2008 Plymouth North and South Cross Masters Team Race Report
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Conditions:
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Mild, overcast, slightly humid and windy with temps in the high 50’s to low 60’s on Saturday. Slightly cooler, drier and windier with partial sun.
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The Course:
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The Plymouth North course was basically the same as the past couple of years with a mix of pavement and fields with . All in all a good solid course that with the wind this year afforded little opportunity to rest and recover.
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Results:
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Saturday M35+:
- Mike Rowell – 8th
- Chris Smith – 9th
Saturday M45+:
- Wayne Cunningham – 8th
http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/08-Plymouth-Cyclo-Cross.asp
Sunday M35+:
- Mike Rowell – 10th
- Chris Smith – 13th
Sunday M45+:
- Wayne Cunningham – 7th
http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/09-Plymouth-South-Cyclocross.asp
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Reports:
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[Mike Rowell]
Saturday – Plymouth North:
I was feeling pretty good, the conditions were favorable and I had hight hopes for this race. The start showed most of the top guys who always beat me and most of the other Masters as well, with the exception of some who chose to do the 45+ race, which started after us, instead.
Off the start I decided that I was going to just sit on Mark M. and see what happened. All throught the first lap I just followed his wheel and didn’t give up my spot. It was working great. Around for lap two still sitting in 3rd between the Mark and Frank. On the 2nd lap coming into the final sharp turn to the steep climb, I rolled my rear tubular off the rim. I wrenched it back on as soon as possible and gave chase. Going through the start I yelled to Cathy that I needed a wheel, which we had in the pits. She went and got it ready and when I hit the pit, we made the change. Unfortunately I’d lost many, many spots and a bunch of time. Add to that the fact that the tire (a clincher) was a little low on air and I was in some trouble.
I managed to make up half a dozen spots or so but was well off the pace at the front. Lesson learned and the mechanic is fired!
Sunday – Plymouth South:
Not surprisingly, Saturday’s mad chase efforts coupled with my general constantly tired state lately, left me with heavy legs on Sunday. After a pre-ride of the course, which had loads of steep grunt climbs and open, exposed, spungy fields, I knew that I was in trouble. Shortly after the start my fear was confirmed, I had no legs. I could literally barely make the pedals go around. I suffered through in very poor position and finally with 2 laps to go, was able to muster some power. Alas, it was too late.
After the race, at home, I took a look at my HR stats and they confirmed my findings. For the first 2/3 of the race my HR was well off from race pace (15+ BPM lower). I just couldn’t push hard enough to get my HR up. On the final couple laps it came around to about 95% of race pace, which is typical for day two racing. OK, I’m firing not only my mechanic but also my coach, that sadistic monster.
[Chris Smith]
Saturday – Plymouth North:
With a hole shot preem and a first lap preem I knew the start would be fast. I held on for dear life off the start and successfully limited the damage. Once things settled down I started working my way up. I got stuck behind a guy who was so slow through the single-track, after the first time through I got around him but could not shake him for the rest of the race. I would get a gap on him through the woods or on the steep hill, which I managed to ride every time during the race but the last two times up I felt my calf almost cramping. Not wanting it to come down to a sprint I buried it on the last lap. I thought I heard him behind me coming on to the finishing straight but it turned out I had a gap on him . I think I ended up 9th, yea top ten!
Sunday – Plymouth South:
The start had three real tight corners that really jammed me up. I was fighting from the back again but for the second day in a row I felt I was riding well. I worked my way up but I found myself towing three guys around for a couple laps. I was gapping them in the woods and on the climb but the wind was killing me and they would catch on and sit in on the open fields. I had not seen a lap card, coming through the start finish I was looking for one expecting to see a 3 or 4 but saw a 2. I checked my watch and it was right so I hit the gas. I dropped them and ended up in no man’s land fighting my way through some lapped riders, I believe I ended up 13th. I felt real good again.
[Wayne Cunningham]
Saturday – Plymouth North:
The best thing about this race is the start area: it’s so wide, everyone gets to start on the front row. I felt as though I had a good start, not losing too much ground. I was able to slide in on Paul Curley and Dave Belknap’s wheel by the start of the second lap. We had a group of four going with the addition of Cris Birillo. I sat in on third wheel for a while but then decided to try to go across to the next rider up. I made my move just before the single track section… and was followed and passed by all three on the ride/run up (we all rode it). On the next long drag to the top side of the course Dave and Paul went hard and Cris let a gap go; I tried to go across but was unable. Cris wouldn’t work with me to close it down because Paul is a teammate of his (gear works). For the next laps I mostly pulled Cris around, and others joined on from the back—Cris Burke (refunds now), Mike Bernard (gear works), and another rider I didn’t know. Cris told his teammate not to pass me and the others followed suit. With one to go Cris Burke went and I tried to let someone else chase him because I felt I had been doing too much of the work already. He opened a gap and held it to the line. The two gear works riders worked against me, not surprisingly. They wouldn’t pass when I slowed to try to make them and they went at the right time and I did not have the power to stay in the end. But I did hold off the other rider. I finished in 8th. It was the first tme I was in a group of teammates that worked against me so well. I will be working more on my tactics next time!
Sunday – Plymouth South:
This is a race I have never done before. It was a tough couse made worse by strong winds in the long open fields. There were tight parts that did give you some recovery, though. I was able to avoid sliding back too much in the start, but still was behind a crash in the woods early on in the starting 1/4 lap. Most of this race I was on my own chasing; there was some early back and forth, but I was able to stay ahead by going real hard just before the section that gave you a rest. Then I just had to hold my position. It was a tough course and a real fitness test, especially coming on the second day of the weekend. I finished 7th in the race and was pleased with my results both days.