Race Report Thread

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ozzymac
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Race Report Thread

Postby ozzymac » Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:53 am

toolonglegs wrote:Prologue Route de Saône et Loire.
Crap... Already 13 seconds down!... Prologue was a bit crazy... Only 2.6kms but after first 900m you hit a climb of 2-300 meters at about 15% average...Quick descent and then another climb about the same length but at a bit easier grade. Then crazy steep descent into 90 degree corner and back into the centre of town ... Add in about 10 cobbled sections, some very rough and you have killer 4.45 seconds for me... Oh well I did better than some... 76th out of 150 ( 16th in my grade ) ...
Huge crowd was cool and I aim to enjoy myself as it is probably the biggest race i can compete in. Looking forward to tomorrow haha!.
Sounds like an interesting course, nice gradient plus cobbles, fun.

Cheers


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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:47 am

Remember how long out of racing scene you were TLL! :wink:

Next time, imagine you have big bubba coming up behind you and wanting to check your prostate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock: That's gotta be worth an extra 20sec. :lol:

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Race Report Thread

Postby toolonglegs » Sat Jun 16, 2012 4:12 pm

Big bubba wouldn't have liked the gradient ;-) ... I think a lot came down to my weight... Still haven't lost enough :-) next year!.
We got to the hotel at midnight last night... So stage doesn't start till 3pm. Green jersey has all 3 sprints in the first 35kms before the climbing starts... Have to have a think about objectives :-) .

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby PawPaw » Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:31 pm

BNE HPRW CC Handicap RR Elimbah (north of Caboolture amongst the Glasshouse Mtns)

My first time on this course. 17km on roads that wind around through pineapple farms. flattish with 15-20% distance as hills averaging 3-4% gradient.
I drove over the course first as I hate racing on a course blind.
This morning I thought we were doing two laps so 34km.
But then it turned out we couldn't get police permits for 600 metres of main road, so had to do an out and back thing.
But then they decided to make us do two out and backs, so that made the race about 64km.

Off we go. I was in the second handicap group of about 10, with mainly slower C grade racers.
About four of us did most of the pace setting, around 35kph. Within 10km, 6 of us broke away, and passed the first group, so we had the support vehicle out front protecting us.
At the 17km mark, we had to do a U turn. I led into it because the return trip was slightly uphill, and I didn't want to get dropped as the group accelerated away.
However I stuffed up the u-turn, and had to unclip. Stupid as. Nevertheless, I caught the group within 600m, and brought one of the 6 who had dropped back onto the pack.

Anyway, on the way back, I didn't lead as much, because there were more ascents, which are my weakness. And we had some light specialist climbers in the group. So I just stayed patient and on the back mainly. With around 2km to the half way point u turn (at the start/finish line), I lifted the pace to go through the u-turn first again, and didn't stuff it. And led out for a few k.

Coming down to the last u-turn, I lifted the pace signficantly and the other 4 in my group let me go. Within a minute, a faster group with a larger handicap came through, and I hopped on. We all got through the u-turn ok, and then took off. Now, this is where I probably muffed the race a second time. About 2k out of the turn, I started to fall off the back of the main group because I was hanging around in the back half of the group, and the front half lifted the pace on a hill. As hard as I tried, I couldn't get back on. Another guy and I did a bit of work together (me doing most) to try and get back on but we just couldn't cross. I was seriously peeved to lose contact with that group, because it was the lead group for the race.

Eventually, I got dropped on a hill by the guy I'd been working with. However, he started to weaken with around 7km to go.
I eventually caught him and the lead group were about 300 metres ahead. Another group came through, and we all got on it.
That group caught up with the lead group about 3.5k from the finish.

There was lots of surging and the pace was mid 40s, but I felt I could have moved to the front of the pack, however I didn;t, as I thought I'd get run over in a sprint at the end, and we were all warned not to cross the white centre line at risk of never getting another permit to race up that way . So I sat there and finished with this big group of 40+ riders. The front guys had a sprint, and that was it.

What surprised me later was a guy in my original handicap group got third place line honors.

Anyway, you race and learn. Next time, I'll be more aggressive as the handicap groups converge in the last few km's, and conserve energy in the first 3/4.

edit:
Handicap RRs are interesting. You are racing against your handicap group, and against other groups.
If your group works well together, you can stay ahead of groups with bigger handicaps, and get line honors.
If your group has slackers, then you've two choices:
- conserve energy and get on a faster group when it passes.
- try to breakaway solo or with several others.
The first is arguably the more efficient option, especially in a 65km race.

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:40 pm

I'm confused with how you describe a handicap race now Pawpaw. :? When I was racing, you were trying to keep everyone that was behind you at bay and catch the out markers, so in essence, you're racing the whole field. :| Or are the handicap races now, different to what they were, when I raced? :?:

I like the way you're now thinking as it tells me you're learning the art of race craft better! :wink: :mrgreen:

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Race Report Thread

Postby RonK » Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:26 pm

If the handicapper has done a good job you are going to get caught near the end and a sprint finish the likely result. So rather than bust your boiler alone or with slower riders and get caught anyway, better not to ride too hard early in the race and join up with a faster group coming through. If you can get a good draft you may arrive fresh enough for a last minute attack or to contest a sprint. Those are the tactics I first learned racing in the 60's.
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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby PawPaw » Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:46 pm

Foo, the way Ron said it is what I've been told by the more experienced riders. Yeah, your group does try to keep the higher handicapped groups at bay, but if all riders within your group don't put the effort in, then you are faced with the two options I mentioned.

Today, our group got caught by the two immediately higher handicapped groups, one within 20k's of finish and the other around 7k's.....and a guy in my group who I don't believe did as much work as me on the front, got line honors. I might be wrong about that, but kudos to him anyway. He rode a smarter race than me.

There's no prize in cycling for best and fairest....however, I'm still in this weird head space where I think I need to treat every race like a good workout, rather than a race to see who gets across the line first. I suppose I don't want to get in the way of A, B and C graders who can sprint at 60-75kph, when my top speed is 53kph. (I've had broken bones once from being run over once in a sprint and that was enough)

However, I was surprised to hear the guy from my group say his top sprint speed is 45kph. It got me thinking about what's required to place at the end of a 2 hour road race.

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby nickobec » Sat Jun 16, 2012 11:51 pm

PDCC E Grade Wandi race report

Only 5 of us at the start line today, 2 regulars, John who I should of recognised for beating me home in the first two races of the season and a young triathlete coming back from a serious broken leg, with the scars to prove it and racing in her first ever road race.

The Wandi circuit is lumpy, you turn off 500m after the start/finish, climb for a 500 metres, turn in what was a very sketchy corner with a lot of sand and debris, descend for about 800m, then 400m up at 5%, followed by 100m false flat, 100m up at 6%, the down at 8%+, up again, turn, flat for about 500m, climb for 300m, down for 500m, climb for 600m, followed by a gentle descent for 2.3km to the start finish.

As it was raining, only a fine drizzle at the start, all races were shorten by a lap. At the time. that did not affect my planned tactics which was to sit on or near the front and chase any escapees down. I lead the group round the first third of the lap, until the sharp descent when John took over. I quickly found, that while my vision was bad on the front, in the group it was non existent. At least everybody was extra cautious in the corners.

The rain had picked up and I was a little grumpy, so when we hit the 400m at 5% for the second time, I rode it at my own fierce pace, putting a little distance into everybody and kept riding. Three riders got back on, but I just kept riding, until we hit the start finish line, when I swung off to recover briefly for the expected attack up the steeper climb in a couple of minutes time. As we went through the sketchy corner, we avoided a crash by another grade, a broken collarbone and serious road rash where seen at the finish.

At the bottom of the climb, the attack came, not from who I was expecting, the young triathlete took off. I managed to bridge the gap and we rode away. A couple of times it look the pursuers where catching, so we put the power down. About 400m out, I just increased the tempo, my former allied look spent and was a few metres adrift. I moved to the left and drove for the line, checked over my right shoulder, nothing. Next thing I knew, she was on my left and beat me to the line by centimetres.

I am going to have to learn the young triathlete's name as I am sure I will be chasing her out of E grade and into D Grade in the near future.

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Race Report Thread

Postby toolonglegs » Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:42 am

Ha... Mines a bit shorter... 500m from the top of the first big hill ( after 30km at 43av up and down dale )... KABOOM!.
Too hot for me... Finished in the laughing group.
Approx 95km at 35.5av with 1250m climbing :-( .

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Race Report Thread

Postby toolonglegs » Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:43 am

Tomorrow ;-)

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:25 am

You'll get there Nicobec and don't you just hate it when you're pipped on the line! :x

You road with a slightly different mentality to me RonK, I used the stronger ones around me to get rid of the dead wood and make it harder for the scratchies chasing so when they finally caught up they had burned some of their spark off. :twisted: But all of this changed again, when I became one of the back markers.....bugger! :lol:

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Race Report Thread

Postby toolonglegs » Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:12 pm

Not my weekend... Caught behind a crash just before the climb on a short stage... But today I did my work in the first 20kms as we have a rider 2nd overall and 2 in the top 4 in 2nd category.
Finished in the 2nd group... Averaged 44.5kmph for the stage after the neutralized zone.
The crash was spectacular ... Glad not to be in it.
Next one is going to hurt like a mofo!.

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Race Report Thread

Postby toolonglegs » Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:55 am

Ok legs finally arrived!... Final 91km stage with some nice climbs... And some heat!. Did shite loads of work fr team mates and only got dropped for good on the final 1 km pinch to the line... Happy :-)

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Race Report Thread

Postby toolonglegs » Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:20 am

finished my racing over the weekend in one piece... Phew. Riding in a peloton of 160 averaging up to 45 kmph is freaking cool ... F wit Italian team caused an enormous crash... Should of had their licenses torn up!... But apart from that everyone took care but accidents happen.
Was the best organization ever... All except the timing!... Which was a freakin disaster. Our gc rider was down as coming in at 10 minutes late on the 3rd stage. They said they rectified it right up until after we left at 10 pm last night. Wake up this morning and see published results and see it has not been fixed... Goes from 2nd on GC to no where :-( . Puts a BIG downer on everything as we all worked our butts off especially in the last stage.

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:11 am

Bugger, that's not good! :roll:

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby ni78ck » Tue Jun 19, 2012 3:35 pm

toolonglegs wrote:finished my racing over the weekend in one piece... Phew. Riding in a peloton of 160 averaging up to 45 kmph is freaking cool ... F wit Italian team caused an enormous crash... Should of had their licenses torn up!... But apart from that everyone took care but accidents happen.
Was the best organization ever... All except the timing!... Which was a freakin disaster. Our gc rider was down as coming in at 10 minutes late on the 3rd stage. They said they rectified it right up until after we left at 10 pm last night. Wake up this morning and see published results and see it has not been fixed... Goes from 2nd on GC to no where :-( . Puts a BIG downer on everything as we all worked our butts off especially in the last stage.
consider it great training!!! :shock:
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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby PawPaw » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:32 pm

toolonglegs wrote:Riding in a peloton of 160 averaging up to 45 kmph is freaking cool ...
yup...I want to do that....maybe in heaven.

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby toolonglegs » Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:10 am

Finally republished the correct results!!!... bit late now but better late than never!.

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby nickobec » Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:07 am

PDCC DogHill E grade report

I like to sit at the back of the group at first and watch what is happening, after about 3km and not many people taking turns up front, I rolled past the group to take my turn on the front, misjudge my speed downhill and rolled past the front. So I slowed down and waited for the group to catch, after a couple of kms of them leaving me out there. I decided to make the group work to catch me and settle down to a fast pace I can sustain for the remaining 27kms of the race, even though I fully expect the group to catch me.

After 10kms on the front, I was beginning to think I was going to ride solo to the finish, when I Phil bridged across. I met Phil last week at Wandi, he was dropped early by D grade and rode with E grade encouraging his daughter Lara, the young triathlete who beat me by 0.02 of a second. I knew Phil was going to drop down to E grade and was worried about being tag teamed by him and Lara, who had to work today.

We kept a decent pace, nobody else bridged across.With 1.5km to go, I attacked on final short sharp climb, knowing this was Phil's weakness, I put Phil into difficulty but had trouble pressing homing the advantage and in the end, Phil sprinted past me in the final 200m to win and I had nothing in the legs to counter. We finish more than 90 seconds clear of the group.

In hindsight, I needed to of really committed to the attack on the final climb, charged at it like a final sprint and pressed home any advantage on the short downhill.

The bad news is Phil has a 2nd daughter who will start racing shortly and Lara should be back week. The good news is, I probably get promoted to D grade after my recent performances and get a few weeks break from the Devenish clan.

Notable performances today: Our own wizzfizz winning D grade, Mark Roberts soloing away from A grade, for at least 4 laps (I was racing for the 1st 3 laps) and winning by almost 3 minutes. The B grade sprint finish was an absolute mess, but Anthony Wishart produced a massive save, blowing a tube in the sprint (ie 55kmh) avoiding another rider and escaping up a side road, keeping the bike upright with his tyre half off the rim and remains of the tube hanging out. You can give Anthony cudos on Strava here: http://app.strava.com/rides/11504517

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:11 am

That's a bugger Nickobec, maybe they will not drop him a grade now. :wink:

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby PawPaw » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:15 pm

BNE 23/6/12 HPRW Elimbah Grade C road race. 64km, 2 laps of a 16km in/out course. flat with 6k of rollies in the middle. my av speed 34.5kph

Not too many prepared to keep the pace up at the beginning, so myself and a mate did more work, while unsuccessfully trying to muster some interest in a break.
At the half way point, I decided to hang around the back and conserve energy, and focus on not getting dropped on the ascents (my weakness).
Though I didn't play it smart enough, and got to the top of the hills towards the back, in oxygen debt, and needed around 20 seconds to get my wind. Meanwhile, an attack went off the front, and I didn't catch the pack for about 5km. I did most of the work to get myself and 3 others back on.
Then I entered the last u-turn (3/4 of way through race) at the back, and there was another attack, and I lost contact and never got back on again.
I finished about a minute and 700 metres behind the pack.

Big big lessons learned today. Even though I was aware the attacks were most likely to happen where they did, in the second lap, I wasn't vigilant enough to stay towards the front as a defensive tactic. When I examine my headspace at the time, hanging around the back at the attack points was a combination of feeling reasonably strong, and underestimating how sustained and strong the attacks would be. Very annoying for me, as I didn't avoid the risks I was acutely aware of. As it was, I'd argue my av power output for the race would have been higher than anyone else's, due to my weight, time on the front, and having to chase the pack. My headspace for being at the front in the first lap was to avoid a few crap riders, and be part of any serious attack.

Ah well, cyclist, know thyself.

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:33 pm

I would suggest PawPaw, too stay in the mid pack for your rest period and not at the back. This way, it is a whole lot easier to counter the attacks off the front. :wink:

In saying this, hindsight is a wonderful thing and it's even easier coming from the peanut gallery! :lol:

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby PawPaw » Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:16 pm

foo on patrol wrote:I would suggest PawPaw, too stay in the mid pack for your rest period and not at the back. This way, it is a whole lot easier to counter the attacks off the front. :wink:

Foo
Totally agree Foo. But I'm kind of extra sensitive to what's going on around me, so I relax better when I know there's no idiot who is going to come up my outside, or hassle me off a wheel (lord knows why people do that in a 2 hour race), or not give me enough room to get around potholes or the several large rocks the two headed locals put on the course. It's more important for me to finish the race in tact, then win, and the people I'm racing against aren't necessarily the brightest or best riders. In fact, you have to be pretty bent to race in the first place don't you :lol:

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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby Le Velo » Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:22 pm

Avanti Classic Lowood
First ever road race for me today

Well the day has come .... the race is done !
Got up at 7:30am ... a good night sleep and well rested.
The car was loaded, the gears in order and could feel the nerves creeping in a bit.
Got at lowood at 10:25am, got the registration done and jumped on the bike for a bit of a warm up .... still nervous somehow .... first road race, lots of riders ..... got placed in the 6th group with 18 minutes handicap start ...... And off we went !!!
Within a few hundred meters I realised my garmin wasn't going to play the game as it kept on picking up multiple sensors !!!!! Argh !!!! But I did not let it get to my mind (Ony for the first 10-15 minutes anyway) So I figured at best i'd use my heartrate and cadence as a guide for the race and having memorised the course I would try to figure it out along the way
First lap was a fast pace (time reported from my wife was 50min for the 40km) the second lap thought was a bit slower and messy as we caught up to a pack that left earlier and they jumped with us but big numbers and less people taking turns made it a bit harder to keep a nice flow throughout but nevermind as it allowed more recovery time which I didn't mind ..... When I saw the 17km sign for Lowood I played it safe and still took some turns at the front but was mindful of trying to keep some legs for the finish.
The pace lifted up in the last 5kms or so and was trying to spot the sprinters or where the attack would come from and was trying to place myself in a sweet spot ..... coming last corner I had no wheels to jump on and was about 10 - 12th but gave it all and off the sprint went ! It was a long one and could feel the legs burning but kept on pushing and pushing, the teeth were grinding, the heart was pumping, the adrenaline was flowing and BOOM !!!!!!

6th place !!!!!!!! Hell yeah ! First road race and loved every minute of it !

The cold mormings, the hill repeats, the pain endured, the miles clocked in have paid off !!!!!

Looking forward to the next race now !
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Re: Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:40 pm

PawPaw wrote:
foo on patrol wrote:I would suggest PawPaw, too stay in the mid pack for your rest period and not at the back. This way, it is a whole lot easier to counter the attacks off the front. :wink:

Foo
Totally agree Foo. But I'm kind of extra sensitive to what's going on around me, so I relax better when I know there's no idiot who is going to come up my outside, or hassle me off a wheel (lord knows why people do that in a 2 hour race), or not give me enough room to get around potholes or the several large rocks the two headed locals put on the course. It's more important for me to finish the race in tact, then win, and the people I'm racing against aren't necessarily the brightest or best riders. In fact, you have to be pretty bent to race in the first place don't you :lol:
That's why you have a pump on your bike PawPaw! :lol: Have or should I say did see this used at times on fools. :lol:

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