Tucson Bicycle Classic - Alex Dossin -3-8-09
Day 1 of the Tucson Bicycle Classic.
3 mile TT; first 1.5 miles were downhill and rolling followed by the second half that contained a step up climb that hit 6-8% grade in parts.
I’m down here in Tucson for my spring break and decided to start it off with a little racing. Today’s TT was awesome, the course is twisty with sweet rollers and a challenging climb. I got a good 1 hour warm up in and rode the TT course backwards to take a look at it. Then, 15 mins before the start, downed a Red Bull and headed to the start.
The key to this course is to go fast on the first half, but not blow yourself up having fun going too fast. The last half requires a lot of strength and focus. Some of the steep pitches I realized I could go faster by standing up rather then staying in the aero bars and I stood to sprint going into the finish as well. My preperation and tactics seemed to workout.
Final Result for the Day
4th overall- 8:05 or 8:15…I forget and no offical results are out.
25 seconds back from 1st.
Day 2
Today was a RR of 60 miles with 3 (boring) 20 mile loops.
This race was doomed from the start. They started us a minute after the Cat 2 field and we immediately caught and passed them. After a lap of constant attacks, a break finally got away (with a little help). The Cat 2 field passed us after the break got away, and the break was able to work with the Cat 2 field. This was clearly visable to us, and my teammate from Fort Lewis and I chased as both us WERE in the top 5 on GC. Bottom line, the break was never caught from a combination of no one but 3 of us wanted to do any work and a few lousy cheaters. We all filed a complaint, this complaint was not fulfilled. I finished with the field and am now in 7th on GC. I’m still happy with my position, I just wish it would be a little higher. Tomorrow presents racers with some time bonuses which I’m going to try to contest to maybe move up a place or two.
TT 4th place
RR 23rd place
GC 7th place
Day 3
39 mile Circuit Race
7 laps containing a decent hill each lap.
Cat 3
Today the organizers gave us a little more time in between us and the Cat 2 race. Maybe too much time as the Pro-1 race caught us within two laps… . A break got away in the first lap and with my legs pretty toast from yesterday, I helped at the front but did not have the power to go with the break. Ultimately, the time bonuses on Lap 3 (10 and 5 seconds to first and second) and at the Finish (15,10,5 seconds) set me back again. Leaving my finishing kick on the course yesterday, some racers within a few seconds of me gobbled up those seconds and set me back 2 places in the GC. I ended up 9th in GC and finished with the field today.
WHAT I LEARNED from this race is that I have potential to do well in Stage Races with some TT ability, but protecting a high place takes much more work than normal. Everyone looks to you and the others high up in GC to do the work, which is tough to do this early in the season. I talked to the race leader who informed me that he has been racing every day of the weekend for the last 2 MONTHS…he’s from California. Hopefully results like his is what I can look forward to.
Overall, I’m satisfied, with my 9th overall as I continue to gain points towards a Cat 2 upgrade.
I’d also like to thank everyone that has sent me congratulations and encouragement over the past weekend. Good luck to everyone who starts racing soon!
Until next race,
Alex Dossin