Zachary Hilton
Pescadero Classic Road Race
Pescadero, CA
Category 35+ 4's
Pescadero Classic Road Race
Pescadero, CA
Category 35+ 4's
Place: DNP
Field: 33
Teammates: NONE
Field: 33
Teammates: NONE
Weather: 64 sunny
Start Time: 09:50:00 am
Start Time: 09:50:00 am
Total Time: 00:29:00
Power: 233 W avg, 742 W max, 240 W NP
Power: 233 W avg, 742 W max, 240 W NP
Average Speed: 19.5 MPH, Top Speed 38.1 MPH
Average HR: 161 Max HR: 184
Elevation Ascent: 764
Elevation Ascent: 764
I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/32 for this race. I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 46's with 25mm tires for this race. I follow Hammer Nutrition's Steve Born on many pre-race strategies. I am carrying 2 bottles of Hammer Heed with me, I can grab one bottle of water at the neutral feed support.
My goals for this race are to get over the two climbs on Stage Rd in 5 minutes and to climb Haskins Rd in 7 minutes. Those are the times I need to stay with the leaders and get on the podium. Turn out this year the winner road Haskins in 8:04 for the first time and 7:16 the final time to the finish line. This is usually the same...slower first time and faster second. Drop a bottle first lap and grab a neutral bottle. I will then drop that neutral bottle on lap two at the feed zone, and empty out any remaining fluid from my remaining bottle. There is some water at the finish line for the ride back.
Race starts off neutral for 1 mile and I'm up front with my teammate Michael leading the group through the backside of town. There is no room to move up if you are in the back until you reach the first descent on Stage Rd...that's because the roads are open to traffic and the moto is watching for those that ignore the center line. I wanted to see if I could catch anyone off guard and get the sprint prime that was supposed to be at mile 2.5. Well I was in perfect position but no one was there from the race organizers!! WTF? By this time Dolce Vita came around me and took the lead. They sent one guy 5 seconds up the road before we hit the first climb...he stayed out there by himself and I kept my position right behind his teammate. The tempo was high because its a short power climb that takes 5-6 minutes. We descend down Stage rd and of course everyone is using the entire road. Some racers were nervous and refused to get out of the way. Starting the second climb up Stage Rd I was sitting 5th or so and we were starting the break up. I came around someone and kept my head down for another 5 minute power climb. It then flattens out for a stretch of the big ring and we are in full fast descent mode until we hit HWY 84. if you are not constantly trying to move up on the descent you will get dropped. Those that don't make it with the lead group as they turn onto HWY 84 will be chasing and sometimes never catch on. Either way, its too many burned matches when you need to save them. I was with the top 10 for sure as we turned onto HWY 84, I took a Hammer Gel and drank some. We had several Dolce Vita and Pen Velo racers up front and they were fighting over who's taking the lead. I turned around and we were by ourselves, and a chase group was forming single file. Shortly after we were two wide trying to form a pace line when we came around a right turn and the weeds were as high as us. I was sitting in the back and boxed in...next thing I know we are 3 wide and I'm getting squeezed into the weeds on the turn. The guy in front of me and myself both lean towards the left to avoid the weeds and both go straight into a hairline crack in the road. All this happened in 2 seconds. My front wheel must have dropped perfectly in the crack and ripped a small hole in my sidewall. We were going 22 mph when it happened and luckily I came to a slow stop with no incident. Luckily SunPower has some great people volunteering and I got a ride back from the SAG.
What I learned from this race is there is so much going through your brain and processing in a race like this. The last thing on my mind was that HWY 84 has some hairline cracks on the shoulder and to stay away from the inside. Next year I will read this to remind myself. That's the main reason for these reports. Take count to what works and what doesn't work. Don't repeat the same mistakes.
Race starts off neutral for 1 mile and I'm up front with my teammate Michael leading the group through the backside of town. There is no room to move up if you are in the back until you reach the first descent on Stage Rd...that's because the roads are open to traffic and the moto is watching for those that ignore the center line. I wanted to see if I could catch anyone off guard and get the sprint prime that was supposed to be at mile 2.5. Well I was in perfect position but no one was there from the race organizers!! WTF? By this time Dolce Vita came around me and took the lead. They sent one guy 5 seconds up the road before we hit the first climb...he stayed out there by himself and I kept my position right behind his teammate. The tempo was high because its a short power climb that takes 5-6 minutes. We descend down Stage rd and of course everyone is using the entire road. Some racers were nervous and refused to get out of the way. Starting the second climb up Stage Rd I was sitting 5th or so and we were starting the break up. I came around someone and kept my head down for another 5 minute power climb. It then flattens out for a stretch of the big ring and we are in full fast descent mode until we hit HWY 84. if you are not constantly trying to move up on the descent you will get dropped. Those that don't make it with the lead group as they turn onto HWY 84 will be chasing and sometimes never catch on. Either way, its too many burned matches when you need to save them. I was with the top 10 for sure as we turned onto HWY 84, I took a Hammer Gel and drank some. We had several Dolce Vita and Pen Velo racers up front and they were fighting over who's taking the lead. I turned around and we were by ourselves, and a chase group was forming single file. Shortly after we were two wide trying to form a pace line when we came around a right turn and the weeds were as high as us. I was sitting in the back and boxed in...next thing I know we are 3 wide and I'm getting squeezed into the weeds on the turn. The guy in front of me and myself both lean towards the left to avoid the weeds and both go straight into a hairline crack in the road. All this happened in 2 seconds. My front wheel must have dropped perfectly in the crack and ripped a small hole in my sidewall. We were going 22 mph when it happened and luckily I came to a slow stop with no incident. Luckily SunPower has some great people volunteering and I got a ride back from the SAG.
What I learned from this race is there is so much going through your brain and processing in a race like this. The last thing on my mind was that HWY 84 has some hairline cracks on the shoulder and to stay away from the inside. Next year I will read this to remind myself. That's the main reason for these reports. Take count to what works and what doesn't work. Don't repeat the same mistakes.
Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep. Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH. I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix. Both have great recovery ingredients!
Next race will be Mt Diablo Hill Climb TT June 25th!
Thanks for reading!
Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!
Thanks to SJBC Race Team!
