Im a Centurian!

This past weekend I was at Blue mountain for the centurion. I did the provincial hill climb on saturday evening and the C100 on sunday morning. The weather was nice, but a little chilly at night and in the morning. I took a lot of time off this past week because my legs felt like hell the previous weekend, so I was hoping to have something to give this weekend.
The hill climb was done on scenic caves road. It was a 3.5km course with a 1km lead out. The hill averaged a gruelling 12%. This was my longest hill climb yet so I was unsure how hard to go at the start so that I didnt blow up before the finish. When I started I went hard on the flat to cover more ground while it was easy. Once I hit the first corner, it got steep. I felt like I wanted another gear! I tried my best to avg 14km/h up the hill but I fell down to 12 towards to top. I finished the longer (than last year) course with 10:23! That was good enough for 7th overall and second for u23!
Sunday was the C100. A long hilly 170km loop through the area surrounding Blue Mountains. It started with a slow leadout around 5km, moving around 20km/h. The race kicked off with a cat 3 climb, and the leaders werent holding back. It was a struggle to hang on, and it tore the field apart. At the top of the climb there may have been around 90 people in the peloton, down from a couple hundred. It was a struggle to hang on to the fast group but I was able to for 80km and conquer two more hills with them. After that I blew up. I figured id last around that long because all my training this year has been for races around 80km. For the rest of the race I had to watch groups bike past me. I had nothing left in the legs to jump on and hang on to their pace (which wasnt overly fast by any means). The last two big climbs were brutal for me. The one was a KOM and I watched tons of people go by me. I consider myself to be a good climber but I was not able to showcase my talents here. At the end of the race there was a guy about 25m ahead of me, and I was going to sprint for the crowd and get him at the line. As soon as I stood up my legs were screaming! Needless to say I sat back down and rode across the line. I finished 10/23 in my age group, and was 203/954 overall. 170km took me just under 5hrs, and without the lead out avg 35.6km/h.

Overall I think I had a great end to my road season and look forward to kicking some but in cat 3!
Garmin data:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/223625527  (C100)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/223117566  (hill climb)
Results:http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=103133  (hill climb)
http://sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=101443 (C100)

Hill climb pic will be posted soon under photos, and maybe centurion pics if they post up some of me!

CRITASTIC!

This past labour day weekend I went with my family down to Windsor where I raced in two criteriums.  The first one was the provincial crit, and the second was the tour via Italia. The weather was great for both courses and both were closed off. I haven’t done well in the two crits I had done already this year so I was hoping to change that. 

Starting with the first one, which was 40 mins plus 3 laps (sportif). 3 Laps in I worked to the front and started attacking on the small hill on the course. They let me go and I stayed away for 3 laps before I coasted until they caught me. I kept attacking just to tire out the bunch and to have some fun. No one wanted to work (what a surprise) so I found myself chasing all the other attacks. Finally I said I wasn’t going to cover the attack and save energy for the end. One guy then gets away and had a decent gap going into the last lap. I moved to the front in hopes of salvaging the possible first place. We caught him at the final corner, but then I got boxed in for the sprint giving me a 9^th place.  This race was just for fun for me anyways and practice.

The second one was 20 laps of a 2km course in the little Italy section of Windsor.  On the third stretch someone parked their car on the road which startled the group. Someone ended up wrapping it in caution tape and after our race it was towed for the women's race.  Again I found myself attacking early in the race before sitting back in. No one again wanted to work, so when Niles attacked I found myself having to move up to reel him back in.  I played it safe trying to stay out of trouble for the race. The last lap it picked up and I made sure I held my position into the final corner. I took the corner a bit wide setting me back a bit. I opened up and flew up the side into 7^th spot and 3^rd in the elite 4! My brother said, "From where we were we thought you were going to win, you flew right up the side passing people!" The only problem with this race was it was very disorganized with the podium. Everyone that had to wait, was waiting for several hours. OCA officials were getting frustrated with all the questions and im sure they will have something to say to the organizer. Other than that it was awesome!

First podium for a crit, and my fastest sprint at 57.2km/h on flat ground and no wind! Definitely have had huge improvements this year.
Next year I look forward to racing with Coach Chris and having a team to support me and work with. Also next year I look forward to moving up into cat 3!
Pictures should be added soon! (I have not forgotten about the pics page :p )
 Garmin data! And results
Italia -- http://connect.garmin.com/activity/218388358

http://www.ontariocycling.org/web_pages/results/20120902-232251-tdviresults.htm
Prov--- http://connect.garmin.com/activity/218388378  

http://www.ontariocycling.org/web_pages/results/20120901-224832-wpcresults.htm

Now I look towards provincial hill climb, and the centurion road race in barrie. I will finally get to race with my buddy, the one and only Andrew House!  Hopefully I can hang on to him.  After that my mtb season starts with the university cup!