Stage 5: TT
so the TT went a lot better then expected, I had talked with Glen and Mark the night before and i we had made the call to maybe not go full gas, save a bit of energy, los some time, and then go in the break sat or sun. Tommy Z has been targeting this race specifically for a month or 2, and he put up a great time early which held for quite some time. Glen had time checks all through his ride, and would gauge how i was going in comparison: if i heard a bunch of honk on the horn from the follow car (honking is the main way of comunicating in a TT) I'd go full gas from that point on as i was going well compared to Tommy. if not it was back it way off and just get across the line.
i started maybe 80% and slowly ramped it up to 90%, i could tell i was moving okay but the wind was so cross and head that i was working hard both to keep moving forward at a reasonable pace and also going in a straight line, the gust were "grabby" to say the least. i got to the check-in point and Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk so i unleshed the wolves and started riding for real. i caught my minute man beore the top of the course, another sign of a good ride, and a confidence boost as well.
the downhill section all the way back into town was super fast but also a bit of cross-tail wind, and quite rough and twisty. you certinly had to pay attention to where you were going and how close to the gutter you were. i used my new technique of visualizing stripping out the 11t cog into use, and i put everything i had into fighting the crosswind sections. i raced hard all the way across the line and was rewarded with a good time and 10th place for my efforts.
sometimes, you work hard and feel like you left it all out on the road and then the results come out and you get 30th, that's all i wanted to avoid. I'm happy to get something for the team to point at, as well as being stoked for Tommy, who's time held up for 12th place. here's another indication that Priority Health came prepared, and we want to show we mean business.
i started maybe 80% and slowly ramped it up to 90%, i could tell i was moving okay but the wind was so cross and head that i was working hard both to keep moving forward at a reasonable pace and also going in a straight line, the gust were "grabby" to say the least. i got to the check-in point and Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk so i unleshed the wolves and started riding for real. i caught my minute man beore the top of the course, another sign of a good ride, and a confidence boost as well.
the downhill section all the way back into town was super fast but also a bit of cross-tail wind, and quite rough and twisty. you certinly had to pay attention to where you were going and how close to the gutter you were. i used my new technique of visualizing stripping out the 11t cog into use, and i put everything i had into fighting the crosswind sections. i raced hard all the way across the line and was rewarded with a good time and 10th place for my efforts.
sometimes, you work hard and feel like you left it all out on the road and then the results come out and you get 30th, that's all i wanted to avoid. I'm happy to get something for the team to point at, as well as being stoked for Tommy, who's time held up for 12th place. here's another indication that Priority Health came prepared, and we want to show we mean business.
6 Comments:
honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk honk
Nicely done. You shoulda had some time in the gold/yellow earlier though. Bastages.
Man, I had the video going full size, ready to capture some screen shots of you and next thing I know nuttin'. Discovery this, CSC that. Heck*, even the hideous outfit and huge helmet Horner had on got some run.
Honk big time tomorrow!!!
Nicely handled today, wish you would have gotten some air time though. Good luck tomorrow in getting in that break.
loved reading this report...thanks...
We all four were yelling loud for you in Davis (the race went right by Jeffrey's apt) but probably the cowbells drowned us out. We follow you every day - makes the race so much more interesting. Jeff said, when he heard about the time trial result, "Ben is like - my hero and stuff. Damn, go him!" At least Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin have finally learned to pronounce your name!
-- Sarah & Bill on Prince St.
Nice ride, Ben. Would have liked to see you get some recognition on TV. I had a little rant about that...
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