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Larry Pesyna: 10th, Cat 4 | ||||
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This is long and brutal if you want to stay with the leaders. Cycledot was out in force for this and they are really looking strong. We will need to watch them at the states next week. The start on the flats this year was a lot slower than last year with no crazy tandem chases, but the pace in the hills was just as relentless. Combined with having to chase from a mis-marked turn and a broken rythm on the climbs around mile 75 I called off my attempt to stay with the leads . The states are more important and that is the right distance to train for that event. At least that is my story, I think it sounds good. I soloed for around 30 miles before a group caught up to me at the base of the 100 mile climb. I got away on the climb and caught another solo rider on the other side. We worked ok together but the group eventually caught us and we ended up with 6 total, including Mary Downing who, to her credit, never skipped a pull. Cylcedot Cory was pulling real strong and we started shedding riders one at a time. Mary dropped last and it was Cory and me going into the next to final climb. He set the pace to the top when he suddenly died and I went around and bombed the descent. I time trialed the last remaining flats and gave it all I had into the final climb but Cory ended up a solid 2 minutes back. I was happy ending 11 minutes behind the leads on a 127 mile event. Ending it on a challenge made it a lot more fun. Missing was Dale Eads who broke a hip during a mass pileup in a club crit last week. I believe there were other casualities as well, heres hoping all get well soon. |
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