KILLINGTON STAGE RACE - MAY 29-31, 2010

This weekend has traditionally marked the season's first meaningful appointment, and a journey down to Charlevoix to take on some of the toughest roads in Quebec. However after 6 years and some success, it was time for something new, and the revived KSR was just the thing.  I knew the organizer put on great races, I love the area, and the profile of the weekend's races certainly suited me. Better yet, I'd convinced my best riding buds, Paul Chedore from our team, and Cary Moretti from Project Freeride in Toronto, to join in on the fun.

Stage 1 was a 90 km road race that was three 30km loops.  Each loop was essentially a triangle, one length climbing and 2 descending.  The climb was long, but it was big ring all the way, maxing out at maybe 4%. On the first lap, I tried a little something just after the KOM, ripping into a steep descent at almost 90kph with 4-5 others, but everyone was obviously way too motivated, and we got brought back quickly on the next long gradual downhill. In fact, it was apparent early on that the motivated and very deep field was not going to let anything get much of an advantage, so I basically cruised the tail of the peloton, kept out of trouble, and sprinted in with the group for a same-time finish.

Stage 2 was brutal, a 17 km timetrial along twisting highway roads, climbing for the first 15 km at between 1-3%. The last 2 km were technical and downhill, and on the day, the entire length was met with a 20-30 kph headwind.  I was stoked, reminding myself that TTs for me were better the harder they were, and I wasn't going to be disappointed this day.  Prior to the start, I'd heard that most of the US boys were tipping the starter 2 behind me, Fred Thomas, as the favourite. I was also concerned with Jonny Bold, another American with a big reputation.  Well, a TT doesn't present too much of a story... I rode my ass off, getting up to speed, finding that happy pain zone, watching my kph and hr, but mostly feeling my way up the course, while concentrating on body position, relaxation, cadence and breathing.  I caught about 6 or 7 guys and just reaching the 15 km mark, was feeling pretty good... when suddenly, Mr. Thomas comes up beside me... he'd started a minute down..! I tried not to panic, and honestly at that point, I was pretty much all in anyways, so it didn't much matter... he finished 7 seconds ahead of me, 1:07 therefore ahead on the results. I was stunned...  anyways, I wait for Paul, we fuel up, recover and then just before going out to dinner, I check the results... damn, I was third!  Turns out I had ridden well... Thomas finished 40 seconds up on Bold and then there was me, and then over another minute to 4^th!   Fred would in fact have been on the Pro podium. So all's well, I can still ride, and I'm set for the queen stage Monday, 3^rd on GC.

Stage 3 was a point to point race, 99km road race, about 40 km rolling descending, then the first KOM, about a 7 km climb, then a bunch more rolling, a very sketchy gravel descent, and then about 30 km of flat before a finishing climb up to Killington base area of about 7 kms.

The leader and 2^nd on GC, Thomas and Bold, both had strong teams, and Bold had the KOM leader. At the gun a break goes, including the KOM leader.  Apart from that, super easy ride... the first 40 km go by very quickly (brutally sketch pavement but gorgeous area) and everyone's very fresh at the first KOM, and so it stretches out a bit, but nothing even close to getting away... Basically, fast forward to the last 30 km, and Thomas' team finally starts chasing.  We roll it over pretty hard and reduce the gap, but its still over 2 minutes when we hit the base of the climb.  At the base, Thomas goes to the front and sets a hard tempo, I get on his wheel, and the peloton is instantly strung out and breaking up.  500 meters in, the climb hit a switchback and reached over 15%.  I attacked out of second wheel and got a bit of a gap - it was really more of a tester, but needing over a minute, I also had to go early...  well, Thomas was having none of it. He countered off the front of the peloton over the top of me, I jumped back across to his wheel, and held on for about 30 seconds. When I looked back, the gap was wide open, and we were away.  At this point, my decision was easy... work with Thomas and a) I likely get up to 2^nd on GC as Bold was dropped, and b) maybe still get the stage.  Since Thomas was obviously very strong, getting any time on him, let alone a minute, seemed unlikely... So an absolutely ballistic climb ensued - we ultimately put a minute and half into the chasers, and caught all but one of the original breakaways... the guy held on by 30 seconds, but he was many minutes back on GC..., so Thomas and I sprinted for 2^nd, he got it, and I had to be satisfied with another stage podium in 3^rd, and 2^nd overall.

Thomas was the strongest guy on the weekend, and I felt I was just a fraction off of him, and that I couldn't be disappointed with the result. It was great to be racing with a teammate too, as Paul was constantly around me offering help and support, and rode his first hard hilly stage race in a couple of years, so thanks and congrats to him too. And thanks as always to all my supporters and friends at Cyclelogik, Powered by Caffeine!

See you in Sutton.

DG