounds from the riders behind me. I did the only thing I could think of – I shouted blame on the volunteers, citing their lack of technique in executing the “hand-off maneuver.” On the fifth bottle, I actually moved my arm a bit as I grabbed and that seem to work out nicely. (I really need to do more than just crits.)
After a few riders accused me of intentionally robbing them of water as some sort of Zenn strategy, I feigned “wind in my ears, can’t hear you” and moved back to the front. Fonseca sent me up there with Cady to maintain the gap between some 4 or 5 guys that sprinted up the road when some other guy blew the whistle and said, Go. So Rob and I, with the help of EMC, took turns on the front for the first 4 of 7 and maintained what I thought was a respectable pace. (I learned after that quite a few riders said they were bored and Alex said it was stupid?)
On lap 5, Fonseca went blowing by me head down, jaws set, and eyes determined. He was making his move and that was just fine by me because I was hot and looking forward to taking another crack at that feed zone. As the peleton worked its way up the flat roads of Modesto, I did a double take at the distinctive blue smurf-like kit on the side of the road – it was Fonseca taking a leak. It actually took me a few seconds to realize my hard earned break was over and it was time to go back to work.
Andrew immediately went to the front and began politicking with EMC, specifically Baker to take his foot off the throttle, and that Scott would do the same, and why can’t we just all get along? I dropped back and watched with damp eyes as the Peleton grew smaller and smaller while Scott nonchalantly got back on his bike and wheeled towards me. I put my head down, closed my eyes, and counted to 100. When I opened them I was relieved to see we had made up some ground and that Rob had dropped back to help out.
The three of us pulled back to the field just in time to get strung out in the left gutter on the cross wind section. Realizing I was in trouble, again, I asked Cady if he would be so nice as to move 6 inches to his right today for a hamburger on Tuesday – he agreed and I was saved again. In the 5th and 6th laps there were some attempted breaks but nothing really serious. After being told to get off the front Andrew rode up to me and asked if I could go one more time.
I said what the hell (nice thing about this course is that it was a 9 mile figure 8 so you were never that far from your car). I moved to the front just as Baker was making a move and I was able to go with him. How did Andrew know that was going to happen? Hmmmmm Unfortunately, it all came back together and off we trotted to what we all thought would be a bunch sprint finish. On the last lap as we neutralized around a slower pack of 4/5s Rich Bradley took a gamble and launched solo off the front. He was quickly joined by Del Rosso, Anderson and Ream.
The 4 of them road ahead and the peleton either forgot about them or did not consider the move serious until it was too late. Del Rosso took it and Rich Bradley came in second. The peleton ramped up and I jumped out of the saddle to help out my guys when both my quads cramped up. It actually felt like my meat was pulling off the bone. I cursed the feed zone people and sat back down and finished with the back. Andrew shot up and came in 9th with Cady right behind him in 11th. Scott came in, followed by me and then Ramos, with lunch honors, followed the professor to the line. All in all a good day for team Zenn. We learned something about each other and we had a good time.
See you at the crits.
