Paris to Ancaster 2014

Unfortunately don't have pictures or videos for you guys this time, should have a something for Springbank though so come back for that!

Anyways, starting off this year I was a little disappointed that I was having to start in wave 1, as I really wanted to try and hang with the best up in the elite wave. So this year's goal was primarily to get into that top 100 to qualify for the elite wave for next year.

The race this year was surprisingly dry. I think I was a record clean for the past 6 years that I have done the event, including a few where I have completed the shorter St. George to Ancaster. If this was your first year doing the event, you had an outlier year, and I wouldn't expect that again next year. This year it also felt like we had a slight headwind, which would have really helped being with a strong group for the open road sections and the rail trail. The mud slides looked pretty rideable, however by the time I was getting to them, they were filled with people who paid for the VIP package and so I thought it would be safe just to run by than to risk being taken out. You never know what rocks are hiding under that mud! And it definitely isn't a race that I am willing to risk my health for either.

I started near the back of the wave because I was trying to get my friends bag to my mom to bring to the finish. I spent the first section of road and rail trail trying to move up towards the faster group. Sorry if I rode past and angrily yelled to move over if you weren't passing on the rail trail. I don't hate you, but it is a race and I had somewhere to get to, the finish line! I cannot understand why people lined up so damn early for the race. They must have started lining up 40-50mins before the start!

Anyways after the first rail trail section I had found some pretty fit guys that I was able to ride with for a while as I wouldn't be going any faster myself trying to battle the wind. This group ended up splitting up after the first part of the Jerseyville rail trail section. I rode away from them (really a roadie on off-road terrain?) and caught up to a Midweek rider, Scott Elliott. He was strong and we took turns pulling each other for at least the next 10km. He dropped his chain unfortunately just before the Powerline mudslide and I just kept racing on. Shortly after I caught up to Boundless star, and my spin class participant Paul Trebilcock. His excuse was not charging his DI2 batteries so he didn't have much for shifting (one of the reasons I have no issues staying with a mechanical setup!). I guess we will have to have a rematch for that. After making it through the mudslides, I got to tackle Martin Road.

I always try and convince myself that the hill isn't that bad. And every year I get a reality check. You have a few rollers that drain your legs before the big finale. The crowd being there at the top of the steep section really helps you drive through to get to the top. I had them cheering me on to catch a rider that was just ahead of me. I was able to bury the pain and catch the rider just before the line. My own exciting finish for 87th! So yes goal accomplished of top 100, and it only took 6 years.

So this week I have Springbank to look forward to. And please, let the cycling gods be on my side. Hoping to stay upright here, so far I am 2/2 on Springbank appearances for crashing. And I know most people say this but I did not create the crashes, last year someone went down in front of me, and the year prior someone came over into me after I was already half way up the side of them. Hopefully the E1,2 field can figure out how to ride the course!

Results:here
Garmin data: here
Cool Strava race playback: Here