2015 Ridge TT and Circuit Race

On Sunday a bunch of us Cucina types went down to Shelton for the first, and hopefully not last, installment of The Ridge TT and Circuit Race.  Only two brave souls ran the TT: Dave F and Andy F.  Andy was just rolling past on the first of four laps as I pulled into a space next to the trusty Cucina Fresca Tent.

I knew that the time trial was run on the same course as the circuit race, and thus I was surprised to see riders descending a big swooping hill: I certainly hadn’t come to this race expecting a significant climb.  Dave told me not to worry as the climb consisted of two punchy bursts while you dropped down in one fell swoop- well actually three swoops.

The weather was iffy at best: cool, breezy with a scent of rain.  I suited up in bibs and full length leg warmers for the trainer warm-up.  I was just finishing up a good sweat when Steve rolled by on the course yelling at me to “get on the course Mike.”  I hustled to change into my long sleeve race jersey and switch out my race tire.  The first hill was indeed punchy, my kind of hill: carry a lot of momentum into it hammer hard over the top.  The top of the course was very technical with some hairpin turns and a lot of head wind.  The descent down to the straightaway was a bit nerve-wracking, this was definitely going to be the most technical course I’ve ever raced on.

I arrived at the start as folks were beginning to line up; I rolled to the front joining Steve B, Paul K, Chris M and Andy F for the Cat 4/5 race.  As we waited for high noon I glanced back to see a sea of red and black Audi kits.  At fifty seven riders the field was sizable.

The race started fast and stayed fast.  The Audi guys were punching it hard at the top of the hills and I was digging deep just to keep my wheel.  The first time down the hill, which required two one hundred eighty degree turns, was a gut check.  It was a downwind sprint to the line from the bottom of the hill, so unless a big breakaway happened this race was going to be decided on the final descent- who was willing to hang it out the furthest.

Because the race course was so technical I felt that it was a mistake to have a 4/5 race, as there were a number of strong yet technically undeveloped riders in a crowded field.  On several occasions carnage was narrowly averted.  Someone went down behind me, I think it was rider number 666 (seriously).

After watching Z race the Masters 1/2/3 race, Steve B, Darryl S, Mike M and I rolled up for the Masters 4/5 event.  Paul K was behind us in the 50+ and Dave F was behind him in the 60+ race.  The Masters field was less than half the size of the Cat 4/5 lineup and we began the race with considerably less gusto.

Compared to the straight category race the Masters event was a bit timid.  There were some big guns in the race but it seemed as though nobody was willing to push the pace and by the second lap we were passed by 50+ group.  The weather was quickly deteriorating and the headwind at the top of the course was blasting whoever led the pack.  Darryl, Steve and I, along with a big unattached guy did the majority of the heavy lifting at the front.

On the final lap the big unattached guy took off and though Darryl and I initially went with him we backed off both assuming that the pack would catch any break in the headwind portion.  Sadly that was a miscalculation and the guy got away for the win – or at least what seemed like a win.  Looking at the results I saw that another rider had managed to go off the front and won by over two minutes. 

All in all it was a great day of technical racing and we go out just as the rain began to fall – only the final two laps were wet.