Since my last post, I have been rather busy training and racing. I completed the Giro del Cielo. I only did the first two stages as I couldn't get the car for Sundays Road Race. My TT went so so, I wasn't expecting anything great. I finished the 4.6 mile uphill course in the 19min range, which was very subpar on teh day. The crit went ok as well, I didn't have a good position and got stuck behind some cat 5s who kept braking through each turn causing huge gaps to open. Being a very short criterium course, this made it very hard to close gaps. This caused me to get pulled about halfway through the race. I wasn't happy w/ that and went home frustated, but determined to better the following weekend.
The following weekend, which was this past weekend I race twice. First on Saturday at the Cadence Cup in Brooklyn then again on Sunday for the Freedom Tour crit. Saturday went much better than my last outing in Brooklyn. Despite not eating or drinking enough, I was able to contest both green jersey sprints. Both times I just missed the points as I had jumped to early and got beat at the line. From that I learned that I need to time my jump better and find a better wheel to follow in the sprint. After those two sprints, I was pretty gassed and finished in the field for the race. I was happy w/ how my race went, as I learned that my sprint has improved enough to contest the sprint in a very tough race. Sunday's criterium went relatively well, first goal was to not get pulled like the previous week. Next goal was to try to contest a top ten. The race went pretty smoothly, I was able to stay up front always in the top 20-30 riders. I cornered well as each I either kept my position or gained a spot or two. I made a tactical mistake by not carrying water for the crit. By the last lap I was quickly running out of gas, w/ no way to refuel. Sprint time came, I just didn't have the gas to sprint and finished mid pack.
All in all, this weekend was clear improvement from last week and my collegiate stint this past spring. Form feels good, and I have some new toys on the way(sans powertap and rollers). I have plenty of races left this month before I wrap it up for the season at Denville. I will be racing again this weekend, will be working on the correcting the mistakes I've made so I can finally contest the sprint at the end of a race.
Here are some pics from this past weekend.....
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/9066083_KDDRH#603615740_nvVWJ
http://teamorganicnyc.org/gallery_090725.html
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