The pace in the 4s race was consistently fast today. We averaged nearly 25mph for the 60 mile race. For the first part of the race, many riders seemed to think this was some kind of club ride. Everyone tried to outdo each other with long hard pulls at the front. Eventually as those riders tired out, there were lulls in the pace and the attacks started. I felt really good today, but being the only Savage Hill rider in the field, there was no possibility of covering every move (this is where it really helps to have a team!). I put in several attacks resulting in minor breaks. I also counter attacked and bridged up to several breaks that looked promsing. But the pack was motivated and was consistently bringing back everything.
Late in the race attacks were going one after another. I had just finished covering two back-to-back attacks when a threatening break got away. I put my head down and jumped up to the 4 riders. As I arrived at the back of the break, the rear rider was popping off. Suddenly I found myself gapped. I dug deep to close this gap, but when I looked back, the field was breathing down our necks (again!). I decided to save my energy and dropped back to the field. Big mistake. Instead of coming around me, the field seemed satisfied with this minor capture and sat on my wheel. Suddenly the break started gaining ground. It turned out to be the winning move. I could kick myself 100 times for letting them go. But who knows what would have happened if I made it back into the break. It's quite possible the field would have closed the gap.
In any case, my legs were cramping at the end (yes, again) and I decided there was no value in contesting the field sprint. I finished somewhere in the main field.
