Press Release 3.24.2007

 

Race Report from the Mid-Ohio Tour Race
by Bruce Miller of Seven Hills Cycling Club

DATE: Sat. 3-24-2007
LOCATION: OH

Saturday started like most Saturdays this time of year. I got up at 6:30, ate some oatmeal, scrambled some eggs for later, packed up the truck and got on the road. As soon as I started driving it started pouring. It was so tempting to just turn around and go back to bed. One of the only things that kept me going was knowing that I was going to meet my coach in 30 minutes to carpool. Not only has he became a friend he is also full of information that will be beneficial for years to come so I couldn't pass up this opportunity.

I get to the park and ride at 8:00 am and we transfer his bike and gear over to my truck. In the few minutes it took to do this task we both got soaked. We got back in the truck and we were on our way. 3 1/2 hours from now we would be at the race track!

This weeks race course was awesome and the rain had actually quit but the track was still wet. It was the mid-ohio track where they race indy cars and crotch rockets on. I'm sure they race other things as well, all much faster than my two stroke fuji. We get to the course, get ready, then do a pre-ride. I think Jacob knew everyone there. I guess thats what happens when you have been in the racing scene for over ten years though. During our pre-ride I knew my legs weren't going to cooperate. Oh well, another race of setting in getting some experience I guess. 

The race started at 1:00 with the 1/2/3s taking off. At 1:02 the 3/4s took off, then at 1:04 our group took off, the 4/5s and the 5/open class. With us all together I'm guessing there were about 40 - 50 riders. I honestly have no idea exactly how many there were. Our group had to do 19 laps of the 1.5 mile course.

At the beginning of the first lap one guy took off on a solo breakaway. Shortly after two more went off. The two guys were caught pretty quick. No one paid much attention to the first guy even though he has already won several races this season. At the time I was at the very back just relaxing so I didn't really know what was going on. We did the first lap and came to the climb at the end of the course. At this time the course was just a little bump in the road. Even though it was small it was still hurting some people. After the climb was a relatively long straight stretch up a slight climb and into a nasty headwind.

The first four laps stayed pretty much just like the first, everyone stayed together and then at the top of the climb everyone would just set up and let everyone rest a minute. On the forth lap I was at the back talking to a teammate about how boring it was and then it hit me. I did not drive 200 miles to the race just to set in a slow group ride for 30 miles and then drive 200 miles home. I figured I might as well cause a little excitement even though I knew all it would do was hurt me.

At this point I go from the back and start working my way up to the front over the next 1/2 mile. When we got to the top of the climb everyone sat up again. I just kept going. I figured one of two things would happen. Either I would cause some excitement and get the speed of the race up a little or the field would let me dangle a lap or two and then eat me up. Either way I would get some threshold work. I took off.

I really didn't get much reaction. I looked back a couple of times and saw a light hearted attempt to catch me, then they just let me dangle. After two laps I was out of their sight and I just kept going. I was hurting like hell already. Well during this lap I came up to the other guy that had taken off earlier, Peter. I quickly asked him if he wanted to work together in which he responded , yes. Thank god! We started trading pulls and just kept increasing our lead. Neither one of us knew how many laps we had done or how many we had left. All I knew was I was ready to collapse and my legs were already trying to cramp up. By this time the little bump in the road was a category 3 climb.

After a few more laps the race director yelled out nine laps to go. I knew I would never make it but I kept going. We kept changing pulls and I dreaded it every time I saw him flick his elbow. However I knew I had to take my turn. Every lap was a struggle. A few laps later I saw the number, five laps to go. Holy crap I was hurting. I just kept on going as did Peter. Man that guy is strong! Next lap we come around, four laps to go. We kept going and at one point I looked back around a turn and saw the field, oh crap!

We go another lap and I couldn’t believe it, it still said four laps to go! He didn't flip it, double crap! We go another lap, three to go. At this point the little bump in the road is a Hor de category (however its spelled). We just keep going. I can’t remember the last time my legs hurt this bad. I can still see the field around a couple of turns. Two laps to go, we just may make it! That climb was worse than Alpe Duez (sp?) at this point. One lap to go, I think we are going to make it. I quickly threw my water bottle to the side of the road and gave it all I had. We go around the turns and start the climb. No suprise Peter puts a gap between us about ten feet. Not much but more than I could cover. We come around the last turn and into the headwind, I stood up and sprinted, and I use that term very loosely, but it was pointless. I knew many laps ago that Peter was stronger but that didn’t keep me from trying. I came within a couple of seconds of him but that was it, he got me. I managed second place. I was very happy with that.

Later I found out that we had a 50 second lead at one point. I believe we actually had more than that when we finished since we were both off of the bike and chatting when the field came threw. I don't know if we had two minutes or not but I don't think it was far off.

After the race I got to chat with Peter, fly:yes land:no from bikeforums a bit and one of my teammates for a bit. All of them were extremely cool. I'm thinking that my teammates name was Jason but I'm not going to swear to it.

My coach (Jacob Fetty) ended up ninth in the 1/2/3s. Not too bad considering that he was getting over some kind of cold. Man those guys are fast!!! Anyway, congratulations to everyone that was there. It was a blast!

Oh yeah, it's great to know that I am getting stronger. I could have never pulled this off a couple of weeks ago!

Woohoo! my first podium as a four!!!!!