Garmin info - http://connect.garmin.com/player/30565861
Report to follow...
Sardinia - Stage 2
Moderator: mfarnham
Re: Sardinia - Stage 2
Just in case some haven't noticed, you can click on a link ("MORE" I think) on the map page to access photos of the area where Peter and Dave are racing. In a few cases you get a view from the road. Peter, is the water really that blue?
JT
JT
Re: Sardinia - Stage 2
Today’s Stage was the North Coast. What we were told was a 20-25’ drive was closer to 75 minutes so our big plan of leaving a bit early and having time to get a decent cup of coffee was totally shot right out of the gate. But we soldiered on in true Tripleshot fashion. It is important to note that “Italian coffee” is really just code for terrible brown stuff!
When we got to the start town we discovered that the start was at the top a hill with about a 3k straight shot down a 2-3% grade and boy did folks make the most of it but before telling you about that let me mention how Dave and I had to fix a flat on my back wheel at the coffee shop (we pulled in and Dave heard hissing) and with 10’to go to our start as we rolled in from coffee and the tune exploded “announcing” our presence! HUGE thanks to Dave not only for helping me out fixing the flats but sacrificing his spare tube and a co2 for me to ride with.
Anyway the gun went off and the pack took off like it was being chased by the devil. My peak hr for 5s, 10s, 30s,1min, 2min, 5min, 10min, 20min and 30min were all in the first hour. Let me tell you screaming along in a pack of at least 100 doing 70km/h 10 riders wide was quite the experience. We were eating up ground like you cant imagine.
I was actually looking forward to the first big hill to get a break from the speed and associated need to pay attention to things 100m ahead as opposed to a few bikes ahead. On that same big hill I again lasted with the front of the race until about the last 1-2k then WHAP i was off the back with a steady stream of others joining me. I crested and chased hard with another guy to catch a small pack of about 8 who then proceeded to actually work togheter (for the most part). What was interesting was the second 1 rider skipped a turn the whole pace line disintegrated. We were steadily closing the group ahead but kept letting them open up again by not working together. We did eventually catch them adding their 8 to our group. Then it was a long stretch into the wind and a screaming decent where my life flashed before my eyes repeatedly.
We caught a few other riders but it was clear that a rider who had been on his own for any length of time was shattered and very few managed to grab onto our pack. Soon we turned the corner and had this lovely tailwind pushing us along as we hammered up the coast road to the finish. Our pack stayed together just stretched out for the last 5k or so (I sat 5th wheel for most of it) the sprint was back up the same hill we started on and I found it the nerviest sprint \I have ever done and I was content to “sprint|” staying on a guys wheel.
Dave followed me in shortly after I was through and he had a spectacular race. Not only did he ride with a pack until the last couple of K he bridged a few times to the faster packs ahead. Far and away the best race he has ever done (and thankfully no flats!!!)
My Result: 98th overall and 28/56 in my div finishing 95 k in 2h41:03 and 13:46 behind the winner. I don’t know the GC yet – more to come when (if!) results get posted
When we got to the start town we discovered that the start was at the top a hill with about a 3k straight shot down a 2-3% grade and boy did folks make the most of it but before telling you about that let me mention how Dave and I had to fix a flat on my back wheel at the coffee shop (we pulled in and Dave heard hissing) and with 10’to go to our start as we rolled in from coffee and the tune exploded “announcing” our presence! HUGE thanks to Dave not only for helping me out fixing the flats but sacrificing his spare tube and a co2 for me to ride with.
Anyway the gun went off and the pack took off like it was being chased by the devil. My peak hr for 5s, 10s, 30s,1min, 2min, 5min, 10min, 20min and 30min were all in the first hour. Let me tell you screaming along in a pack of at least 100 doing 70km/h 10 riders wide was quite the experience. We were eating up ground like you cant imagine.
I was actually looking forward to the first big hill to get a break from the speed and associated need to pay attention to things 100m ahead as opposed to a few bikes ahead. On that same big hill I again lasted with the front of the race until about the last 1-2k then WHAP i was off the back with a steady stream of others joining me. I crested and chased hard with another guy to catch a small pack of about 8 who then proceeded to actually work togheter (for the most part). What was interesting was the second 1 rider skipped a turn the whole pace line disintegrated. We were steadily closing the group ahead but kept letting them open up again by not working together. We did eventually catch them adding their 8 to our group. Then it was a long stretch into the wind and a screaming decent where my life flashed before my eyes repeatedly.
We caught a few other riders but it was clear that a rider who had been on his own for any length of time was shattered and very few managed to grab onto our pack. Soon we turned the corner and had this lovely tailwind pushing us along as we hammered up the coast road to the finish. Our pack stayed together just stretched out for the last 5k or so (I sat 5th wheel for most of it) the sprint was back up the same hill we started on and I found it the nerviest sprint \I have ever done and I was content to “sprint|” staying on a guys wheel.
Dave followed me in shortly after I was through and he had a spectacular race. Not only did he ride with a pack until the last couple of K he bridged a few times to the faster packs ahead. Far and away the best race he has ever done (and thankfully no flats!!!)
My Result: 98th overall and 28/56 in my div finishing 95 k in 2h41:03 and 13:46 behind the winner. I don’t know the GC yet – more to come when (if!) results get posted
Re: Sardinia - Stage 2
Dave's result: 138th OA, 31st in Div, total time 2:54:59, +25:34 behind winner.
still no GC
still no GC