Alright so although work hasn't slowed down terribly much i still consider my excuse filled "off season" over and racing season underway. 2012 started out with the time trial and i went there expecting to be 3 miles into it and finding myself on the side of the road heaving. I was pleasently surprised. When i parked and registered i returned to my car to begin my gear prep and "traditions" that help calm me and prepare me for the 12.4 miles of suffering ahead. The gentleman parked next to me (who ended up taking second place 2:15 ahead of me) had just finished driving the course to check wind directions throughout and said it was 100% head wind going out and 100% tail wind coming back. He then proceeded to give me some much appreciated coaching. He said in time trials you have two places you can make time on your competitors, hills and headwinds. He said this will not be a 12.4 mile race but more a 6.2 mile race. The true race was to the turn around point because with the tail wind the time difference on the way back wouldnt be that extreme. He said go as hard as you can to the turn around point then allow the wind to aid you in recovery as you make your way home. During my warm up i realized just how bad the head wind was going to be.
i pulled into my spot on the line up and as usual i looked down and realized i was in a horrible gear to be starting in. I turned out of line and cruised back up the street got my gears changed and fell back in line. I was surronded by some of the funniest guys in bakersfield cycling (mainly rod nance) and so the 5 mins before the start was all fun and jokes which always helps calm me.
My mood does a complete 180 whenever it is my turn in the chute. usually at about 30 seconds to go i allow the bike holder to grab me as i clip in. The next 30 seconds are filled with emotion (the last emotion i allow until i cross the finish line)as i squeeze tightly on my brakes. nervousness, excitement, pride, and a humbleness and thankfullness that God has allowed me to have the ability and drive to be a competitive athlete. when the time keeper calls out ten seconds my eyes are closed and i bury all emotions that may allow me to recognize the pain im about to put myself through. At five seconds to go my fist unclenches releasing my front brake. My breathing is slow and deep as the time keeper announces 3 seconds to go. My legs tense up fully prepared to strike at a seconds notice and my right hand then too unclenches allowing my rear tire to be free. I am now fully in the hands of the bike holder waiting for his shove as my signal to crank. I'm not sure if i ever really here the timekeeper announce "go" or if i just feel the shove from the holder but the next 30+ mins are a dream. it consists of me looking ahead for the next rider (or carrot) to catch, analyzing my pedal stroke to ensure im staying fluid and efficient, foreseeing the next stretch of road and the required change in gear or tempo it may require, and finally analyzing my effort to see if there is more to give or if i need to back off to not burn out. There is two hills on the course...one at the turn around and one about a quarter mile before the finish. They are not long but they are nasty grades. i strangely felt great on both these climbs. I may have hit the last hill a little hard at the bottom and lost some time in the last third but ill remember that for the next time i race that course.
I came in 3rd place overall (it was not a huge turnout though) 3:31 behind first place and 2:14 behind second place. those are some enormous time gaps which i look forward to closing in the races to follow.
At this point Tour Down Under has been an interesting race. Coming into the pre-show-race on sunday there was definetly alot of excitement about seeing the newly re-formed teams hit the tarmac for the first time. But, had you asked me before i would have told you the two teams to watch were:
Team Sky- the new team of world champion Mark Cavendish. Although he is not starting his season until Tour of Qatar i wanted to see how they controled the peloten in the final km's of this sprinter dominated race. It is key that they not allow anyone in their leadout who doesnt belong and that their presence dominates the front of the pack. In the last laps they did form their leadout but it was embarassingly weak. other teams were cutting in and out and they eventually completely fell apart and were nowhere near the finish. Their coaches and directors have a lot of work to do before qatar.
Team Greenedge- This was a no brainer as THE team to watch in TDU. As the first aussie based squad and surronded by international hype the home crowd demanded they show off their skills in australia. But where were they? Not controlling the peloten thats where.
Look we get it sky and greenedge its the first week we'll give you a little break. now we have results of the pre-show and also the first three stages, but Pharma-lotto is not giving you a break. They seem to have the strong and well-tuned squad i expected to see out of you two. The man who won the pre-show, and whos team is dominating the leadouts, also won stage 1 and 3, Andre Greipel, of pharma-lotto (stage 2 was won by a courageous breakaway no namer) Now we have always known the german was fast but the speed in his kick to the line in this early season may be making a certain "manx missile" shake in his padded rainbow pants a little bit.
We have a great TDU to look ahead too and what i believe what will be a historic season overall. Photo from cyclingnews.com
