Past weekend was Memorial Day weekend, a three day weekend where people enjoy the first days of summer grilling, drinking and relaxing... while normal people enjoy their Memorial day with such activities, cyclists prefer to race; for three days, a circuit race, a time trial and a road race with a mountain-top finish.
Day by day highlights of the Killington Stage Race,
Stage #1: Lack of energy was the highlight of the day, driving all night and arriving the hotel at midnight and lack of sleep showed its effects right at the downhill start of the race. My HR was lot higher than what it was supposed to be. I couldn't helped but dropped from the pack after the last KoM sprint, this was expected after forcing myself into the 'overdrive mode' for so long. I pedaled into the finish by myself 2 min 40 sec behind the leading group. 80th out of 95 starters
Stage #2 - ITT: 10 miles on ascending/flat course, fighting against the wind, hammering in the aero-position was my best performance. I was patient enough to pass the riders in front of me slowly one by one which was an improvement. Result is 54th ouf of 95, 29 min 48 sec, 2:39 behind the winner.
Stage #3 - 'Epic' road Race: I was much ready for the last day of racing, my strategy was 'race smart', this includes riding most efficiently in the peloton, being patient and being smart in the overall. I missed the last one, being smart. At the midpoint of the race there was a big climb which separated the group, after the climb I managed to get into a group of 4 first than 7 and catch the leading pack just before the dirt section starts, things couldn't work out better for me, but I had dropped a bottle flying downhill to the pack, and I was only left with half a bottle with 20 miles left. It first demoralized me than altered my decision making and finally I got dropped in the dirt section. Trying to make my way up to the peloton for 15 miles didn't work out, I hit the final climb of the day, dehydrated, demotivated, tired and overheated. Probably lost a lot of time on the climb too... last feelings before the finish line was the extreme burning of the toes, actually legs were already burnt and finished they were numb back then I could only feel my toes and the feeling was an extreme burning... I was dreaming of a bath tub and laying inside it... way to finish a race... 66th in the stage, 65th in the GC after three days.
Stage racing is a lot more than just turning the cranks faster. Picture is from the start of Stage 3 i am wearing #759, second rider to the left in white-blue-green RVB kit and black socks.
