KW Classic

Two quick things; first, there might be more stuff about what has gone on other than the race than about the race, and two, the race report itself will not be a traditionnal lap by lap summary haha. Sixteen laps!

After I got my disorganised self completely ready for the race I had about 25 minutes to warm up, didn't go so bad actually, did some sprints and a few longer efforts, shot the shit with etzl then made my way over to the starting pen for some pre-race chat.

It started to rain and I thought this would be for the worse since I was expecting to be in the red zone a bit trying to hold on. It ended up being for the better and I made my way over to the front quite a bit just to lead through the corners, sometimes I would launch off the front a bit and keep a comfortable pace hoping a good group of three or so caught me and we might be able to get something going. I was feeling very good at the beginning of the race and wasn't having any trouble staying up front in the climbs with guys like De Cal and Noble.

After a hard-fought prime, I just missed it by less than a foot, after I realised how close to the line we were I pulled out front still in the hoods trying to come around the front guy for it but ran out of tar, I sat in for a couple laps. There was an attack off the front by De Cal and I went to follow with another guy, he crashed out in front of me on the first left-hand bend and the gap got a bit bigger. I figured I 'd let it grow and see if I can help De Cal out since this was probably his last race in S3 and I knew he'd be hungry for a win. After about 30sec of keeping the pace tamed the second guy shouted "Are you gonna chasse him?" and I was like "nope" haha. So he pulled up ahead of me and I sat it until the pack was together again. Paps and I executed a perfect feed after me got a few tips from other parents, sick.

I was still feeling strong going off the front and was getting to be almost a habit to go out front before the S-bend and have a small gap going on the straight-away. With 2 to go my legs started to get tense especially on the short, punchy climbs so I dropped back and decided to wait for a sprint. There were a couple good attacks that came and a couple times I had no choice but to go up front to do work but I knew I wouldn't get dropped and was hoping to hold on to someone fast going on the straight-away and see what happens. Well I ended up getting boxed in to a horrible spot and when the sprint finally started I was making my way up then there was a loud noise very similar to the one I heard on the sprint at Good Friday road and had me holding the brakes for a second. I lost some ground and before I knew it I seen De Cal's hands fly up and the race was done. 12th, not bad, should get better.

Saturday I slept in too late for the club ride from a result of friday night's sprints and cornering work. Even during my easy spin with The Coach and paps my legs felt like rubber so a club ride might have been a bad idea considering I had to work at 5. Washed some dishes until 11 and hurried home for some shut-eye. By the time I get to bed it's not until 12 but that still leaves a seven hour sleep, not bad.

Monday was a day off and last night was a race on the hilly course, I attacked and chassed until I had no gas left in the tank before going up Saylor's the second time. I got shelled and the gap got too big before the downhill, it continued to grow from there and by Sulfur Springs I knew I wouldn't catch. But I hammered and hoped that I would pass all those that got dropped, I ended up only passing one because Hopkins hurt his calf.

I had the day off work today so I headed out for just under three hours with Max to loosen the legs up and I might get a core workout done this afternoon. I'm about to munch out for the second time since I got back and then I'm going to swap out my 100mm stem for the 110 that came with the cx bike I bought off Chown and I might put the Selle Italia SLR saddle that came with that bike on instead of the one I have now. Not sure which model of SI it is bit it's good quality, just doesn't seem fit right for me. If Contador can ride a Tour on the SLR then it should be pretty comfortable if the fit is right.

Tomorow I was hoping to make it out to McNeily and Woolverton but that will depend on what time I get off work and what I do there. If it's an easier day and I finish at 2 then I'll be out there for sure, let's hope there are some thunder showers tonight. Thanks weatherman, I dressed for the rain and not-so-hot today but the rain stopped and it cleared up not even an hour in to the ride. I was boiling.