I just hope he doesn't race masters
Buried in this article about Ben Spies's Elbowz racing team: "Spies is so intent on winning that he isn't above bringing in a ringer. Later this year retired Italian champion Gilberto Simoni, a two-time Giro d'Italia winner, will guest ride with the team."
about 1 year ago
R Mc
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OUCH
Elbowz and particularly Heath Blackgrove have been demolishing the racing in Texas enough already this season.
Although it would be pretty sweet to see Gilberto Simoni and Raul Alcala battle it out.
R Mc, Did you get pummeled by hail in the masters field at Lago Vista this weekend or did you avoid that particular bit of suffering?
by CollegiateCyclingRocks on Mar 8, 2011 12:18 PM EST reply actions
avoided--did 3/4 both days
The “wedding fiasco” meant that we stayed in Marble Falls . . . and given the post-race activities necessitated by racing for Great Brewers.com . . . I did not want to have to wake up super early to race 40+.
Didja race?
Whoa
I raced the 3/4 race on Saturday also! I was guy in the Hagens Berman kit who spent most of the second half of the race in the 4 man break, and then got cooked in the sprint for second by the two guys who bridged across the last time up the climb on the back side of the course. Definitely the hardest I have ever worked for a 4th place.
That 787racing guy who was off the front solo for 3 1/2 laps was stupid strong!
How did you end up on Saturday? and how was Sunday’s race with the steeper climbs?
Unfortunately, I spent the rest of the weekend studying for mid-terms and writing Fortran code.
by CollegiateCyclingRocks on Mar 8, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
got it. Yep, you definitely worked hard for that one.
fun riding and good training for me both days, but the results didn’t work out.
Sunday’s race, honestly, was easier. The lack of wind was more important than the climbs.
And . . . the usual route boils down to a 3 minute threshold climb with two bursts at the end to get over those bumps at the top. Going backwards seems like it would be harder . . . and it might be for folks who can’t recover from efforts over threshold, but it’s really not. 1. The steep section gets partially neutralized by the descent leading into it—we’d hit it at 30-35 mph, and if you weren’t in the front you were braking to avoid the guys in front of you. 2. The flat section just after it, most laps, allowed for recovery. Thus, instead of one sustained effort of increasing intensity, you had 3-5 minutes of burst to microburst efforts, followed by nearly 10 minutes of tempo or recovery on the descent.
(The Mineral Wells crit course was WAY harder, because the hill on it worked out to the same effort—and on a 1k course, you’d hit at least every minute and a half. Pure evil.)
Made it into a small group towards the top of the climbing part on Sunday—but we were brought back before the turn to the downhill part. Payson McIlveen won—he got away somewhere, somehow, and the Dominion guy (don’t know his name, but he rides well and placed top 10 on Saturday as well) was 2nd.
Lago Vista?
Is that the course in the newish development in the Austin ‘burbs? I say “newish”, cuz if it’s what I’m thinking of, I did that as part of the Tour of Tx back in ‘96. Got shelled the first day; next day, they kindof reversed it and I hung on a little better. If that’s the same course you’re talking about, I know that climby part you mentioned. That was my first “big” Cat. 3 race.
A bike should have a voice... it should speak to you, and you should hear it, and what it should say is: "Attack!" - sminer
Two memories stand out from that race...
1) It was Friggin’ Freezing! March ‘96 a big ol’, cold storm blew threw and it was like, 15-20 deg…and, of course, I left all me cold weather stuff back home in VA. I raced with bread wrapper bags over my socks. And,
2) The first morning out at Lago Vista, I had the experience of a lifetime…I was the VERY FIRST user of a brand, spankin’ new, totally virgin, port-o-potty! It was cold…but heavenly!
A bike should have a voice... it should speak to you, and you should hear it, and what it should say is: "Attack!" - sminer
Simoni has his pride
I wouldn’t worry about this.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 8, 2011 1:48 PM EST reply actions
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