Road Atlanta Circuit Race

The Georgia Cycling Grand Prix kicked off last night with the Road Atlanta circuit race. The course starts off with a tough 12% wall, and then it rolls throughout the backside of the course, heading downhill again and into a false flat uphill to the finish line. The course is relatively easy if you sit in, so I decided to save my bullets for the end of the race. I made sure to be attentive over the steep hill every lap. A lot of people attacked early, but I kept conserving my energy. Finally 45 minutes into the race the break of the day rolled with 6 guys. I was confident I would be able to attack on the hill and bridge to the break late in the race. With about 30 minutes left to race I started attacking up the steep hill and going hard afterwards. I did this every lap through the finale but was never able to get away. I guess a 25 second hill isn't long enough to make a difference, and I totally misjudged the race. I had a great time and sprinted in for 19th place to grab a couple points for the omnium. It is important to take points on all stages in an omnium because the points add up throughout the event. Tonight we race a crit at the Gwinnett Arena.

Tour de White Rock Crit and Road Race

Last night we raced the Tour de White Rock Crit in White Rock. It was a tough 1 km course that was half uphill and half downhill that we raced for 60 laps. The pace started off fast, and a break of 7 riders got off the front really early. I felt good but got to the front too late. Evan and Jonah did well covering moves with Jonah taking a prime. In the finale the break lapped up, and in Canada there is a rule where the peloton sprints at 4 laps to go, and the breakaway riders continue. I ended up finishing near the back of the group.

Today was the Tour de White Rock Road Race. We raced about 80 miles over 11 long (11km) laps+ 6 short (3 km) laps. The long laps had two big climbs/ lap, and the short lap had one climb. This course suited me and I felt good. Oliver got into a crash on the first lap, so that was the end of his race. He helped us a lot by going to the feed zone to hand us bottles. A small break went early, but this course seemed like an attrition course. That means it is smart to stay in the field for as long as possible while riders get dropped off the back. The race played out like this until the final hill on the final long lap where Ryan Roth went off the front with a couple other riders. I had been conserving energy until then, but just didn't have it to go with the acceleration. As we did the final small 6 laps our group splintered. I was in a second group on the road and bridged up to the chase group with 1.5 laps to go, but the group I was in caught that group with a little under a lap to go. Up the final hill I just didn't have the gas. I should have saved that effort for the final climb, and ended up finishing just off the back of the splintered peloton. I had a great time at all the BC Superweek Races.

PoCo Grand Prix

Last night we contested the PoCo Grand Prix over 45 laps on a fast circuit in downtown Port Coquitlam. The pace started off quick from the gun, but after the first 15 or 20 laps I was able to make myself to the front. I was able to cover one move, but it was the counter that was the break of the day. Evan tried to bridge across, but the speed from the bunch brought him back. After that attempt I once again drifted back. It is hard to go off the front in these races, and the pace is constantly fast with all the primes. During the closing laps Silber set pace to bring back the bunch, and Oliver helped them to bring it back. Oliver rode like a champ chasing that back. I tried making my way to the front by pushing with all I had but was unable to make it to the front. In the finale I was near Evan and wanted to move him up, but the pace was too quick and chaotic for me to do that. I am unhappy with myself that I was unable to help out. It was a fun, fast circuit. I just wish I could have done something significant to help the team. Tonight we race the Tour de White Rock crit and tomorrow morning the Tour de White Rock road race. Given the short time between the two events I will not be able to post about tonight or tomorrow's road race until tomorrow evening.