Tokeneke 2018
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 9:21 pm
Today's race was both mine and Derin's first in a pure 3's race. Derin because he had recently upgraded, and me because my last two road races were combined with other fields. I knew who the players were and was looking out mostly for the other two guys who were on the podium at Hilltowns. The race started off as a pretty solid noodlefest. I spoke with Owen, the HIlltowns cat 3 winner (and total watt-monster-freak), and we decided to force a break on either North Hollow Road (the second big climb) on the second lap or on 181 (the first climb) on the third and final lap. After a few failed break attempts by people I was unconcerned with one guy rolled off and nobody decided to chase. He fairly quickly got out of sight, and after a few more miles people started getting antsy. At some point during these miles I conferred with Owen and the decision was made to go for it earlier to ensure that we would be fighting for the win.
As we rolled up to the 181 climb Derin was right next to me. I wasn't exactly sure when the climb was going to start, so I told him the plan. Not but 2 seconds later Owen put in a massive dig, and I told Derin to GO GO GO. After the first steep bit was over the resulting break was the Three Musketeers from the HIlltowns podium, a dude from 545, and Derin. We absolutely drilled it up the climb, setting the KOM in the process. 545 guy was skipping pulls, so he was dropped. As we approached the top of the climb I told Owen and Anthony that Derin was on junior gearing and asked if we could ease into the pace on descents so he wouldn't get dropped. To my surprise they were totally cool with that. Fast forward a couple miles, and Derin entered the hurt locker. I told Owen and Anthony that Derin would be skipping a few pulls, and we should rotate in front of him, and again they cooperated. This process repeated itself for the next 21 miles with Derin recovering, taking pulls, and then needing a break. He contributed as much as he was capable and the break steamrolled through the parcours smoothly.
Side note: at some point we caught the solo breakaway rider who made the decision that it was in his best interest to take a long, hard pull on one of the descents. In news that should surprise nobody he was jettisoned from the break at the base of the next climb.
At mile 59, as I was pulling off after finishing a pull, I felt some resistance, heard an explosion, and the sound of carbon scraping. Not necessarily in that order. Apparently Owen was half wheeling (tenth wheeling?) me while eating, and when I pulled off I took his wheel out. After the race he told me that it was his fault, which was nice to hear because he's a super nice dude and him crashing was a bummer. The crash also took out Anthony, so all of a sudden it was a 2 man MRC break!
I asked the moto what our gap was, to which he responded 'BIG' so I told Derin that our only priority was to get to the finish without blowing up. As we approached the top of the final climb Derin asked if he could have the win. We rolled through the finish, with Derin about a half wheel ahead. MRC 1-2. Success!
Edit: I should add that Derin picked up our cash winnings and handed me the envelope for 1st. Gentlemanly move.
As we rolled up to the 181 climb Derin was right next to me. I wasn't exactly sure when the climb was going to start, so I told him the plan. Not but 2 seconds later Owen put in a massive dig, and I told Derin to GO GO GO. After the first steep bit was over the resulting break was the Three Musketeers from the HIlltowns podium, a dude from 545, and Derin. We absolutely drilled it up the climb, setting the KOM in the process. 545 guy was skipping pulls, so he was dropped. As we approached the top of the climb I told Owen and Anthony that Derin was on junior gearing and asked if we could ease into the pace on descents so he wouldn't get dropped. To my surprise they were totally cool with that. Fast forward a couple miles, and Derin entered the hurt locker. I told Owen and Anthony that Derin would be skipping a few pulls, and we should rotate in front of him, and again they cooperated. This process repeated itself for the next 21 miles with Derin recovering, taking pulls, and then needing a break. He contributed as much as he was capable and the break steamrolled through the parcours smoothly.
Side note: at some point we caught the solo breakaway rider who made the decision that it was in his best interest to take a long, hard pull on one of the descents. In news that should surprise nobody he was jettisoned from the break at the base of the next climb.
At mile 59, as I was pulling off after finishing a pull, I felt some resistance, heard an explosion, and the sound of carbon scraping. Not necessarily in that order. Apparently Owen was half wheeling (tenth wheeling?) me while eating, and when I pulled off I took his wheel out. After the race he told me that it was his fault, which was nice to hear because he's a super nice dude and him crashing was a bummer. The crash also took out Anthony, so all of a sudden it was a 2 man MRC break!
I asked the moto what our gap was, to which he responded 'BIG' so I told Derin that our only priority was to get to the finish without blowing up. As we approached the top of the final climb Derin asked if he could have the win. We rolled through the finish, with Derin about a half wheel ahead. MRC 1-2. Success!
Edit: I should add that Derin picked up our cash winnings and handed me the envelope for 1st. Gentlemanly move.