The Details
Start to Emigration/Strawberry
Start time was 07:06, with a slight breeze and temps in the mid 50's. A fairly good sized group of something like 47-ish riders. Immediately, one guy was having problems with his pedals, spending more time messing with that, than keeping a sharp eye. Out of the rolling neutral and out on the highway, things got moving around 22-24 MPH. Not too fast, but moving along. Just before the Idaho border, we actually caught the 1000's group. They were a 07:00 start, with all the women racers. We blew by them rather quickly, as we were something like 29-30 MPH. At the Preston turn-off, we had a clear turn back onto the highway and made it very quickly up the two steps before the descent into Riverdale. As disorganized as this group seemed, I let the main group get out ahead of me until making the hard right-hand turn up Idaho 36. I kept them close enough to still hook-on and make our way toward the climbs.
Strawberry to Montpelier
Staying with the main group up to about MP10, we were making good time. I had figured I'd have trouble around MP13 where the grade went to about 6%. Turns out, the guys up front called for a pee break - with the race marshal right on us and all (unreal). About a third of the group slowed, but didn't stop. I decided to "soft-pedal" and wait for the group. By the time they got back on the road, the others were a good 1K ahead. Next thing I know, we're having to sprint on about 4% to catch them. At this point I knew what it would do if I went anaerobic this early. I let them go with the idea I'd catch somebody to get me to the climb. By the time we got to MP13, I was not climbing too well. By MP15, I was in too easy of a gear, letting too many people past me. Over the top of the false summit at MP17, I figured I'd better push it a little harder up the past 3 miles. Passing the feed zone, I could see most of the people that had passed me on the climb. I was able to beat all of the them over the summit at MP22. The descent was fast, as I was able to hook onto a really fast group at about Liberty. By the time we hit Ovid, we were a pretty big group and pushing hard. Speeds often above 30 MPH on the flats, we were working pretty hard, in fact too hard. Into the feed zone at Montpelier, I was cooked, but optimistic as my over all time was pretty close to the plan.
Montpelier to Geneva
Out of the feed zone, I was feeling the effects of having pushed it a little hard only a few minutes earlier. The short 8 miles to the climb took a little longer than it should have, but the climb over the top was not too bad. Heading down into Geneva, I was hitting speeds in the upper 40's until I got onto the new chip-seal. After that it was a little sketchy. Not the best surface for the hard 23 mm tires. A rider only less than an hour in front of me crashed hard on this new surface and had to transported by ambulance back to Montpelier and then airlifted to another hospital. At the curve to Salt River, I was almost right on one hour - still not too far off schedule.
Salt River to Afton
The 12 or so miles to KoM (King of the Mountain) wasn't terribly fast, in fact I was kind of dragging. I stopped at a water stop and picked up an extra bottle about a mile from KoM as well. Rolling up to the KoM timing strip, I just kept going, rather than stop for a breather - I'd already had plenty of that.
I just passed by the other riders that had stopped to catch a breather and I started a fairly hard and deliberate pace. Within a few minutes, I was passing other riders that had passed me earlier in the lower areas. As I worked up the hill further, I saw several riders walking their bikes - unreal! Still I was having to make quick inclined sprints past occasional riders. Every once in a while, somebody else may pass me, but I passed far more myself. Reaching the top, I had my jersey completely unzipped, doing the full "batman". Over the top and through the timing strip, I was good to pass the feed zone. I did have to stop just passed the feed zone to do up my jersey for what would be a crazy fast descent (51.82 MPH). I was able to catch a team that took me all the way into Afton. I didn't drop below 30 MPH until we got through Smoot. Way fast into the feed zone and I was feeling pretty confident. An amazing climb, descent and trot into Afton!
Afton to Alpine
34 miles of side cross winds, slightly off the back, negotiating rumble strips and dealing with sketchy groups. I really couldn't find a "fast" group, but I moved from one group into the next, at one point having to take long pulls trying to connect one group to the next. I settled into a team from Colorado that was fast enough, but a little un-nerving in the rumble strips. Just before the relay exchange zone, I jumped out front and headed for the final feed zone. The average speed through this section was nearly 23 MPH.
Alpine to Hoback
At the Alpine feed zone I was a little tired - believe it or not. I stayed there a good 15 minutes but didn't really take much fuel, in fact I didn't take anything aside from a 16 oz. Throwback (all sugar). Heading up Snake River Canyon, I was getting a good tail-wind. By the time I caught group, I was already flying. As this group got bigger, it became a little scarier with each new rider. I eventually decided to let them go and I watched for the next group to come along. Instead, I was flying past other riders, occasionally hooking on to someone for a minute or two, before moving on past them. It soon occurred to me that I wasn't likely to find a suitable group, as these were all 12 hour riders. I was out of luck. It took me an hour to get to Hoback, at which point I again sailed past the feed zone, heading for home.
Hoeback to the Finish Line
About 3 miles past Hoback, I could feel the tank beginning to run dry. I was thinking I should have stopped at the feed zone, but too late now. I was out of water, but had some Zipfizz. By this point I was starting to also feel a little sick, so I wouldn't drink the Zipfizz. Bad idea number one. I had plenty of fruit snacks, three gu's and a Stinger-Waffle, but I didn't take anything. When I got to the last hill before crossing the highway, I was gassed. Heading out west, I ducked under my handlebars to get a little break, but not much. Heading north toward the bike path seemed to go on forever. At the bike path there was another water stop, this time with cans of Coke. I hung out there for about 10 minutes and sipped a little Coke until my stomach was settled. I then crawled off and headed for Wilson. About 15 minute after sipping down some Coke, I was getting my legs back. On the highway to Teton, I suddenly had enough to start pushing again. I caught one group, then left them, and finally caught on to a couple Cyclosportive Open riders. I stayed with them out to about five miles to go. I Jumped over them and started to mash the pedals - HARD!. By 5K, I was skipping over a few others, but not able to quite reel-in the larger group. At 1K, I was looking down the finish line and could see a large group just clearing. I was trying to stoke it, but could only muster a steady hard pace. One guy I last saw in Snake River Canyon was crawling in just in front of me, so I hit it hard the last 100 meters and finished with ............ my tongue dragging in the dirt, but I was done.
Post Race
I wasn't completely dissatisfied with the race. I was way slower than I should have been with moments of brilliance. The bike was "sqwaking" for the last 165 miles. I didn't keep my head on straight and I stay completely unfocused. Still riding that long, by myself, with some degree of exposure is bound to have an effect. At the awards ceremony, I got a little more information. The winds earlier were helpful in a new course record and generally were mostly favorable. Several bad crashes during the day, some far worse than others. I saw two group pile-ups within the last 20 miles myself. The big news was Huntsman raised a projected $200K for the season, with 102 total participants and roughly 85 in the race.
As much as I had my doubts before hand, I think I can do better all the way around.
Not a bad weekend after all...........................
Time for a little down time.
Updates will continue weekly until the snow flies and the MTB is up for the winter.
Stick around.
