GMSR, Cat 4, John Broussard, 9-3
In the group were Oscar J., Greg Brown, Peter S., Joe J., John K, and a side note to Peter Chui, Dave Chui’s bro who rides for Yale, but hung out with us a lot this weekend.
The first race was the prologue up App. Gap, about 8.2 miles, the first few neutral. The race started out with the boys complaining about the pace being too slow, and to let others thru if we weren’t going to do the work up front. Then we hit the climb, and I did not hear anymore complaining. I was hoping for a top ten, but had the hard realization of how hard it is to climb a mountain at race pace. Peter Shapiro passed me around 2.5 to 3k to go in the climb, but then lost concentration and fell in the ditch, so I wound up 30th, though Peter probably would have been better, he wound up around 50th I believe. The other few hung in round 60th in this difficult stage.
On day two I had a mostly uneventful ride just fighting for position, particularly on the KOM climb so I did not have to chase back on. We did 2-3/4 laps for 50 some-odd miles of rolling terrain except one mile and a half climb. The one thing to mention is Joe J’s incident where I think he tore a ligament in his thumb reaching for a bottle in the feed zone; I hope he is all right. Really all I can mention is Oscar took one flyer off the front, and was caught soon after. It was hard to move up; I got caught in the pack due to the yellow line rule, and was caught out of the sprint. Peter S. placed highest for NEBC’ers in 15th, good job Pete. Oscar was in the pack, Greg and Peter Chui came in a chase group along with John K? I believe. Sadly Joe dnf’d due to his thumb which sounded quite painful.
The third day was obviously the hardest. We started off on a cold, rainy downhill off the slopes the Sugarbush resort MT. The pack took off at a decent pace, and this time no complainer’s. The first event for me was the sprint after the first uphill section. I was in the top ten at the time of the sprint, and planned to join a break if anyone tried one after the sprint which was fast, and uneventful for me. There was no break attempt immediately so I sat in the top 10-20 of the pack until Middlebury gap. There was a feed zone here and the ladies were there supporting us ( thnx again ladies). On Middlebury gap I stuck towards the front the best I could. Here is where the deciding move of the race happened as three guys took off at a pace I could not follow. The eventual winner today, and overall was one of them, and he’s only 18 years old! On the way up the field split, and only 30 or so recovered to form the lead pack. Both Peter S. and I were in it; we had a good paceline going trying to chase the three down. The only other mentionable note after Middlebury gap was the crash after baby gap on the down hill. A huge crosswind blew a few guys over, I was right in the middle of it, as a could see one guy go over the handle bars, and others falling left and right. I had to swipe around a water bottle and two bicycles. After that a quick chase to get back on the pack, I looked back and there was a pack of 25- or so. I hung on to the group until 2.5 or so k’s to go. At this point the wind was blowing like crazy, mostly in my face. I remember seeing Mary Lou, Jesse Chebot and others cheering us on. Thanks a lot, sometimes people don’t realize how much that helps. I passed poor Dave Chui who had crashed twice in his race, and he should be proud of finishing after that, good job Dave! At the top I wound up 23rd, and Peter S. came in 25th, great job Pete. Ross was there with his kids taking photos, and Gary D’s girlfriend was there with a clean and dry vest for me, thank you. It was a fun stage up until baby gap at which point I began to wear. Good job by Oscar, and Greg who came in shortly after. I left this stage 23rd overall, and I believe Peter was in the low to mid 30’s overall.
The fourth and final stage for the 4s was early in the morning, around 9:40, so we had to leave early from the condo. This is a tight, six corner course. You need to get to the front immediately, and I did that thanks to the advice of Scott Brooks (though common sense should tell you to do this any way). My legs felt oddly decent after the day before, and I was able to stay in the top 10 all race. It was a 24 lap race, and if you finish the first 12 without being pulled you were guaranteed finishing points. Not too much happened in between laps 1and 24, apparently 2 or three small crashes, and three or four primes for cash, sprint points and G.C. points. I got second on the second prime, apparently for three G.C. points. The main pack split up and the lead pack had roughly 20-25 guys remaining. With a lap and a half to go a Harvard rider jumped off front, I would have gone but was a few spots to far back. I dove myself through the final turn and gained a few spots to finish 4th, third in the field sprint. Peter S. came in the second pack around 20-25th. Greg and Oscar reached the 12th lap and I believe were asked to pull off by the official. Overall I wound up 15th, peter 36th, Oscar 54th, and Greg Brown 63rd I believe.
I feel like we did good overall, I was still a little disappointed, though I am still learning and hope to have a better race next year with more experience. I still have 3-4 races left and hope to become a cat-3 if possible, if not next year. Peter S. is a great rider and will be right there also next year, same with Oscar and Greg who are three of the most fun and helpful teammates I have had. Thanks again to Scott and Mary Lou for all there help getting this Labor Day weekend together. All that food for 25 bucks was the best deal I’ve ever seen! Hopefully I can pay you back sometime soon. All the ladies were so helpful handing out feed (though I never needed it some of the other guys did), along with the cooking, cheering, staying motivated (why do we pay for this again?), and just fun to be around. Also finally congrats to the cat 3 team for an awesome race, you worked together like a true team that I only hope to be a part of soon, Gary you appeared to have it only to have it taken away quite cheaply.
Again thank you all, see you at the races, John Broussard.