WMSR - Stage 2 - Getting there is half the fun

Last night, poor GeWilli got a gag-reflexing taste of where the hate in the love/hate relationship south of Boston riders have with theWorkingman's Stage Race comes from. For me, this is not just a race, but a ritual, so sitting on the LZ and Tobin bridges for most of the afternoon was just an expected part of the experience. For the 60 mile trip to the race by car, I averaged just over 27 mph, a shade faster than the Master 35+ pack would maintain in the 43 mile circuit race Wednesday evening. Knowing what to expect, my only worry was the constant rain, but alas the sun always shines over Amesbury in July, or at least the roads were dry... until the last lap that is.

So I guess Ge got to thoroughly stress out while worrying about making the start, which he did. We'll have to wait for his race report. As for me, we went into the race trying to do our best to protect the leader's jersey of BOB mate Wayne Santos, but Wayne is more the TT specialist than the rough and tumble sprinter type this race favors. Anyhow, there were a lot of attacks that gained 10-60 seconds, but it was not until the 4th of 5 laps that things got serious, which was also right about the time the heavy clouds rolled in and it got dark as a mofo, and eventually wet. Taking the two to go cards a group of six were off the front and Tyler Munroe (CCB-Volkswagen) put his guys on the front to bring it back. Sunapee also had a guy up there. We motored to within 15 seconds of the break and Tyler jumped across. I was right there but the break did not look great to me so I waited and took up the pacemaking until we were very close, at which point the Cronoman jumped across the gap. This break then died out, but a new one formed and at first it looked disorganized, but by the time we got to the KOM we were told they had 33 seconds. I was not sure who was up there but CCB and Sunapee each had guys in the move and BOB did not. I thought Tyler had slipped in there and after talking to Wayne we decided to put the whole team on the front. Well, as a team we generally do way too much sitting in and not nearly enough organized work, and it took us about two miles to assemble anything close to resembling an organized chase. At this point we passed the Menkenator who had finished the women's race and was cooling down, and she yelled out that the break had a full minute. Fuck. Did I mention we're on the last lap now?

We kept it going pretty well but approaching the final time up the hill the break was still out of sight (well it was so fucking dark that they could have been right there and I wouldn't have seen them). Coming through South Hampton the right side opened up, and since it was now pouring, I dive bombed the turn into the downhill and took off. I wanted to be on the front for the tight left hander going into the KOM hill. On the KOM hill I got absorbed, but I fought to stay in the front. It lulled a bit but things had strung out so I did not get totally swarmed. We bombed down the final descent at close to 70 kph. Now we had just one bumpy 90 degree corners with several rain slickened painted crosswalk lines separating the pack from the final sprint. The line is only about 250 meters after the last turn, so positioning was critical. The three man break was safely away for the win, but of course top 15 gets points for GC, so we had a lot to race for.

I followed Duano up the right gutter, but then he switched out to get the faster outside line through the turn. Not me. Anticipating somebody sliding out in the turn, I stuck with the slower, but safer inside. I was marking John Meerse because he was just ahead of me on GC points and I wanted to beat him. Well, what happens next I could not have predicted. Leo Devellian was leading the CCB leadout train, with GC contender Donnie Mills and Duano tucked in there too. Going into the turn, I guess he felt there was no way he could make it and he clipped out at about 50 kph and put his foot down BMX style! Mills followed suit, and Leo did keep the bike up halfway through the turn before cartwheeling off onto the opposing sidewalk. Duano, Mills, and some others on the outside got impeded by all this, but I squeaked through on the inside. I was in too big of a gear, but I wound it up for all I was worth, trying unsuccessfully to come around Meerse. We had open road and a clean sprint, but I just don't have the speed and I was frantically clicking the STI searching for another gear that just was not there. I went across in 11th (at least on the prelim results last night) so I got a few points. Sprinter John Grenier flew in the BOB colors a few spots ahead of me.

Not sure exactly how GC shook out, will need to wait a few hours for the posting. I think I'm in 8th on GC points. Heavy rain predicted for tonight, so I'm not sure how they will handle that. A shower is always nice as it washes the oil off the quarter mile bullring car track venue, but I'm not sure if we've ever held the race when the rain was pouring down. They might call it, especially if there is lightning. We'll see. Time for some "W" of the WMSR. Thanks for reading.

PS - Huge thanks to CTodd for volunteering his time to drive the pace car for the womens' race. You rock CTodd! If you are reading this and you have not gone over to CTodd's blog to buy a "Bike Racer" T shirt yet, PLEASE do so now! This effort supports the MSPCA and if you do not buy one of these shirts, you are a wiener. These are high quality, incredibly stylish, and there are womens and children's fashions fashions available too. Buy several! You can do without another pair of carbon whatevers, but you must buy a shirt. Do it now! Thanks!