Bethel Finale:A Tale in Yellow

Regular readers of this blog know that our team targeted the Bethel Spring Series for our leader (and sponsor) Aki, aka SDC/SprinterDellaCasa.  It's a six race series and, for the first time since 2005, none of the six races were cancelled.  It's been a hard-fought seven weeks (we take Easter Sunday off) with Bethel Cycle and IRS/Medic contesting us for the overall.  Evan (Bethel Cycle) led the series for the first 3 races, but then he upgraded to Cat2, leaving IRS/Medic and EXPO Wheelmen to try and get their respective leaders into yellow.  IRS/M drew first blood, putting their leader Bryan into yellow in week #4.  Last week, a break took all the points up the road so things were status quo going into today.

SDC was out of yellow by one point.  Because of the way the points work in this Series, if he didn't get at least a point - and beat Bryan - the best he could get would be 3rd.  "Ghost rider" Evan had enough points to keep 2nd.

So the pressure was on as we lined up.  There are many things about this Series that make it especially classy - an example for any race to emulate (much less a series of 6 races!).  Great marshalling, smooth registration (made all the better by Navone Studios providing shelter and eats!), finishline camera, prompt results, LOTS of "feedback loops" (Twitter feed, Facebook, website).  But lining up at the start was especially cool.  First, the official did a "call up" - the first one I've ever been a part of.  Bryan was called up first, then SDC, then the other points leaders in turn.  Then the sponsoring teams - EXPO and Bethel Cycle - were called up.  Especially nice since most of us had lined up near the back!

The only downside was the waiting.  The tension mounted as we checked our computers, helmet cams(!) or just tried to keep calm, waiting for the whistle to send us off into what was going to be a very hard race.

Very hard especially for us.  Since they were leading, IRS/Medic could afford to play it safe and a couple of scenarios could win it for them.  A break could go, eating up all the points as it had last week.  Bryan could have his strong team initiate a break that he could get into.  If SDC couldn't bridge, then game over.

The common element in both of these defeat scenarios being "break" our job was to make sure a break - no break - went up the road.

So we chased just about EVERYthing.  We didn't work when we got into breaks, we bridged to breaks when we'd missed them.  Once, when a teammate and I were in a break that had gotten a little gap, a guy yelled to me "amazing, EXPO has you two guys in the break and they're still chasing you!"  "But it's not about us" I thought.  I wish I'd said it out loud, but I could hardly breathe, much less explain our strategy to him.

When there wasn't a break or anyone to chase, we did our best to keep the pace high.  Major props go to Lance (above) and Paul for all their hard work especially early in the race, and Drew - with some help from Steve, Mike and Dennis throughout.  I made some hard efforts in there - one in particular that just about put me OTB.  But one of the things I've learned between last week and this week is that I can actually recover from those hard efforts.

Eventually anyway.

Somewhere inside of 10 laps to go, I noticed that Bryan had attacked and gone up the road a little.  His timing was perfect.  Our guys, having played so much offense for much of the race, were wearing out and nowhere up front at that point.  But when Yellow moves, it tells a tale that's hard to miss.  You have to react if you can.  With what I can only expect must have been some help/effort from other "friendlies" in the race, along with our recharged adrenaline at seeing such a threat, we were able to bring things back together again.

And the attacks/chases resumed.

The last 5 laps are a blur of recollection, but I'll do my best to recount what I saw - which wasn't as much as I would have liked, the legs having about reached their limit by then.  You'll have to wait for the helmet cam to get the best perspective.

Coming up the hill at the end of 5 to go, I noticed that SDC made a big effort and moved up a lot.  As we came through the line Lance, Paul and I were about 2/3 back and our leader was already flirting with the front quarter.  We were on the left side going through corner 1 and before I had a chance to say anything (maybe the team's ESP was working), Lance started going hard down the left side, with Paul and I following closely.  I thought "That's good - but it looks like a leadout and it's a little early for that."  Well, we made it near the front, and tucked back in.  I lost track of the L&P after that, but I saw Aki on the right side, about 5 - 7 guys up ahead.

The pace was so high, it was hard to hold position - and nearly impossible (for me anyway) to move up.  The only respite was on the back stretch into the stiff headwind - as the pack would spread out a little, you could move up.  If you felt like taking a chance.  Things were getting a bit sketchy at this point and even I threaded a few needles I wouldn't have even attempted a few weeks ago.  But the racers in this series - at least in our race - have impressed me at how well they handle their bikes.  There haven't been any major crashes despite the large packs and high pace.  Of course, that confidence makes you consider taking risks you might not otherwise.

Case in point:

End of 2 to go and I'd been fighting to move up further for a couple of laps.  I surprised myself by gaining a bunch of spots on the hill, many guys starting to fade even more than me.  Bell ringing us through the start/finish for the final lap and I see SDC just a few guys ahead.  Determined to help lead him to the finish, I come up the right side and dive into corner 1 - just as SDC dives to the same spot(!)  I grab my brakes (not hard, thankfully) and promptly lose all the ground I'd just gained - a good 10-15 spots.

But I was close enough to the front to see that there were about 5 or so guys up the road about 300 meters - and only 3/4 of a lap to close that gap and pass them.  From where I found myself, I can't give a firsthand account, but as we hit the back stretch and those guys still dangled off the front, I remember thinking, "that's it."

HOB was chasing hard, as were a bunch of others.  I saw Aki up the road, and another EXPO jersey in front of him, pulling hard.  It wasn't until later that I heard that Cliff - already up there - launched a huge effort to get Aki up to, and past, a few of those guys up the road.

And it all came down to this:

SDC passed all but one of those guys up the road and came in 2nd, getting 7 points and winning the series! 

 

Here's the happy crew - our largest showing for the whole series, including some big guns.  L to R Lance, Paul, Drew, Dennis, me, SDC, (secret teammate), Dennis, Cliff and Mike.

SDC finally gets yellow.  Bryan took second (but his team won the team prize in our race AND the Masters race, so some consolation).  "Evan" stand-in in 3rd.

Thanks to Navone Studios - along with the race sponsors, they put on a great podium presentation, even (or perhaps especially) without champagne or podium girls.

A great end to a great day and an outstanding series!

And as if that all weren't enough, we were treated to this view on the way home.

It's already been a great season - and it's still only April.

Comments

[matty]

there's nothing like coming from behind to win on the last day. congrats!

[Buttsy]

What a great podium set up....love your team kit too......looks like it was fantastic racing....well done

[aki]

Trying to figure out how to help you guys out in return. One internet character (black sheep) says you should do more road races. Want to do a road race?

Also if we're talking road races, wondering if you'd want to use the DV46 tubulars. You won't have to adjust the brakes at least.

Regardless time for the Rent soon.

[suitcaseofcourage]

Thanks for the offer though Im afraid if I ride tubulars Ill HAVE to buy some myself!