Press Release 03.30.2006

Weekend Race Report

by Billy Hart
WV squad - Mazza Vineyards /Inferno Racing Team

Event: Hueston Woods, OH; Sun.3.26.2006

An hour before the start of the Hueston Woods race, the temperature was hovering between 38-42 degrees, a little chilly, but better than Saturday. When we started lining up for the start of the race the sun began to peak out of the clouds and it QUICKLY warmed up. Guys started peeling off layers, I decided to keep my gear on, and I’m glad I did because of the strange weather we would see later. This was a 40 mile race with 4, ten mile loops. We had 68 bikes at the start of the race.

The race started uphill at a very fast pace for the first 3-4 miles, as I looked up to the front to see who is pulling so hard, I see Bruce, and he is just hammering away. I know we had to drop some guys. A huge pace line formed after we reached the top of the hill as Bruce really started hammering on the flats and downhill. I was scared for my life going downhill, 30-50 bikes in line going 40+ makes me nervous. After Bruce got off the pull, the pace slowed, he accomplished what he wanted, which was to drop some guys early.

After Bruce pulled for nearly half a lap there were still 40-50 bikes in the group. The first lap and half nothing really happened, maybe one or two attacks but the group quickly reeled them in. By this time I was frustrated with the size of the group because you couldn’t get anywhere. And then the weather got crazy on us, it went from sun to clouds to snow in 10 minutes, it got nasty! It would stay cloudy for the remainder of the day and we would some on and off snow on the backside of the hill, really odd stuff.

We were about 2-3 miles from finishing the second lap, I dropped back from mid pack to look for Bruce and Robert. They had went to the back of the group because there was really nothing we could do in the middle, just couldn’t get anywhere. I told Bruce I was feeling good and wanted to do something, so we decided to make a move on the next hill. Bruce made the first move and I followed him towards the front. Once we got to the hill I made a move on the outside and ended up in front of the group. When I got to the top I just started hammering away, I did that for about a minute of so, I looked back to let someone take a pull, to my surprise no one was there! There was no one chasing and I couldn’t even see the group. I was so shocked, I didn’t know what to do, stop, go, or wait for them. I decided to GO!

I had never been in a solo breakaway so I didn’t know what to expect. I was by myself with 18 miles to go, I figured there would be a chase group that would come and chase me down. I finished the 3rd by myself, that’s when I really thought I have a chance of winning the race. On two different occasions I had looked over my shoulder and saw groups of bikes, thinking it was my group so I just sat up and waited because I was exhausted. Turns out they were cats 1/2/3, so I was still out by myself, I think I really wanted get caught at times so I could take a rest.

The last lap, my legs were shot, speed and cadence have slowed big time. I look at my computer, only 4 miles left so I tell myself to keep moving, so I hammer away the best I can, still no sign of the group. The last ½ mile of the race had a small climb, then down and another small climb to the finish.

I get to the bottom of the last hill and all I have to do is make it two hundred yards up this small hill (which felt like a mountain). I had rode 18 miles by myself without a sign of the group. I look over my shoulder with 200 yards to go and I see the group, and they are coming FAST! So I get up off the saddle and pedal as hard as I can but it didn’t seem like I was moving. 100 yards to go, the group is moving like a swarm of bees, I’m so exhausted I can barely control my bike. 50 yards to go, I look back and loose control of the bike and run off the freakin rode into the gravel. I was somehow able to get back on the rode and had enough kick left to get to the finish line.

I had narrowly won my first race….by 3 seconds!! I was so confused at the end I wasn’t even sure I had won until Bruce told me. Bruce finished 11th on the day, I have to give him some props. He could have easily caught me, instead, he stayed with the group and helped keep them from chasing me down. That’s what teammates are for, and he took one for the team. Thanks Bruce, I owe ya one!

Results: http://www.ohiovalleyracing.org/results.php?action=get_event_results&event_id=143