PIR - Almost in a different way

Last week, I raced at PIR in the 1-2-3 field with a goal to sprint in the points on the final lap.  I'm looking forward to trying again soon.  This week, however, I shifted gears to help a brother out.

My buddy and teammate Jerome, or "Mista Beeg Powa" as we call him, is heading back home to France in a couple weeks.  He's a great guy and I decided we should try to get him a win at PIR before he left Oregon.

He said his sprint was "not so good," so we decided we'd try a breakaway.  Several teammates were on board for helping, and help they did.

I should say right now that we raced in the slower category, the 3-4, instead of the 1-2-3.  So racing the race how we wanted was a LOT easier.

When we reached the pre-determined spot for our breakaway, I got Jerome on my wheel and went to the front.  The wind was pretty stiff, and I just kept pushing until the long string of riders finally broke, and we had ourselves a break.  Behind in the main field, John, Cliff and Joe helped chase down any moves, letting only moves of one person get away.

Our breakaway stayed away.  It wasn't pretty, nor particularly fast, but with the help of our teammates, it worked.

On the final lap, my legs felt great, and I was itching to use them.  I found Jerome on the back straight and wanted to make a break for it right there and then, surprising everyone from behind.  Jerome was nervous and asked to go from the front instead, to which I agreed.

As we approached the final turn, I kept telling him over and over "I'm gonna go, here we go, here we go."   Into the final turn, into a stiff headwind, I started my leadout.  I stayed seated, and was so pumped I didn't even notice the wind.  After 20 or so pedal strokes, I looked back to see a large gap, Jerome in company with the rest of the breakaway.  Ooops, I'd left him behind.

I sat up and coasted for a few seconds, thinking I should wait for him.  But then I realized that was a stupid idea and started pushing for the line.  I thought since I was up front, nobody would expect Jerome to chase me down and he'd get someone else's wheel for a "plan B" leadout.

I turned forward and focused on the finish line.  With the wind now quite evident, it looked very far away.  I accelerated again and tried to hold it to the line.  It was not coming as quickly as I'd hoped.  I looked back.  Still a gap, keep going.  I pushed as hard as I could, but I was out of gas.  Not even 100 meters to go, I got passed by several people, and finished right behind Jerome.

I'm bummed I couldn't get Jerome the win.  We might try again next week.  If we do, it will be a completely different strategy.

I much prefer the 1-2-3 race at PIR, but it was cool doing the 3-4 for once.  We raced the race exactly how we wanted to, and it was fun to be able to do that.