Men's 4 Boloco Heartbreak Hill - 7-1-08
Team Results:
ColbyRicker3
JayRobbins5
JohnGibbons10
BernardTan11
JohnMcGrath21
StefanWawersik23
JohnSmathers33
RobertDibattista35
OscarJimenez39
GeoffMartin43
JamesHall44
JosephJussaume50
PatConvery52
When I showed up in Newton Center, I had little expectation that the first time race would start on time. I was not disappointed. After a posted 45 min delay in the start time, we waited at the line for another solid 10 or 15.
Thankfully, the weather kept me from cooling down completely, because this race started fast! I think everyone was feeling antsy about the technical nature of the first few turns, and no one wanted to get caught in the back the first time through.
The pace stayed high through the first lap—not brutally so, but high enough to keep the field honest. We had agreed as a team that staying to the front was the only viable strategy. And so it was that in the second or third lap, Geoff made a break coming down the hill, and tried to help pull me away from the field going into the first turns after the line. Unfortunately, the hill gave a little too much speed, so we were unable to get any solid separation.
The rest of the race was uneventful—surprisingly so. We all worked to maintain solid positioning, and did a pretty good job keeping together, until the last time up heartbreak hill.
At this point the field started to break down a bit, but I was able to keep towards the front. A ride broke early—before the traffic light coming down the final hill—and was subsequently chased by an MIT rider. I knew it was a little early to go, but thought I could use the MIT rider’s draft to get a little separation before I lit the last match.
Alas, two riders behind me had the same idea, and passed me on the final stretch. I was able to hold on for third, Jay finished 5th, and John crossed the line 10th giving the club three in the top ten.
All in all a good day of racing on a really fun course.
See you all at Fitchburg!
c.