Bringing Home Two More Jerseys

Race report, KY State Championship Road and Crit:

Saturday was an 80 mile road race. The field was small but it had some strong riders. It started out slow, very slow. A couple of us tried to get it moving and no one would pull through, so I got in the front with another rider and we each did a couple rotations before I sat up and the other rider started to roll off the front. No one responded and that rider stared to pull away. This was mile number two and that guy was off the front! There was an attack that broke up the field and as it came back together we ended up catching the solo rider. Then another rider attacked but the field felt threatened and stayed on his wheel. The guy who rode off the front at the start took off again and this time he was out of sight and mind for the field. I stayed in the back chatting with people. I noticed another rider keeping a close eye on the guys at the front, making sure they didn’t get away. I waited to make my move on the course’s biggest hill. Once we reached the hill I attacked and was able to bridge up to solo rider just after the crest of the hill. A couple guys were chasing, but I, along with the solo rider, kept pulling away. The two chasers were caught by the field and the two of us continued our break with 60+ miles to go on a windy course. We were riding fast to try and stay away from the field. When I looked down at our speed we were doing between 25 and 33, depending on the course. Mainly 27-28. Since the other guy had been out since mile two he was already in the hurt locker when I caught him and I think it only got worse. I am not sure if he remembers much other than me asking him if he needed anything. He hung in and kept going. We came in first and Second with the field about 5+ minutes back.

Sunday was the crit.
On lap two a guy went and looked to be threat. The field started to chase him down. That’s when a couple guys tried to mess up the pace line but one rider pushed one of them out of the way and he tried to get in my way and I said “If you are not working in the chase then I would advise you to get towards the back!” He moved to the back. The field brought the guy back and another guy attacked. I followed his wheel and just as the field was going to catch us I counted. This was lap 4 and I was able to stay away. Once I had 25 seconds, a couple guys broke away from the field in hopes of catching me. They maintained the gap on the windy straight-aways but I put a second on them in each of the downhill corners. Once I had a minute on them I started to put 10-15 seconds on them a lap. I ended up lapping everyone twice, except for two guys whom I ended up lapped once.

Rolf