Zachary Hilton
Cantua Creek RR
Coalinga, CA
Category 35+ 4
Cantua Creek RR
Coalinga, CA
Category 35+ 4
Place: 9
Field: 9
Teammates: None
Field: 9
Teammates: None
Weather: 49 partly cloudy, tailwind going out and massive headwind coming in, some cross winds
Start Time: 8:40:00 am
Start Time: 8:40:00 am
Total Time: 02:40:00
Power: 206 W avg, 824 W max, 202 W NP
Power: 206 W avg, 824 W max, 202 W NP
Average Speed: 18.6 MPH, Top Speed 42.2 MPH
Average HR: 161 Max HR: 190
Elevation Ascent: 1,450
Elevation Ascent: 1,450
I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/28 for this race. I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 46's with 25mm tires for this race. I am carrying 2 bottles of Hammer Heed with me to the start and a 5 Hammer Gels to refuel every 30 minutes. I've got a S-Works Evade helmet.
My goals for this race are to practice positioning in the peloton. This race is going to be a challenge because it's mainly flat, fast, windy, with an uphill finish. I wanted to take pulls up front and then give everything I have until I blow up. Practice conserving energy for the right times
We start right near registration and then ride neutral for maybe a mile to the finish line. We will be doing two laps, or 4 legs of this course. Two out and two back. It's a two lane road and center line is enforced. There is a single cone at each end of the course and you do a 180 degree turn around it. If you are in the back of the you better be ready to not get dropped as you make it around the cone. Especially at the one at the finish line. That one has a tail wind and downhill as you come around it! We are a small group and that leaves hardly any room to stay protected without looking like the guy that won't take any pulls up front. No one had a teammate to rely on. The first 13 miles were pretty easy. You could feel the tailwind, and we stayed as a group. No one attacked, and we mostly stayed in either a pace line, or a disorganized group. I kept to myself for most of it in the back. On the return from mile 13-26 we hit a pretty hard headwind. I continued to stay protected, but also took some fried turns at the front. We were 1K from the finish line and it's uphill. Some were hitting it pretty hard, and I was able to match it. It's a little more wind protected in this last 1K also. I came into the 180 degree turn sitting 6th place. I could see that a Revs Road racer took the turn fast and was already starting to try and create himself a gap. I was able to catch the group and stay on the back of it. It took a few seconds to reach them though. I also burned some matches! Mile 26-39 I spent on the back holding on. Multiple attacks were now going off the front and Rev Road racer was creating a gap on the group that no one could match. We spent the entire 3rd leg of the race chasing him down. Finally around mile 36 I started to blow up. I gave it my all, and that final leg of the race sucked in that headwind alone! It took me forever from mile 39-52!
What I learned from this race is that positioning is key of course. I'm struggling to find other lessons learned.
We start right near registration and then ride neutral for maybe a mile to the finish line. We will be doing two laps, or 4 legs of this course. Two out and two back. It's a two lane road and center line is enforced. There is a single cone at each end of the course and you do a 180 degree turn around it. If you are in the back of the you better be ready to not get dropped as you make it around the cone. Especially at the one at the finish line. That one has a tail wind and downhill as you come around it! We are a small group and that leaves hardly any room to stay protected without looking like the guy that won't take any pulls up front. No one had a teammate to rely on. The first 13 miles were pretty easy. You could feel the tailwind, and we stayed as a group. No one attacked, and we mostly stayed in either a pace line, or a disorganized group. I kept to myself for most of it in the back. On the return from mile 13-26 we hit a pretty hard headwind. I continued to stay protected, but also took some fried turns at the front. We were 1K from the finish line and it's uphill. Some were hitting it pretty hard, and I was able to match it. It's a little more wind protected in this last 1K also. I came into the 180 degree turn sitting 6th place. I could see that a Revs Road racer took the turn fast and was already starting to try and create himself a gap. I was able to catch the group and stay on the back of it. It took a few seconds to reach them though. I also burned some matches! Mile 26-39 I spent on the back holding on. Multiple attacks were now going off the front and Rev Road racer was creating a gap on the group that no one could match. We spent the entire 3rd leg of the race chasing him down. Finally around mile 36 I started to blow up. I gave it my all, and that final leg of the race sucked in that headwind alone! It took me forever from mile 39-52!
What I learned from this race is that positioning is key of course. I'm struggling to find other lessons learned.
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!
Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!
Thanks to SJBC Race Team!