Well, it went good for the lead in, I was right there, sweating bullets. The pace was brutal as expected with 5 A riders, several riding at 5 w/kg. Lap one and two were fine, but very fast. Last race we did 7:20 lap times, today was 7:02 and 7:04. I started to survive half a lap by falling off the back and popping right back on. I couldn't sustain it for the whole lap. Off at 33rd place.
I had a minute and a half gap, too small against a pack of 20 or so riders. They caught me on Horse Hill and I kept it in the draft. It was hard work. I tried to calm down and I was anxious and rearing to sprint. I sped up at 500 meters, hit hard at 300 and drafted two leaders. I managed a spurt at 150 at 11 w/kg and by 50 had nosed ahead. I WON! and by the narrowest of margins once again. Same opponents from last week too. 0.1 and 0.2 last week, 0.2 and 0.5 this week. Whew. Actually I'm amazed as I can't remember beating the guys in a sprint before last week's race. Usually I go too early
In the league, I would have been 10th last week as half the field (22nd officially) didn't return. This week I lost three spots to 13th (not counting one rider who did 4.2 w/kg the whole race. Although I guess he's locked into B status to be fair. He did 4.2 w/kg last week also.) Next week will show my weakness, a long flat before the hills. We'll try but I don't expect much as to results. Don't give up though. There's only 28 of us left
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Dirt Stage 1
Watopia figure 8 was on the menu which is a long ride for me. I needed a group to pace me or I would die on the flats. I went out hard but there were 7 riders with A cat power leading the group and so I had to let the split go right before the reverse kom when they dropped us. I sat now in 50th position and stayed near the front the whole way. We regrouped after the descent and there was a small group that split off. As we kept going on the flat, we picked up and dropped a bunch of riders who had stayed with the lead group too long. That use to be me, stay with the A's for as long as I could only to not be able to stick with the B's when they caught me. I got a little smarter, race savvy call it.
We had a group of ten to twenty and I started feeling it. I put it in fairly hard on the forward kom and did very good, 2:20 when 2:30 is good for me. I barely stayed with a dozen or so riders, kicking it up to stay in the group. In the Esses, I was struggling a bit again. I made the lead 10 hanging on the back. With 1 km to go, I got dropped and hung one or two seconds back. I waited until 500 to go and the sprinted hard. I hit 60kph and caught them with about 200 to go. I had a small kick and stayed ahead by 0.1 second. I won the sprint and finished 31 on the boards. I was 40th with 1000 meters to go! My heart rate was 200! A new record for an old gal like me. I had a lot of caffeine as my heart rate should have been about 180. I averaged 160, a pb for me.
I'm just thankful I can join a race like this. I'm pleased with my condition and preparation. Officially, I seem to be in 51st place of 113 on ZP. There were 125 B's and over 50 A's. I'll take it. Being 51 of 100 who may race next week. Happy? You bet. (yes I guess officially I'm not eligible for a dirt race but they don't seem to mind. It isn't like the pros that could enter and win, lol. Thanks DIRT. Great start to a six week event.
Next is Classique. Love it.
We had a group of ten to twenty and I started feeling it. I put it in fairly hard on the forward kom and did very good, 2:20 when 2:30 is good for me. I barely stayed with a dozen or so riders, kicking it up to stay in the group. In the Esses, I was struggling a bit again. I made the lead 10 hanging on the back. With 1 km to go, I got dropped and hung one or two seconds back. I waited until 500 to go and the sprinted hard. I hit 60kph and caught them with about 200 to go. I had a small kick and stayed ahead by 0.1 second. I won the sprint and finished 31 on the boards. I was 40th with 1000 meters to go! My heart rate was 200! A new record for an old gal like me. I had a lot of caffeine as my heart rate should have been about 180. I averaged 160, a pb for me.
I'm just thankful I can join a race like this. I'm pleased with my condition and preparation. Officially, I seem to be in 51st place of 113 on ZP. There were 125 B's and over 50 A's. I'll take it. Being 51 of 100 who may race next week. Happy? You bet. (yes I guess officially I'm not eligible for a dirt race but they don't seem to mind. It isn't like the pros that could enter and win, lol. Thanks DIRT. Great start to a six week event.
Next is Classique. Love it.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Bored
New coach announcement...
Best Coach Ever...lol
Monday, February 24, 2020
Nationals 2020
Okay so I'm writing out of a bit of boredom and frustration. I have trained for a fictional event on a fictional island without knowing the course, the distance or the date. Hoping for an announcement of some sort tomorrow but I don't put much stock in rumors.
It's almost March and we have passed the former Feb 23rd race day. In fact, it has been two years since I took the national title for Switzerland. Since I haven't been able to get back, I can only compete in the USA race this year according to the rules. However, racing at that time may prove difficult. Last year I finished 18th best time. This year my only goal is to try to hang with the front group for as long as I can. With all sorts of pros added in now, it is super hard to stick with the leaders on the hill. When I do, I'm falling off after going over the crest.
I don't think the figure 8 course is right for Nationals. Richmond is the best or, if it has to be Watopia, then use Three Sisters course. It has to have a long climb to sift out the riders so as not to have two dozen riders fighting out for the sprint win. In that case, the best sprinter with an aero power-up will win. The rumor is that the UCI wants the race to be only an hour long. Last year's race was almost an hour and a half. (well, it was for me.) Cut the power-ups off already. For me, a sprint finish is great. For race coverage, it isn't a very interesting race to watch.
I'm hungry for a big race. I'm in peak shape. Just give me a date to focus on already.
It's almost March and we have passed the former Feb 23rd race day. In fact, it has been two years since I took the national title for Switzerland. Since I haven't been able to get back, I can only compete in the USA race this year according to the rules. However, racing at that time may prove difficult. Last year I finished 18th best time. This year my only goal is to try to hang with the front group for as long as I can. With all sorts of pros added in now, it is super hard to stick with the leaders on the hill. When I do, I'm falling off after going over the crest.
I don't think the figure 8 course is right for Nationals. Richmond is the best or, if it has to be Watopia, then use Three Sisters course. It has to have a long climb to sift out the riders so as not to have two dozen riders fighting out for the sprint win. In that case, the best sprinter with an aero power-up will win. The rumor is that the UCI wants the race to be only an hour long. Last year's race was almost an hour and a half. (well, it was for me.) Cut the power-ups off already. For me, a sprint finish is great. For race coverage, it isn't a very interesting race to watch.
I'm hungry for a big race. I'm in peak shape. Just give me a date to focus on already.
EDIT: Nationals didn't get scheduled until December 5 with a slightly shorter course. They went by very relaxed rules this year so I was able to race for Switzerland and not have to do the USA event, where the pros took over. The announcement was late as usual but I carried over enough form from the Academy to hit a winning note.
Monday, February 10, 2020
Tour de Zwift GC Winners
Women's.........wait for it...........Zee Kryder 3:09.43 (it was actually 3:09.40)
Men's winner was.... Heiko Lehmann 2:52.31 (sorry fictional rider with no Strava did not qualify)
Women's only race....Shayne Vans 3:15.07 (second overall behind Zee Kryder)
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Hell 2020 Haute route April
I think we need a new Training Camp Challenge, a weekend of Hell. I'm tired of hearing and seeing these Sufferlandria folks brag about their Tour and their suffering Knighthood. What I want is some people to put themselves through hell and then challenge others to do it.
The basic format would be a late Friday ride, a Saturday split session with a long coffee break in the middle (that's when you put on your "Halfway through Hell" shirt and go for a danish and coffee.), and a Sunday ride to finish it off.
But what is fun? What is hard? And what is too much? I like the idea of specific courses such as the Alp de Zwift on Friday but with intervals to make it hard. Saturday is Figure Eight course in a small gear for higher cadence followed by a climb up to the Radio Tower on the Epic climb in a low cadence big gear effort. Sunday is an Hour Power with increasing intensity. This suits me, I think. Others will probably want specific workouts to do. So...coach picked these out.
Friday: GCN Dan Lloyd Super Fast is 4 X 10 minutes with a fast interval finish. Hell indeed. Or opt for a beginner's Classic 2 X 20 minutes or the First Flash of Fast if your not up to intervals this point of time.
Super Fast , First Flash of Fast , Two By Twenty
Super Fast , First Flash of Fast , Two By Twenty
Saturday Session 1 is a toughie to start: Coach's Challenge, the Minute Man will keep you jumping.
Then, at last, some rest and a little bragging. but not for long.
Saturday Session 2 is a long one that starts easy '60-90 Minutes: Mat Hayman's Paris Roubaix 1"
Miinute Man
Hayman's Parix-Roubaix
Miinute Man
Hayman's Parix-Roubaix
Sunday is the test of them all, the Hour. Dare to ride a solid hour time trial at your FTP level or use 'Time Trial- TT#1 The Polish' to train to improve your hour effort.
The Polish
The Polish
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Points Winner! Tour de Zwift 2020
Like my blog title suggests, I always thought of a stage race for Zwift and this year I have it scheduled out. Pity their isn't a time trial but rather we have double draft in every race. In other words, "Stay in the Draft!" I did that pretty well so far.
As of four stages including the rather long double climb of Bologna, I am leading in the B cat. I realize that a few A racers are chumming up the water but that's racing I guess. I get the benefit of the A racers when I can draft and the curse when their group drops me and continues to haul my B rivals over the hill. It's all for fun, but seriously, the rules will change zoon. I am robbed of points for every A racer in the B cat race that finishes before I do. I've been able to average 80 points per race. The only question is what the race is for Yorkshire Stage 7. If it is two laps, I'll struggle. If it's just one lap, then only stage four was a 45 minute event and I did pretty well by just hanging in the group for the flat parts. It may have even been a 45 minute avg record at 256 watts.
In my workouts, I've done intervals and time trials for training for this. I'm using the Tour to shape up for Nationals. I think it will be a long stage again. Yorkshire would be great, even two laps would be better than two laps of Watopia figure eight like last year. I've heard there may be no power-ups, which is what everyone seems to be asking for.
I'll edit this page after the tour. PS There is an A racer winning the C cat races that is ahead of me on points but I'm going to give her a big DQ for all points.
Update: I have more than 100 point lead which means I only need finish stage 7. I have 446 points. My competition can max at 384, 437, and 339. I'm not following the C and D cats yet. I can always try to redo New York if I need a few more points. But, I doubt I would care enough too. After stage 7, it is back to serious training.
Update: I just finished stage seven in good fashion. I made the front, lost touch on the climb but rallied from 32 to 24th place by the finish. Plus, there were 11 A cat riders that finished ahead of me. Oh brother. That was hard and fun at the same time.
Now, I'm just waiting to see how many points I scored. Then I will have to wait to see how many the C cat rider has. She has a 9 point lead going into the final stage. If I get beat, should I redo the New York stage, which was my lowest points? I don't think I care for this point system. I finished the last stage at just over 20 minutes. The pros did it over 19 minutes (they saved a minute on the climb over me for sure) Still I can in 26th place for stage 7 this week, counting all of the pros. So a good conclusion and I'm in great shape with a 4.03 ww/kg ride. Good for my FTP. I really needed a bit longer to warm up today but I got home late with nine minutes to go. Huff. Puff.
Looks to be a 2 way tie in the men's race:
Heiko Lehman and Stefan Kirchmair look to tie with 700 points.Yes, a tie.
There's some B and C riders I haven't looked at yet, will wait till Sunday's finish.
Three B riders: Choppa, Kevin Selker and Ian Upcott had 700 points
In women's :
Zee Kryder with xxx points 531
Shabbi Shabbi is C cat has No Strava but has xxx points 526
Also, a D cat rider Alison Riley with 447
And Shayne Vans in the women's only event at 50+ years and 4.9 w/kg. (and you wonder why I prefer the mixed races.)
Final Results
My GC time was 3:09:40 but it seems the GC list is not a total function but is missing a lot of riders.It is only counting the group rides and excluding the group races in the results. Still not fixed glitch.I have made a new post with gc now that all stats are in.
As of four stages including the rather long double climb of Bologna, I am leading in the B cat. I realize that a few A racers are chumming up the water but that's racing I guess. I get the benefit of the A racers when I can draft and the curse when their group drops me and continues to haul my B rivals over the hill. It's all for fun, but seriously, the rules will change zoon. I am robbed of points for every A racer in the B cat race that finishes before I do. I've been able to average 80 points per race. The only question is what the race is for Yorkshire Stage 7. If it is two laps, I'll struggle. If it's just one lap, then only stage four was a 45 minute event and I did pretty well by just hanging in the group for the flat parts. It may have even been a 45 minute avg record at 256 watts.
In my workouts, I've done intervals and time trials for training for this. I'm using the Tour to shape up for Nationals. I think it will be a long stage again. Yorkshire would be great, even two laps would be better than two laps of Watopia figure eight like last year. I've heard there may be no power-ups, which is what everyone seems to be asking for.
I'll edit this page after the tour. PS There is an A racer winning the C cat races that is ahead of me on points but I'm going to give her a big DQ for all points.
Update: I have more than 100 point lead which means I only need finish stage 7. I have 446 points. My competition can max at 384, 437, and 339. I'm not following the C and D cats yet. I can always try to redo New York if I need a few more points. But, I doubt I would care enough too. After stage 7, it is back to serious training.
Update: I just finished stage seven in good fashion. I made the front, lost touch on the climb but rallied from 32 to 24th place by the finish. Plus, there were 11 A cat riders that finished ahead of me. Oh brother. That was hard and fun at the same time.
Now, I'm just waiting to see how many points I scored. Then I will have to wait to see how many the C cat rider has. She has a 9 point lead going into the final stage. If I get beat, should I redo the New York stage, which was my lowest points? I don't think I care for this point system. I finished the last stage at just over 20 minutes. The pros did it over 19 minutes (they saved a minute on the climb over me for sure) Still I can in 26th place for stage 7 this week, counting all of the pros. So a good conclusion and I'm in great shape with a 4.03 ww/kg ride. Good for my FTP. I really needed a bit longer to warm up today but I got home late with nine minutes to go. Huff. Puff.
Looks to be a 2 way tie in the men's race:
Heiko Lehman and Stefan Kirchmair look to tie with 700 points.Yes, a tie.
There's some B and C riders I haven't looked at yet, will wait till Sunday's finish.
Three B riders: Choppa, Kevin Selker and Ian Upcott had 700 points
In women's :
Zee Kryder with xxx points 531
Shabbi Shabbi is C cat has No Strava but has xxx points 526
Also, a D cat rider Alison Riley with 447
And Shayne Vans in the women's only event at 50+ years and 4.9 w/kg. (and you wonder why I prefer the mixed races.)
Final Results
My GC time was 3:09:40 but it seems the GC list is not a total function but is missing a lot of riders.It is only counting the group rides and excluding the group races in the results. Still not fixed glitch.I have made a new post with gc now that all stats are in.
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