Apex hosts this race in collaboration with the Tour de Bloom team and so I raced in the morning and then drove the follow car for the afternoon 35+ Masters A race
The rain held off for the morning race and we had a decent size field as we were combined with both the 40+ and 60+ divisions, although scored separately. This helps with having a larger field but makes it difficult to know exactly who you are racing against.
We’d come into this with a plan to get Frank into a break on the second lap and for Jeff to try to win the first lap wine prime. This race has a decent hill up to the finish line (about a 7 min rolling climb) which you hit each lap. I was ok the first couple times up it and Jeff managed to take the prime as planned after chasing down one rider who started his sprint very early at 1 k out. We celebrated that briefly once he fell back to the pack and then carried on with the rolling roads of the backside of the course. I felt fine on these sections but for some reason just couldn’t stay attached to the field the thrid time up the hill. I have a tough time adjusting and recovering after summiting a hill and need to work out how to train that transfer point better as it keeps getting me. Looking at my data I wasn’t maxed out in any real way, although it felt it at the time, and should have been able to hang on. I actually then averaged 20W more for the rest of the race after being dropped.
I rode by myself for a little and then got joined by two riders from the 4/5 field and eventually reeled in a couple more riders up front who had been dropped from my field. It kept the last hour more enjoyable as I had people to ride with. I asked if anyone wanted to sprint coming up to the finish and got some takers so was able to see what kick I still had left. (40+ rider beat me but I beat the two 4/5 riders who I’d been riding with, Scott sat out the sprint and just spun in).
Due to some confusion we got shorted a lap for our race but I just went off the lap board and final lap bell so everyone had a fair idea that it was the end. Frank had created a break with one rider from the 60+ field and took the win. Their lead car had to eventually stop and pull them off the road to tell them their race was over as they had just kept going thinking they had 1 more lap still. Jeff came 2nd in the pack sprint for 3rd overall so all in all a great result for the team.
I wasn’t too far back at the end so rolled back to the car park with the others.
Then it was time to shift into volunteer mode for the rest of the day and 3 hours in the car with the race official and Susan following the Masters A race. It was good fun, chatting and trying to keep track of how many people were up the road in a break and chase group. We had to neutralise our race briefly when the 1/2 field caught us which proved a good opportunity for a roadside pitstop to make the rest of the race more comfortable.
All in all a good day out though a rather dissapointing race.