tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842036164229302159.post-27215652903967134112008-06-25T07:16:00.002-04:002008-06-25T07:35:54.428-04:00We drove up to Hagerstown to participate in the local 3-stage Stage race this past weekend. We were hoping to get similar results as at Ephrata and I was hoping to get a sense of my fitness coming into Fitchburg. My results didn't exactly measure up to what I'd hoped but I did OK. Briefly, I got 13th, 7th and 31st, for an overall placing of 14th. Had I not slid out with 2 laps to go in the crit, I definitely would have got top 10 over all. Whatcha gonna do? I just hope I'm not cementing my reputation as a sketchy rider. Ironically, I had moved to the front of the pack on that lap because it was definitely safer to be first coming around that corner. I guess I took it a bit too hot and just laid the bike down. Didn't get hurt, just ended the race prematurely.<br /><br />A few thoughts on the weekend, like I've said before I like racing against the same guys every week. Everyone is pretty genial and as a new guy in town I find everyone approachable and humble and nice to shoot the breeze with. There was a screw up with our hotel reservation and we were forced to stay in smoking rooms that reeked of awful stale cigarette smoke. Even my clothes that I never took out of my bag wound up impregnated with the stench. My team mate, Little K, had a great race, coming in 4th in the RR and 2nd in the crit. It looked very cool to see him pounce and pass 3 guys as he made his way to the line. Had he started his sprint sooner, he probably could have caught 1st place, he said he still had some power left in his legs. He's upgrading to cat-3 now (ahem, Brigham, Jose...) <br /><br />In conclusion, I feel ready for Fitchburg. I trust my time trialing will be the key to securing a good placing at the start and I'll be able to stay with the lead group (as usual) in the 2nd stage circuit race and have enough left in my legs to with the climb up the final hill. The 3rd stage will be more of the same of staying with the lead guys and not losing too much time to the rivals, again I don't think I'll have trouble staying at the front. Finally, depending on the GC standings before the crit, I'll ride conservatively so I actually finish. Since this is not an omnium style stage race, putting in a fast TT is the key.Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01298864352074991428noreply@blogger.com