Tuesday, September 11, 2007
San Ardo Master's 4/5 Race Report
Posted on behalf of Steve Nishamura
Editors note: Steve may have thought he got dead last, but in fact all DVCers came in top 20, after spending most of the day on the sharp end of the race. I'm not sure if our field was a full 50 or not, but I do think we shelled a bunch of people leading out the pack finish. I definitely shelled myself. -McDolce
After returning from the weekend’s race in sunny San Ardo, I had waiting in the mail the 3 hr classic Fellini movie “La Dolce Vita” about a gossip columnist who winds and weaves through a series of endless parties and beautiful women ultimately finding his talents wasted and a bleak, empty, cynical life to look forward to. Hmmm, this got me thinking about the irony of the name of our very own Dolce Vita. After all I had just driven over the dusty plains of Central California at 4 in the morning with Raymond Cogan in tow just praying to find a Starbucks in a strip mall so I could wake up. Then I could have the privilege of 3 hrs of breathing in dessicated cow dung dust before the 3 hr+ return drive with a bloody Raymond moaning beside me. Finally, I’m home beat and stinking like a homeless man to be greeted by my sons who have long ago learned not to ask whether or not I won, rather they ask me more diplomatically “How did you do, Daddy?”
Well, on Saturday when asked the question, I said “dead last”, and quickly qualified this with a “but, I had a great time”. My sons looked at me suspiciously, but they could tell that I meant it. San Ardo was actually a fun race (and I certainly had more fun than Raymond, on his first race back from a fractured wrist, who crashed out hard with the 3s on the first lap and then had to wait over 2 hrs for us to finish). I raced Masters 4/5 with Kiernan, Rich, Jamie, and Steve Ransom. Kiernan’s race plan was simply protect our strong men for the day, Rich and Steve R.; Jamie and I were supposed to chase down breaks, and help string out the pack before the little riser finale sprint. There were 6 or 7 EMC2 guys, and we were the only other major team. A good rider from Kaiser took off at the gun, and gained about a minute on the pack. A couple of small breaks tried to get away, and Steve R. was in a couple of them, and an indication that he was on a good day. Rich dropped his chain and we all dropped back to help him chase back on. Once back together, the pack rode tempo and caught Kaiser on the backstretch leading into sunny, scenic San Ardo. Then on the next lap Kiernan rode strong up to the front on the riser out of San Ardo and I rode up to his wheel and let a gap open. No one came around for a long while. By then Kiernan was 30 secs up and two other guys went up to bridge and I let them go and continued to block on the front, thinking.. “let’s see what happens. Kiernan may be able to go the distance….” Then I saw Kaiser coming up fast and I jumped on his wheel and a Third Pillar Guy (this guy eventually won) was on my wheel and no one else. We were half way to Kiernan’s group and the Kaiser guy looks back and knows that I am not there to help and the third Pillar guy is also just sitting on. Part of me was thinking what if I helped bring these guys up? Then we’re seven with Kiernan and I. I thought of 1 ½ hours of impending pain. Hmmm, better rethink this. This could work, but most likely not, then I remember that my job is to help out Rich and Steve. So, I just stayed put and we drifted back to the pack and soon so were Kiernan and company.
Then a couple of guys jump on a slight downhill and get about 10 secs. I thought a down hill attack on a flat race, what a waste of energy, but then Kaiser goes again and bridges. Then Steve R. goes and then 3rd Pillar and a couple of others, no one chases and all of a sudden the winning break is gone. Good job Steve.
Now, the 3rd lap… protect Rich and get a result in the field sprint. Which is basically what we do. Kiernan goes to the front about 6 miles out….a signal to Jamie and I to start to work. So, DVC goes to the front to pick up the pace and Jamie and I take our turns turning ourselves inside out on the front. By the last pull I’m wasted and I soft pedal in. Up ahead, Jamie and Kiernan lead out Rich who finishes 2nd in the field sprint (good job Rich!) for a 6th place overall and Steve R. gets 2nd in the break away, which ultimately only had 4 riders that went the distance. For the most part, we controlled and animated the race, followed our plan and raced like a team. La Dolce Vita!
Editors note: Steve may have thought he got dead last, but in fact all DVCers came in top 20, after spending most of the day on the sharp end of the race. I'm not sure if our field was a full 50 or not, but I do think we shelled a bunch of people leading out the pack finish. I definitely shelled myself. -McDolce
After returning from the weekend’s race in sunny San Ardo, I had waiting in the mail the 3 hr classic Fellini movie “La Dolce Vita” about a gossip columnist who winds and weaves through a series of endless parties and beautiful women ultimately finding his talents wasted and a bleak, empty, cynical life to look forward to. Hmmm, this got me thinking about the irony of the name of our very own Dolce Vita. After all I had just driven over the dusty plains of Central California at 4 in the morning with Raymond Cogan in tow just praying to find a Starbucks in a strip mall so I could wake up. Then I could have the privilege of 3 hrs of breathing in dessicated cow dung dust before the 3 hr+ return drive with a bloody Raymond moaning beside me. Finally, I’m home beat and stinking like a homeless man to be greeted by my sons who have long ago learned not to ask whether or not I won, rather they ask me more diplomatically “How did you do, Daddy?”
Well, on Saturday when asked the question, I said “dead last”, and quickly qualified this with a “but, I had a great time”. My sons looked at me suspiciously, but they could tell that I meant it. San Ardo was actually a fun race (and I certainly had more fun than Raymond, on his first race back from a fractured wrist, who crashed out hard with the 3s on the first lap and then had to wait over 2 hrs for us to finish). I raced Masters 4/5 with Kiernan, Rich, Jamie, and Steve Ransom. Kiernan’s race plan was simply protect our strong men for the day, Rich and Steve R.; Jamie and I were supposed to chase down breaks, and help string out the pack before the little riser finale sprint. There were 6 or 7 EMC2 guys, and we were the only other major team. A good rider from Kaiser took off at the gun, and gained about a minute on the pack. A couple of small breaks tried to get away, and Steve R. was in a couple of them, and an indication that he was on a good day. Rich dropped his chain and we all dropped back to help him chase back on. Once back together, the pack rode tempo and caught Kaiser on the backstretch leading into sunny, scenic San Ardo. Then on the next lap Kiernan rode strong up to the front on the riser out of San Ardo and I rode up to his wheel and let a gap open. No one came around for a long while. By then Kiernan was 30 secs up and two other guys went up to bridge and I let them go and continued to block on the front, thinking.. “let’s see what happens. Kiernan may be able to go the distance….” Then I saw Kaiser coming up fast and I jumped on his wheel and a Third Pillar Guy (this guy eventually won) was on my wheel and no one else. We were half way to Kiernan’s group and the Kaiser guy looks back and knows that I am not there to help and the third Pillar guy is also just sitting on. Part of me was thinking what if I helped bring these guys up? Then we’re seven with Kiernan and I. I thought of 1 ½ hours of impending pain. Hmmm, better rethink this. This could work, but most likely not, then I remember that my job is to help out Rich and Steve. So, I just stayed put and we drifted back to the pack and soon so were Kiernan and company.
Then a couple of guys jump on a slight downhill and get about 10 secs. I thought a down hill attack on a flat race, what a waste of energy, but then Kaiser goes again and bridges. Then Steve R. goes and then 3rd Pillar and a couple of others, no one chases and all of a sudden the winning break is gone. Good job Steve.
Now, the 3rd lap… protect Rich and get a result in the field sprint. Which is basically what we do. Kiernan goes to the front about 6 miles out….a signal to Jamie and I to start to work. So, DVC goes to the front to pick up the pace and Jamie and I take our turns turning ourselves inside out on the front. By the last pull I’m wasted and I soft pedal in. Up ahead, Jamie and Kiernan lead out Rich who finishes 2nd in the field sprint (good job Rich!) for a 6th place overall and Steve R. gets 2nd in the break away, which ultimately only had 4 riders that went the distance. For the most part, we controlled and animated the race, followed our plan and raced like a team. La Dolce Vita!
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