Wente Race Report
Weather was perfect in Livermore…sunny, little wind, 60’s at start 70’s at finish…3-laps and 50-miles of racing with ~? Feet of climbing per lap (a lot)
My personal goal was to stay upright throughout the race and with the lead pack on the first lap going into this race. I had a very good recovery week going into this race…only road 45-min., not planned, just worked out that way.
My team goal was to contribute in anyway I could to helping a teammate improve their finish.
Lap 1:
The team had good position at the start and I was about 7th rider starting the climb and settled into what I felt was a sustainable level of effort up the climb and watched the pack of 75 riders gradually stream by up the climb to the bridge. I was about ¾ of the way back in the pack by the time I crossed the bridge over 580 and stayed pretty much there to the top of the next climb (178bpm, 14.4mph, 2.5miles). On the descent (38.8mph) I picked my way through to about the front ½ and then lost ground again up the final climb section. On the final descent I again worked my way back up to about 15th place by the bottom rejoining Todd, Steve, and Rick near the front as we worked our way back to the start….I was feeling pretty happy at achieving goal one.
Lap 2:
On the next lap I pulled Steve/Todd up to the base of the climb and said “I’ll see you guys later” not expecting to be able to stay on the lead group with them. This time up the climb (178bpm, 14.1mph, 2.5miles) I ended up at the back of the very elongated/strung out group with Brad near me on the second part of the climb and I apparently was in a fair amount of oxygen debt as I thought he was Randy Volkmar and kept telling him “nice job Randy”. Once the group compressed again it was a repeat of the first.
Lap 3:
I was definitely figuring I was going to be off the group this time up the climb (180bpm, 13.9mph, 2.5miles), but kept saying to myself “ its just like Penryn Hill on the Coffee ride…hang on”. Randy and I were in a third group at the bridge and he did an amazing amount of work with a couple of other guys to bring us (about 7 riders) back onto the lead group by the time we were going up the second climb…I was just hanging onto the back of this group hoping it would all be over soon.
Finish:
I again moved up the group going down the last decent and talked with Rick, Steve, and Todd about who we were going to be working for on the last climb…Todd felt the best so I worked for him (179, 20mph, 1.6 miles) going into the base of the last climb to the finish line…I think we went into the last corner in 3rd place and Todd finished in 5th or 6th…a great job!!! Having a team mate finish this very challenging race in the top 10-riders 
)….meanwhile I was trying to get my big ass up that last climb (179bpm, 13.3mph, .8miles) without blacking out…of the riders who passed me up the climb, I was able to re-pass an amazing 1-rider at the finish line ) just for pride…
Looking forwards to Sonora RR next Sunday
Lessons:
- A good recovery week can help a rider ride above his/her expectations on race day
- Teammates working for each other can help motivate each other to ride better than they expect
- Keep working regardless if you think you are toast…surprise yourself )