Word on the street was that some guys went to the "Club" last night. I'm not sure where they got the energy, I took my full stomach back home, replaced my derailleur hanger and got my rear derailleur shifting as well as we could with the broken cage and headed to bed. My parents decided to come up for the final stage to check out what all the fuss was about. It's always good to have them around and Dad can't help but investigate a cool cycling event. Turns out I was extra happy to have them. Today we headed North to Camp Roosevelt in the George Washington National Forest near Luray, Va. It was supped to be a long day of ridge riding and you could tell people were definitely getting tired. The rowdy shouts and hi fives were at an all time low as the day began with a PP down the road to our first timed section. The jersey was feeling a little extra heavy even with a lot of time to bleed. A somewhat functioning rear derailleur is not ideal and this was a day made for Bryan Fawley with lots of rollers and rocks and no long extended climbs. Here we go, one more day of survival (and fun) at le Tour de Burg.
After the shortest PP start of le Tour we regrouped and the racing was on. Up the road before turning into the woods and up a tough climb with some hike a bike. The week was wearing on Dan. I let him set the pace but it was definitely more relaxed than it had been all week, I wasn't complaining. He crested the top first clinching his victory in the KOM classification with Charlie Snyder and I following behind him. As we crested the top a minor disaster struck. I could hear something banging around, oh great, derailleur is hitting the wheel. Stop check, nope, spin the wheel, still shifting well. Odd, roll on, still banging around. Try shifting, yup still working, what the heck is wrong? Well it turns out I was doomed for a mechanical, it just wasn't my derailleur that was causing the issues, my rear disc rotor was completely loose. Perfect. I rode with it banging around for a while as I knew Bryan was coming fast I was sure and Dan was long gone down the trail. Eventually Bryan came by and we ripped together across the ridge. Eventually it donned on me that the rattling rear disc probably wasn't ideal for my bike and when I got off for a downed tree I popped the rear wheel off and took the disc and it's parts off and tossed them into my jersey. It was probably one of the more comical trail side repairs, still learning how to calm down and fix things efficiently in a high pressure situation. Oh well. Now just not to touch the rear break for the remainder and lose as little time as possible.
I lost Bryan's super fast wheel and let another guy go by on the repair. I can now attest to what I've always said, better lose the rear than the front. It had it's issues and I had to get off or unclip because of it a couple times but it was very rideable and I was able to catch three of the five guys ahead of me. I found Dan Wolfe, my closest contender, in a bad bad place along the Ridge. He was not having a good time. His misfortune at least put me to ease and I knew I wasn't riding too slow. The other salvation for the stage: the views. I need to come back to le Tour and stop to take pictures, it was so good. The trail dipped to the western side of the ridge and I could look out across the valley and to the river below. Views like that makes the suffering worth it. I finally found the man doing the Super D timing and the final couple minutes down to the car. I lost plenty of time to Bryan Fawley but all in all day saved. More importantly my parents were waiting with my Highball, which I wasn't using in order to save it from the rocks, sitting in the back. I knew there was a chance at having a mechanical issue and might swap at "half-time". After much deliberation, I played the spoiled card, and took the bike with brakes. I'm sure it was for "safety".
Stage 5: Time Section 1
Bryan Fawley: 1:39:02
Charlie Snyder: +:23
Ian Beckner: +3:29
Bryan Lewis: +3:39
Collin Vento: +8:30
Super D:
Sam Skidmore: 2:00 ***Kid is unstoppable
Ian Beckner: +:10
Bryan Fawley: +:11
Collin Vento: +:18
Kyle Lawrence: +:18
Zach Avant: +:18
Stage 5: Time Section 1
Bryan Fawley: 1:39:02
Charlie Snyder: +:23
Ian Beckner: +3:29
Bryan Lewis: +3:39
Collin Vento: +8:30
Super D:
Sam Skidmore: 2:00 ***Kid is unstoppable
Ian Beckner: +:10
Bryan Fawley: +:11
Collin Vento: +:18
Kyle Lawrence: +:18
Zach Avant: +:18
More of that good food and quite the rest with one final timed section left in le Tour de Burg 2014. The mood was somber moving forward, maybe it was that this was labeled as one of the hardest sections of le Tour, maybe it was the sadness of knowing the end was near. One thing was for sure, it was going to be a slum. That being said aboard the fresh big wheeled bike with brakes and after spending the last hour listening to Bryan Fawley talk about a GC shakeup it was time to put a stamp on my Tour. I mean I get it I lost some time, but it was 3:00, did he not know I was up 36:00 on him at the beginning of the day? Fawley's constant smack was one of the great parts of the race, that being said, it was time to shut him up. He gave me that little extra motivation to go out and get after it for the final timed section instead of playing it careful. Plus, I wanted to solidify my Tour de Burg with another stage win. While I felt clear and "safe" Bryan had moved up to 2nd in GC after Dan Wolfe's collapse and Charlie made a huge attack for the podium. With one 2 hour segment left to roll who knows what would happen. I just knew I wanted to stay in that women's fit Men's Leader jersey. A steep little gravel climb put us at the beginning of the timed section. A relatively short technical climb to the ridge line and then more technical ridge riding before a quick Super D to complete the stage and end le Tour. Game on.
From the gun I hit the gas and started to roll as much as I could. Dan hung in for a bit but I finally got a gap and kept pushing it. Once on the ridge it was all about forward momentum and minimal getting off of the bike. Sometimes that wasn't possible, sometimes I just screwed up. That being said after hearing how bad it was I was really happy how much I rode, it's amazing what these big hoops can roll over. Eventually someone caught up to me (Collin Vento) but just followed my wheel till I screwed up and he cleared a little climb. I got restarted but looked up and he was gone, I mean the guy was flying. The riding was tough but I didn't see anyone until Dan Wolfe who fueled and with lower pressure tires was clearly rolling headed by me. I overtook him again on a tricky long climb and buried my head moving forward. I would have preferred not to see him again but I had to stop and wait a couple times to make sure I didn't take a wrong turn. Fortunately for me he was riding well on this segment and I never waited long at all. Finally the trail smoothed out and I slammed the pedals as hard as I could to try and catch Collin, no luck. Eventually the descent came and I could feel the weight of the jersey slowly lifting of my shoulders for the first time. With another double check with Dan that I was going the right way I saw Zac Adams and the end of le Tour. Success. Now just to wait on Mr. Fawley who I never saw. Did he keep his lead over Dan? Unfortunately it seemed that Fawley caught Dan's bug from segment 1 and was out on the ridge bleeding time. Dan locked up 2nd in the GC and the standings were set with Charlie leaping up onto the podium. After a lot of bad luck with ripping tires off the wheel and flats on the road day it was a good result for Charlie. If a couple things went differently and he would be right there fighting for top 3. Also all that hammering to catch Collin was a waste, clearly, he ended up the stage 7:05 ahead of me. 7 MINUTES! I knew I was tired but that is something else, I didn't feel that bad. My goodness, he must have been floating over the rocks.
Stage 5 Segment 2:
Collin Vento: 2:03:56
Bryan Lewis: +7:05
Dan Wolfe: +7:07
Chris Scott: +7:33
Charlie Snyder: +9:15
Super D:
Sam Skidmore: 3:48
Ian Beckner: +:14
Preston Stempler: +:27
Chris Scott: +:37
Bryan Fawley: +39
Stage 5 Segment 2:
Collin Vento: 2:03:56
Bryan Lewis: +7:05
Dan Wolfe: +7:07
Chris Scott: +7:33
Charlie Snyder: +9:15
Super D:
Sam Skidmore: 3:48
Ian Beckner: +:14
Preston Stempler: +:27
Chris Scott: +:37
Bryan Fawley: +39
I'm not sure I can explain what it feels like just to finish a Grand Tour, nonetheless to finish as the Men's Leader. To be honest le Tour is so much more than a GC battle, there is so much more that makes it great than the racing. That being said, winning feels good and I'd be lying if I said otherwise. Finishing is also a huge relief. I'm not sure how guys deal with smaller leads. I was legitimately nervous with 26:00 at the start.. Many what if scenarios ran through my head. In the end everything worked out and I made it out alive with some great memories to boot. The relief of finishing can not be understated. That and seeing Jeff Cheng, who has been such a huge help in my cycling career and even more so with this race, slum on in tightening his grip on that DFL jersey was great. We both came to le Tour with big goals and were able to achieve them. I learned how to ride mountain bikes again and Jeff completed what had to have been one of the toughest events of his life.
All this being said I want to be careful that such a victory doesn't go to my head. Of course I'm sort of a big deal now. I gained like 10 facebook friends after my victor which means I'm essentially a superstar. Plus I'm pretty sure people know my name, but I still prefer to be called Men's Leader, even 5 days after the end of le Tour. Of course many people came out of the woodwork to claim credit for my victory. I can't really deny that they deserved credit and once I considered what percentage of my victory people wanted to take credit I came to a sad realization. I actually had no real hand at all in my victory. If anyone out there is looking for credit give me a reason, I'm sure you deserve it. All joking aside thanks for everything to all those people who helped out! When I sign with a team and get my deserved contract as a Grand Tour winner, I'll make sure to pass along the help.
I Survived and Advanced, on to the next challenge: Preparing for the 2015 edition and my title defense. I've heard Saturday to Saturday with double the road stages. Bring on the climbs and more mountain top finishes, Reddish front side anyone?!?!
Keep those pedals spinning,
Men's Leader
***Okay okay just kidding****
BSlow
P.S. Results Below the pie chart. Also a shoutout to the only 2 women to finish the race, Sue Haywood taking home yet another Tour de Burg Women's Leader jersey and Lindsey Carpenter for finishing her first full pull and possibly being the youngest of the group to finish this year! These women absolutely crushed le Tour and it was awesome to have them and the other women chargers around. Vive!!
I Survived and Advanced, on to the next challenge: Preparing for the 2015 edition and my title defense. I've heard Saturday to Saturday with double the road stages. Bring on the climbs and more mountain top finishes, Reddish front side anyone?!?!
Keep those pedals spinning,
Men's Leader
***Okay okay just kidding****
BSlow
P.S. Results Below the pie chart. Also a shoutout to the only 2 women to finish the race, Sue Haywood taking home yet another Tour de Burg Women's Leader jersey and Lindsey Carpenter for finishing her first full pull and possibly being the youngest of the group to finish this year! These women absolutely crushed le Tour and it was awesome to have them and the other women chargers around. Vive!!