Race Report: Sterling Classic

09 May 2009.

I started the race by making a rather large tactical mistake.

I hadn't previewed the course; I relied on maps and elevation profiles. So, I knew that after the start-finish hill, there was another climb. I stayed in my small front ring, letting the peloton pull ahead, counting on the hill to slow them down and enable me to catch back up. Nice tactical plan. Unfortunately, it assumed the hills were closer and more difficult then they actually were. The end result: I would up going off the back very early.

Desperate to catch back up, I pushed on the up hills; I pushed on the down hills. I watched as the pack slowly pulled away, as stranglers fell of the rear, as riders were served by support. I focused on one rider and concentrated on catching him.

Through the unforgiving headwind on the (false) flat portion, I focused on him. Rounding the last turn (for circuit 1 of 3), the urging of the crowd intoxicated me and a leapt out of the saddle to close the gap. By the start/finish I was spent; I had to sit back and recover watching him slowly ride away from me. This lap was the low point for me.

The body's power of recovery are nothing short of amazing. It forgets the pain and wants to push again. That's what we did. Once again, speeding down the downhills and time trialling into the head wind. The 2nd lap ended happier than the first.

The third lap was just pure fun. I didn't leave it all on the start/finish hill, so I had some to give throughout and that's what I did. So much so that by the time I got to the false flat, I could see my carrot up ahead.

I gave it my all on the last portion, but ultimately came up short.

Despite my poor showing, I loved this course. It is the perfect balance of pain and recovery, torturous hills and glorious descents. More than any other (so far), I look forward to riding this race again.