If I could call in a New Year’s Eve wish early – I’d wish the Jamestown Classic was in mid-August – granted a few more top racers would show up and the heat would be more of a factor but the course is one of my favorite race venues of the entire season. Unfortunately, Jamestown comes in mid-October where my fitness kinda says bye-bye as work and the ensuing 1-1 renewal season dominates my available time to train. With this in mind, my goal was to sit in and wait for the sprint, knowing I have enough fitness left from the season to put in a good final kick, especially with the uphill drag that usually siphons out the lesser riders. Things, however, don’t always go as planned.

Rudy Napolitano from Rock Racing and the Empire Cycling & WS United Teams animated things early, starting attacks a few hundred meters into the race. Sensing danger I moved quickly to the front in the first mile. Normally this race ends up in a field sprint or late attack that barely stays away. This year was likely to be no different with the likes of Keoughs, Jake of Kelly Benefits and Nick of Sakonnet Technologies, licking their chops for a field sprint. But maybe 2008 was to be different?

Rudy N. animated some moves early before Johnny Bold, feeling some form from his recent win in the masters field in the Gloucester Cyclocross weekend, took a few swings at getting away. I followed but was careful not to do too much. After several counters three riders seemed to gently slip away. I looked closely and there was a WS United rider and an Empire rider in the group – bad news. Those were the two biggest teams in the race. We had a good field as far as individual talent but the overall team presence was fragmented in that many teams only had one or two guys. If this group got away an organized chase might be tough. Jumping across the gap without thinking I was gone a rider went with me. We bridged a few minutes later and it was game on for the next 55 miles.

Lap one, 20 miles in. Five of us still together. The gap was just a minute. I couldn’t believe it, only a minute! Jamestown is known for its wind but the wind wasn’t all too bad and we were drilling it. I thought our gap would have been more but we kept the heat on.

Lap two, 40 miles in. Four of us left in the break but the gap was two minutes. Much better! We had a strong group left. Jermain Burrowes of WS United & Tim Mitchell of Flatbread powered their pulls as if they were doing reps on a weight bench while Dan Smolik of Empire grooved into gear. The work was shared pretty evenly and I gained strength and power over the second lap just trying to share the workload and to keep things efficient and steady.

Lap three, five miles to go. The gap remained at two minutes but pain started to seep heavily into my legs. I immediately began drinking. Snikes! I hadn’t taken in nearly enough fuel! This could be bad. I powered right through the rough pavement section but could tell I was beginning to bonk (That’s when your fuel levels are low and your body starts to creak. All racers experience it at one time or another, usually on long five to six hour training rides). I had been so focused on helping to drive the break and keeping us away that I failed to take in enough liquids and gels. A two hour race mid-season and this is not an issue. But at over 300 watts for over two hours and it can be an issue this late in the season. And, boy, was it an issue! I made it 85% over the next hard roller and my three breakaway companions gapped me by about 10 meters. They quickly gained 15 seconds and I could not close it. 15 grew to 20 and then 30 meters and then we hit the last set of rollers before the course’s signature feature, a lighthouse. Just as I was thinking “stay calm you can hold onto fourth,” a chase group blew by me followed by the field shortly thereafter. That’s like taking a bullet in the chest at that point – not good for the moral. The field was single file, an indication the chase was on. With only two miles left in the race, I tried to nestle in the back and recover but no matter how much fuel I tried to take down now, the lights were almost out. I limped home to the finish a few minutes back.

I suppose I was happy with my effort and race tactically but upset that a simple issue like eating and drinking could cost me a shot at the podium in a relatively short race. The good news is that we showed well for our sponsors, as the break I was in for over 50 miles was the winning move. Next year I’ll remember to eat!