MIDSOUTH MASTER CYCLING CLUB

The 54 mile road race just before noon on Saturday has been a very big factor in the GC placing in past events.  The course is rolling hills offering many occasions to attack.  We do four loops on a circuit before returning up a long hill for the finish.  We figure that a break will form again this year and, as long as it had a member from each of the three larger teams in the race, it would have a good chance to stick.  Our plan was to have at least one guy in the breaks and try to get me or Ed to take the hot spot time bonus during the second lap.

We get on the road circuit and right away Jon Garrett with Colavita ramps up the pace and takes the pack along with him.  Jorge Merle with Dallas Racing attacks a couple of miles later and I go with him along with a LaS'port rider and a Colavita guy.  We stay away for a while but get chased back down by a few riders not on one of the three main teams.  There were a few other attacks that Jerry and Ed covered as well but nothing stayed away very long.

Jerry Simon covering a break

About 8 miles into the race, Jorge Merle attacked again with a Colavita guy.  Jerry started to bridge up to them with Jon Garrett on his wheel and then kind of eased up.  I jumped from the pack and came around them and caught Jorge's wheel.  I figure if Jerry and Jon catches us, we will now have equal numbers with the Colavita guys.  The three of us start trading pulls.  Jerry and Jon catch on a short while later making a group of five.  We quickly put a big gap on the remaining pack since most of the fire power left in it has a team member in the break.

We continue to work for the next few miles.  I see that Jorge has just been sitting in.  I don't see any of his teammates trying to bridge and the pack is gone.  I tell him that I think this is going to be the break that sticks and ask if he is going to do any work.  He says "no".  Jerry has a longer "conversation" with him encouraging him to pull but Jorge remains at the back of the break.  Jerry tells me to sit in as well while he trades pulls with the Colavita guys.  Eventually they become less cooperative and it is clear that we need to start attacking Jorge.   

Jerry tells Jon to come with him so they can take the hot spot bonus as he attacks.  Jorge covers Jerry's attack and I go as soon as he catches Jerry figuring one of the Colavita guys will be with me.  Neither of them follow and Jorge lets me go as well.  I keep my pace steady and look back to see if Colavita is going to make the bridge but no one is coming.  I am at mile 12 and I figure I have less than five miles before the hot spot.  I can probably take it with the gap I have so just keep going.

Jason Miller looks back after attacking to see if anyone will bridge to him

I get the 7 second time bonus as I cross the hot spot first.   I still don't see anyone coming behind me so continue to push the pace keeping my heart rate in check and eating and drinking.  I figure the longer I can stay out, the more rest Jerry and Ed will be able to get in their group.

Somewhere near the start of the on the third lap the lead vehicle tells me my gap is about 2 minutes on the pack.  This is getting interesting.  Without a lot of details, I don't know if that is the group I left with Jerry and they are still away or if it is the main field.  It wasn't going to change any thing I was doing either way.  My legs are a bit tired and I am probably taking the hills a bit slower but I am still feeling pretty good and my pace is about the same.  During the fourth lap my legs start to cramp a little on the longer hill so I take it in the small chainring.  I know if the pack catches me now that I would be hard press to latch on to the back of them.  I have been looking back when I am on the longer sections of road to see if anyone is gaining on me.  I begin to pass riders off the back of other races so it is a little harder to know if anyone in my race is coming up.

I have been solo for over 40 miles as I approach the final climb to the finish line.  I am relieved that I can take the hill at my own pace as I glance back one last time at the empty road.  I also know that I won't be worth much for the remaining races.  After I top the hill, I push it to the line trying to put as much time as possible on the field.  I watch for the pack as the seconds tick by as I return to the finish line following a very satisfying win.  I see a couple of riders crest the hill after a minute but they are off the front of the Cat 4 race.  It isn't until four minutes later that I see Jerry and Jorge battling for second place.  Jerry finishes in third as Jorge edges him out for second place.  Ed and the rest of the pack is only about 15 seconds back.  The Dallas Racing team had been working to catch Jerry's break and had just about reeled them in.  Baring a mechanical or crash, the GC is well in hand for our team.

Jason Miller tries to make every second count as he finishes the road race

Ed Novak finishing the road race

Sunday morning we wake to wind, rain and, believe it or not, 50 degree temperatures in May.  I had brought knee and arm warmers but no rain gear or vest.  Our strategy in the criterium is to get Ed or Jerry a time bonus in the hot spot or finish to try to move up in the GC.  The earlier races are held in the rain.  By the time we start around 10AM, the conditions have improved as the rain has past and the sun is starting to peak out.  The race starts out fairly tame without many attacks.  I don't seem to have any snap in my legs as we slow and then sprint out of the wet corners.

I pretty much sit in the entire race as some attacks begin.  I am doing all I can to catch the pack following the hot spot sprint half way through.  I wasn't able to help but did see that neither Ed or Jerry was able to finish in the top two for the bonus.  I tell Ed to keep with me to make sure I don't lose the group.  A few laps later they start counting us down. 

With two laps left, I moved near the front to offer what I had left for Jerry or Ed.  One of the Dallas guys takes a flyer off the front and I move to the front of the pack to pull him back in.  I only get about half way before I die and drift off the back of the passing riders.  Jimmy Olsen with Dallas Racing and one of the Colavita guys are off the back as well after working during the race.  We group together and finish about 45 seconds behind the field.  Jorge took the sprint while Ed and Jerry finished 4th and 5th just outside the time bonuses.  The GC placing pretty much stayed the same with me safely in first, Ed in 5th and Jerry in 6th. 

Thinking back, as much as my GC win was determined by a solo break, that break would not have been able to happen if I didn't have teammates in the race with me.  Having Jerry with me in the first break allowed me to attack without worrying about loosing our position in front pack.  Plus I was able to sit in a mile or so while he worked at the front.  Ed was able to escort me in the criterium as well as help control the pack during the road race.

After this weekend, I have a feeling Rocky Mount will continue to be one of my favorite racing events.