"Fun" day of racing at the LAPT / TMT road race this past weekend - although the temps were in the low 80s, it was one of the first hot days of racing so far this year, so the heat was definitely a factor (not to mention it was also pretty windy, with a strong headwind on the finishing stretch).
Looks like the team had some excellent results, with Tony taking 3rd in the Cat 4, David S taking 3rd in the M3/4 35+, Eric taking 4th and Greg 9th in the M1/2 35+, Sanjay taking 6th in the Cat 3, and Lisa taking 2nd, Diane 6th, and Shelley 7th in the W Open. And the tough luck award goes to Michael Mayer for getting a flat in one race, suiting up for the next race, and then flatting in that one too!
You would think that the "old" guys race, the M1/2 35+, would start kind of mellow as a warm up and then at some point racing would start - but no, we roll up to the start and ATTACK - the pack is strung out right from the get go! Several iterations of attack-chase-attack-chase went on for the first half a lap, and we settle down for the moment with a Velocause rider hanging off the front. I noticed John Van Susteren moving up and looking ready to attack, so I follow him, and sure enough, a small gap opens up along the center line and off he goes with me on his wheel. We bridge up to the Velocause rider and immediately start a pace line. Our gap begins to grow and over the next few laps the peleton is no longer in sight! I am hoping that means we can let off the gas a little bit as the heat (and effort) is killing me and as we roll past the finish line with 2 laps to go I am thinking "I sure wish that had been the last lap!" - not a good sign!
Fast forward to 1.5 laps to go and we can see a pack approaching us - I think it must be the pro race catching us - but no such luck, it is the rest of our race! Mark Harms bridges up to us, which we are happy to see as Scotty was requesting more power from the engine room! The four of us keep at it, but the pack draws within about 10", and I think to myself, "finally, I can sit up and recover in the pack and save a bit for the end." But then the pack sits up, so we hit the gas again and our lead extends back out - but then the peleton chases again and gets close (and once again I am ready to wave the white flag) - but then they sit up and … you get the picture for the next few miles. Finally, one other guy manages to bridge up with half a lap to go and proceeds to go right past us, we half-heartily chase, but he holds on for the win, and our foursome holds off the fast-approaching pack!
