Oh for some professional etiquette
Day eight from Deutchlandsberg, Austria
This morning brought bright sunshine and a delightful breakfast. As my race began at 12:30 I went for about a 50 kilometer group ride with the Aussies here (about 12). It was a joy to ride with such good riders. The pace line was organized, steady and very safe. It was a lovely ride which included a stop for coffee, good conversation and beautiful weather. What more could you ask for? I got back had a snack and headed down to the start for my race.
Today’s race was a 35.5 kilometer handicap event. A handicap race always makes for an interesting format. The slowest (oldest) category begins first with a 50 second gap, then the next at 50 seconds, then the next (which was my category) then the last. The points for the overall are given to the first eight that cross the line and are not divvied up by category.
After a look at the overall, I had to get some points today if I wanted to maintain my second place in the overall and/or move into first. So as the race began, I was patient, letting the other women in my category chase. We all came together as a group after about 5 kilometers and then the race began for real. Unlike the last road race, I played a game of patience today waiting for the opportunity to attack and get clear. I did not want to come to the line with the bunch.
Unfortunately for me, 35 kilometers is just not a long enough race nor were there enough climbs for me to truly soften up the field. Fellow American Susan Shook (super strong) rode an awesome race, attacking hard a few times, helping me in my cause.
At one point Susan was away with my main competitor Inna Pannina. The gap opened to about 15 seconds and it was clear the entire field was all stacked up behind me waiting for me to chase. I let the gap open a bit longer then brought up the pace to them splitting the field and as I had planned, caught them near to the bottom of a good little digger through the town of Grosse Flaurian. I attacked on the inside of Susan and she kindly shut the door, forcing everyone around her.
Soon I was clear with just Inna and a German rider attached to my wheel. At this point it was decision time. The girl who was sitting in third overall by only one point was not there, and I liked my chances against these two more so than the entire field so I committed to the cause and settled into TT mode for the last 15 kilometers of the race.
Inna tried to pull through but her pulls were much weaker than mine (she is much smaller than I am). The other woman shook her head when I asked her to pull through and pulled a finger across her throat to say she could do no work. So it was me pulling into the wind and working to open the gap. From what I understand there was quite a chase behind but I was determined not to get caught and slowly the gap opened. It never blew open though and the field was breathing down our neck for most of the last 10 km.
Both Inna and I let the German stay on and told her not to sprint. She repeated it, “nein” and nodded. Agreements like this happen all the time in the pro peloton. I agree to do the bulk of the work and Inna and I sprint it out at the end. The German gets a free ride and for that agrees not to sprint. I was happy with the agreement; it made sense and was proper etiquette.
Coming into the uphill drag into the finish, Inna and I began the sprint but I had very little left in my legs and Inna passed me about 10 meters from the line. I sat up at this point, thinking I would be second when out of no where the German came by me. I was pissed. I mean really angry. I rode up to her at the finish and actually shook her jersey telling her that you just don’t make agreements and break them at the line. She spoke no English but I think I got my point across. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do at this point save for kicking myself for believing her. Just because I know and respect the rules of the professional peloton, does not mean everyone does. My mistake. It will not happen again.
My mistake has cost me the overall though. I will not be able to pass Inna even if I win the final event, the time trial because I missed out on the second place points today. I should be able to hold on to second place in the overall, but I was hoping to give a good effort at the overall jersey.
After the race, Rob and I rode the 50 K out to Saturday’s 19 kilometer time trial course for a preview. I like it. It is a very difficult, very technical course. It should be challenging and will bring the toughest and most determined riders to the top of their respective groups. Saturday will be my last test before the World's on Wednesday. As we bare down on the very reason I am here in Austria, I am fairly happy with my fitness. A few more hard efforts, some leg rubs, good food and sleep and I should be ready to give it my very best effort.
Before the time trial, Rob has his own handicap race tomorrow. He will race with the Master’s one, two and three categories so the race will be fast and furious. Fortunately for him, his race is 67 kilometers. Too bad I cannot race with the men!
Until then! Thanks for reading.
The final test before Worlds
Day nine and ten from Deutchlandsberg, Austria
Before I begin I have to apologize for my tardy reporting. Yesterday we opted for a late pizza in lieu of writing. A decision which was well worth it today at about 9:30 am. I was in desperate need for something over than a meat bi-product.
Yesterday was the men’s handicap race, run in the same format as my race the previous day. Rob had two laps to race for a total of 60 kilometers. His group (Master’s 1) was the smallest so they had they had to work very hard to catch the master’s 2 which had at least triple the riders.
I rode Rob’s course backwards so I could give him time splits to the group ahead. The first lap Rob’s group was just off the back of the Master’s 2 and Rob was driving the pace. As the groups came together things got organized but ahead of them the Master’s three were even better organized with a Russian directing. Every single rider in the front group took a turn and in two laps Rob’s group could not bring them back. The groups finished about 20 seconds from each other with the powerful Russian winning. Rob had a great finish after doing so much work and finished up 16th.
Last night at about 9 PM I was famished beyond belief and we wandered out in the mist to find a pizza place. The pizza was phenomenal; the closest to something resembling our food from home, a comfort I think we both needed after eating so much foreign meat and schnitzel.
This morning dawned early for us. I had a 9:24 start so breakfast was at 6:30. After a gallon of coffee and some fresh bread and jam we headed to the start. I had a nice warm-up; one hard effort told me I would be ok, although my position has been doctored in the past few days to conform to the strict UCI rules.
As I was doing my final prep and putting oil on my legs, we watched as a Slovenian oiled himself up. I mean oiled. He did it in front of all the riders warming up; shorts rolled up far enough to see everything (and I do mean everything). Bare chested he oiled the front of him (no part was overlooked) and then turned around, pulled down his shorts and oiled his backside for all the world to see; no nook or cranny was missed. Well, I pretty much lost breakfast about then because Rob and I were laughing so hard. It was quite a show; I had never seen anything like it. I was still chuckling as I rode to the line.
I was off third in my group, with my nemesis Inna one minute in front of me. As I started I immediately realized my new position was affecting my power output and I was going to have to monitor my effort very precisely. I caught my 30 second woman within five kilometers and was about 5 second back on Inna at the turn-around (10 kilometers).
The return home was very slow due to the wind and I tried to time catching Inna at a time when I could go fast by her. She knew I was coming and tried her best to hold me off. As I went by her she accelerated hard but I kept my tempo and soon was by her. With five kilometers to go, I knew I was at my limit and worked hard on maintaining good form.
I could see Rob coming at me as he headed out on course but could not even wave, much less smile. By this time I had breakfast on my legs and was seeing only the white line in the center of the road. Finally the 1000 meter sign made its appearance; but it was the longest 1000 meters of my life. A long uphill drag into the headwind saw me get a bit bogged down, committed to a gear that maybe was a bit too big. Finally I crossed the line in 25:50, the winning time for all the women, well over a minute over second.
After pulling on dry clothes, I rolled back around in time to see Rob coming into the finish, breathing hard and gunning for the line. His time was good enough for fifth place (25:57).
Final awards are tonight. I will be second in the overall, but Rob will either be second or third depending on how the points sort themselves out.
Now the packing begins so that we are organized to head to St. Johann tonight. Tomorrow we will ride into Germany and Monday is a World Cup for me. I am feeling good about Wednesday and with a few more days on the time trial bike am confident I will be more comfortable in the position.
Until then! Thank you for reading.
Damen 2:
Giana Roberge 25:50
Master’s 1
5. Rob Dillion 25:57
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