Going fast & having fun

Written by: Jesse Nieman

For my second race of the season with the team, I was doing the Pine Flat Road Race. It
had been greatly praised by my teammates, so I prepared for it with excitement. As a new racer, I did my best to study the course and listen to how my teammates were preparing for the race. Teammates Lindsay Blount and Kenny Slaught were particularly helpful with their many tips.

My goals for this race were to focus on energy conservation, race awareness, and nutrition. As I finished my warmup and rolled up to the start, I learned that the category 4 riders and category 5 riders would race together. Not having expected this, I had to make some quick changes to my game plan; more on that to come. The course starts with an out-and-back along the lake, which I figured would all stay together, so I focused on conserving my energy and staying mid-pack.

As we approached the major descent of the course, I moved up to the third wheel to
minimize any risk of crashes, and I was happily surprised that I was able to hold that position through the entirety of the descent. As racers started getting excited and doing attacks off the front, I stayed calm, knowing that I didn’t have to worry about a cat. 4 rider up the road, and that any cat. 5 solo riders would likely be brought back. Only once or twice, when a dangerous combo got away, did I make sure to chase it down.
Before we got to the climb, everything stayed very civil as everyone was anticipating the
climb. Again, I had to restrain my eagerness to push the pace, knowing that the climb was where the race would be determined. Then, at the first right-hand turn into the rollers, I sent a strong attack off the front. I opened up a decent gap fairly quickly, but one Cat. 4 rider came with me. Knowing that he was with me, I knew the rest of the cat. 4 riders would likely bring back the cat. 5’s, so I backed off and focused on a sustainable effort to the top. I got to the top of the climb with two other Cat. 5 riders and three Cat. 4 riders a little ways up.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t bridge to the cat. 4’s, so I focused on my direct competition. They were teammates and did a great job of working together. They launched attack after attack, forcing me to cover again and again. Thankfully, I had the legs to stay with them, and as we hit the final climb, one teammate dropped back.
Coming into the last kilometer, my heart rate was already in the 190’s, and I focused on
staying on my competitor’s wheel. Then the finish line appeared, and I knew I had to find another gear. I kicked with a hundred meters to go and was able to drop the other rider to get first in my race and fourth overall!

I was very thankful for all the practice sprinting against Chris Hahn on the way back from
the lake loop, as that kick won me the race. I successfully consumed ~2.5 NeverSecond
gels/hour, which combined with some NeverSecond carb mix in my bottles, allowed me to bewell-fueled and avoid any cramps this race. All in all, it was a great effort along a beautifulcourse and fun to celebrate the success of my teammates, Carl Parker, Lindsay Blount, and Kenny Slaught.