Back East: Walnut Grove
After Stoop's and Duncan's success on Saturday it was hard to get motivated for a 8:00AM road race. Saturday had definitely taken its toll on everyone and no one really wanted to get up at 5:30. We all had several reasons/excuses for not racing. With almost a perfect record Stoop definitely was feeling some pressure to deliver once again. With Jamie present and excited he was to be part of the mix we mustered the troops and set off for the race.
Knowing that Stoop was feeling some pressure to perform and Duncan really wanting to perform it was an easy game plan. We planned to sit back relax, not own the race, and see how it unfolded and see where we could set David up. Marco Polo was really active and we could see that they were here to race. It was interesting to see that Stoop was clearly a marked man. I do not know if he saw it but from where I was it was easy to see that every time he moved he would have everyone react. It was obvious that people now knew who he was. A side affect to this was that Duncan was also marked .
On the courses longest hill (about 1k) Andrew Erskine (Team Nine) and a Marco Polo rider went clear. When we started the second of three laps (27 mile per lap) the duo had a gap of about 4 minutes. The always aggressive Justin Beard (Black Sheep) dangled about 30 seconds back hoping for some relief, either from the field or catching the break. A chase soon formed that was organized by Ted King (Bissell), Nick Reistad (Jelly Belly), and Scott Jackson (DLP). Ted was putting some pressure on Stoop to pull and he just readily obliged. I knew we were all tired and I knew we should probably have someone contribute to the chase so I took over for Mike. It should be made clear that I did not really want to. It took about 20 miles for the 4 of us to catch everyone.
The entire time I was hoping that someone would decide to come up and help and I honestly thought that when we caught the group my day would be done. As we caught the groups up the road there was a flurry of attacks. I honestly did not see much because at this point I had retreated to the back to drink some water and eat something. When I reemerged somewhere in the last lap there was one Marco Polo rider up the road. The field had gotten smaller and we were definitely going up the hills a little slower. Did I mention that the course was just plain hard! It was rolling all the time and it was very windy. According to Stoop this is the windiest and wettest racing season ever! I have raced this course or variations of it several times. I had a vague memory of the area but an acute vivid memory of the last 5 miles and the pain I had felt on those occasions. Today was not going to be an exception.
With one Marco Polo up the road and a field not very interested in chasing it seemed we were racing for second. With about 5 miles to go Stoop was feeling alright and asked me to lead him out. I said I was almost on empty and would protect him but I was not sure what I could do. Not more than 20 seconds after that conversation a Marco Polo rider attacked and I covered it. I did not anticipate that we would be given any room. I guess this is another lesson for that even though Stoop and Duncan are marked, I am not. The Marco Polo rider looked back a couple times, jumped a couple of times and then just put his head down. When I looked back we had a pretty big gap and he was just driving it. I was doing what I could but I was also doing what I could to not cramp. In the end I sat up (got dropped) with about a 1k to go and rode in comfortably for 3rd.
Right on my heels Duncan was leading Stoop out. The communication between the guys was good and Stoop may have just waited an instant too long to start his sprint as one of the Marco Polo riders beat him to the punch and nipped him on the line for 4th.
Overall it was a great weekend. We had Jamie with us and he was racing. We have to make that happen more often. Stoop made some real impressions on the Marco Polo riders and staff and it was a real opportunity/test to show them his and the teams value. Duncan also had a some good rides and continues to make really important contributions. I think he is fitter than he believes and once we find a way to sharpen him up, watch out. Personally, one of his biggest contributions to me, is that he makes going to the races fun. It was also great racing with the Marco Polo team. We wish them every success at the Tour of Georgia and I think everyone in attendance at the race this weekend will be looking for them.
Knowing that Stoop was feeling some pressure to perform and Duncan really wanting to perform it was an easy game plan. We planned to sit back relax, not own the race, and see how it unfolded and see where we could set David up. Marco Polo was really active and we could see that they were here to race. It was interesting to see that Stoop was clearly a marked man. I do not know if he saw it but from where I was it was easy to see that every time he moved he would have everyone react. It was obvious that people now knew who he was. A side affect to this was that Duncan was also marked .
On the courses longest hill (about 1k) Andrew Erskine (Team Nine) and a Marco Polo rider went clear. When we started the second of three laps (27 mile per lap) the duo had a gap of about 4 minutes. The always aggressive Justin Beard (Black Sheep) dangled about 30 seconds back hoping for some relief, either from the field or catching the break. A chase soon formed that was organized by Ted King (Bissell), Nick Reistad (Jelly Belly), and Scott Jackson (DLP). Ted was putting some pressure on Stoop to pull and he just readily obliged. I knew we were all tired and I knew we should probably have someone contribute to the chase so I took over for Mike. It should be made clear that I did not really want to. It took about 20 miles for the 4 of us to catch everyone.
The entire time I was hoping that someone would decide to come up and help and I honestly thought that when we caught the group my day would be done. As we caught the groups up the road there was a flurry of attacks. I honestly did not see much because at this point I had retreated to the back to drink some water and eat something. When I reemerged somewhere in the last lap there was one Marco Polo rider up the road. The field had gotten smaller and we were definitely going up the hills a little slower. Did I mention that the course was just plain hard! It was rolling all the time and it was very windy. According to Stoop this is the windiest and wettest racing season ever! I have raced this course or variations of it several times. I had a vague memory of the area but an acute vivid memory of the last 5 miles and the pain I had felt on those occasions. Today was not going to be an exception.
With one Marco Polo up the road and a field not very interested in chasing it seemed we were racing for second. With about 5 miles to go Stoop was feeling alright and asked me to lead him out. I said I was almost on empty and would protect him but I was not sure what I could do. Not more than 20 seconds after that conversation a Marco Polo rider attacked and I covered it. I did not anticipate that we would be given any room. I guess this is another lesson for that even though Stoop and Duncan are marked, I am not. The Marco Polo rider looked back a couple times, jumped a couple of times and then just put his head down. When I looked back we had a pretty big gap and he was just driving it. I was doing what I could but I was also doing what I could to not cramp. In the end I sat up (got dropped) with about a 1k to go and rode in comfortably for 3rd.
Right on my heels Duncan was leading Stoop out. The communication between the guys was good and Stoop may have just waited an instant too long to start his sprint as one of the Marco Polo riders beat him to the punch and nipped him on the line for 4th.
Overall it was a great weekend. We had Jamie with us and he was racing. We have to make that happen more often. Stoop made some real impressions on the Marco Polo riders and staff and it was a real opportunity/test to show them his and the teams value. Duncan also had a some good rides and continues to make really important contributions. I think he is fitter than he believes and once we find a way to sharpen him up, watch out. Personally, one of his biggest contributions to me, is that he makes going to the races fun. It was also great racing with the Marco Polo team. We wish them every success at the Tour of Georgia and I think everyone in attendance at the race this weekend will be looking for them.
posted by Jered at
10:59 AM
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