Cross Race Reports From Dec - Gary Douville - Dec 06
Fellow NEBC’ers-
It has been several weeks since I have written a race report and I am pleased to report that the results have improved a bit. I can only attribute this to getting the racing in and going to spinning class (yes, spinning class) during the weeks. I am working in and moving to CA so no trainer and no daylight to ride outside.
Plymouth, MA – B race
I got to the race early enough to pre-ride which I haven’t been doing religiously and I was pleased to find that there were single barriers that I could hop and a decently long downhill section. I am an ex-mtn biker and ex-downhiller so this is the stuff that I die for. Scott Brooks, team captain and motivator extraordinaire, informed me that today was my day so I decided to be more aggressive in the race. I have been more defensive (no attacking) all road season and in cross as well due to lack of experience and confidence (new to both sports). I attacked off the line and we formed a small pack of 4 or 5 lead guys. I lead over the second barrier and attacked having formed a few second gap since I was able to save time versus the dis-mount/re-mount approach. I attacked most of the first lap and then settled in at the start/finish line. A guy from UNH (I think) caught me up the hill and grabbed my wheel. We had a good gap on the next few guys and I again attacked at the barriers and gapped UNH guy. I continued to push the pace and was able to build a good lead and stay out front. The course was a good one for me and the barrier hoping saved a lot of time each lap.
Lowell, MA – B race
Another good day. I was pleasantly surprised to see double barriers that were shorter than standard. During the pre-ride(s) I was able to hop the barriers and bunny-hop the stair section. This meant that I could plan on staying on the bike all race which was great. I got a good start (3rd wheel) or so and jumped into first on the stair section. I then attacked and felt pretty good although was caught going into the 2nd lap. I wasn’t feeling as strong as the day before in Plymouth so decided to do some drafting. A lead group of 3 was formed and there was decent work sharing for most of the race. My plan from then on was to attack at the stairs going into the last lap and that is what I did. I put my head down and pushed the climbs and was able to stay out in front of the other two racers. Thanks to Dave for putting together some cool sequence shots over the barriers and stairs.
Chesire, CT – B race
I felt pretty good coming off the previous weekend’s results. We got off to a late start in the morning and I had a late breakfast. I normally eat a bagel with cream cheese and a muffin the morning of a race (3 hours before), but I absentmindedly (blame it on jet lag) ate a ham/egg/cheese/English muffin sandwich less than 2 hours before this race. A great learning experience. I got to pre-ride the course which had 3 dismount sections including the longest uphill run I have ever experienced in a ‘cross race. I got the holeshot and road strong for the first 2 laps staying in the lead with a small 5 second gap. 2 laps in I started to cramp and was sure my silly breakfast sandwich was going to find its way out of my system. I couldn’t keep the pace, had to walk the long climb on the 3rd lap and fell off the lead group’s pace. I never recovered, riding for 4 laps with uncomfortable stomach craps and finished 9th. I attest to the 3 hour rule and avoidance of fatty foods. I don’t know what I was thinking, but it was at least good to get out and work the legs since I knew the big Verge races were around the corner.
RI Verge Series #6 – B race
I ate my bagel and muffin 3 hours before the race and got my pre-ride in. There were two dismount sections (barriers and run-up) and a lot of straight grassy power sections. I predicted to Scott during our warm up that Andrew Boone would win based on my read of the course. The start was fast and a front group formed of me, Boone, Goguen and Damien Colfer. I lead during the first lap until I bobbled over the barriers and for the next few laps it was cat-and-mouse with Goguen doing the brunt of the work. I believe that Colfer crashed after he aggressively passed me into the single track off camber section and was thereafter out of the race. I put in an attack with a few laps to go and Goguen fell off the pace. I was fully expecting Boone to come around me as he has done so many times before and leave me in his dust, but he never did. I continued to push the pace and was able to get Boone off my wheel in a few of the more technical cornering sections. He got onto my wheel again over the barriers with one lap to go and I went for broke and attacked in the tight turns after the barriers and was able to maintain the lead (winning margin 4 seconds).
RI Verge Series #7 – B race
I read about today’s course after Saturday’s race and was pleasantly surprised to read that this was a more technical course with sand sections and cornering, lots of cornering. I ate my bagel and muffin 3 hours before the race and got my pre-ride in. I was worried about the sand sections because they were long and I know I suffer in long running sections but I was thrilled about the plethora of cornering. Brooks, ever the optimist, told me that his money was on me so I decided to gun it from the start. I got the holeshot and went hard early. I looked back and found that I had created a gap going into the first sandpit so I decided to go for it and see if I could sustain the pace through the first lap. I knew that Damien Colfer had to beat Boone to win the series and he was the only guy who stayed close in the first 2 laps. He caught me half way into the second lap and we talked. He said that he didn’t care about winning but needed to stay ahead of Boone and I said that I would work with him. I expected Damien to pull on the flats but I was gapping him out of the corners and continued to build a lead on him. I know the Boone lost his chain and lost some time and was well out of sight mid way into the race (I lost my chain also with two laps to go during the long sand run but quickly got it back on). I continued to ride at my pace and stayed in front (winning margin 29 seconds).
It has been a great 3 weeks. I am looking forward to Nationals but have a poor start position (62nd of 180+). My goal is to work very hard and work my way up during the first lap and hope for a top 10. We’ll see. After that, I am going to relax for a few weeks and start getting ready for the racing in Southern CA early next year. I plan on doing at least a few New England races when I am home for business trips and family stuff so I will see you all around. Thanks for all your support, train hard this winter and have a great Holiday season. Also wanted to thank all the NEBC spectators at the races who have been cheering and yelling. Special thanks to Marylou, Oscar, Anne, Rebekah and Ariela who have been consistent spectators/yellers through the season. Gary