Jiminy Peak CAT 4

Took a long drive out to Hancock for this one. I had finished 11th last year in CAT 4 and originally had intended on improving on that performance. Unfortunately, I had not clipped in since the Saturday prior @ Turtle Pond. Lined up w/ Julian, Steve Senne and Jamie. No strategy as I hadn’t raced w/ this mix as of yet and really didn’t know strengths and weaknesses. Still bandaged up from last week, I was also not confident in committing to a plan. We had a large field (87 finishers) and many unknown faces as this race tends to draw the NY crowd. Rolled out w/out incident into the first lap. The race was remarkably quiet. There was none of the normal chatter and the mood of the pack was just off (or it was me). Anyway, Jamie and I made our way through the pack to get to the front (if you’re going to line up, right). We established ourselves at the front, led for a bit and then tucked back in. My plan at this point was to gauge my efforts up the first of 3 climbs (same climb, 3 laps). As we hit the back of the circuit and began the long climb up befor the kicker, I dropped my chain (I’m generally good for this atleast once a year). I couldn’t get it back on while mounted, so I did my best “deer in headlights” impersonation and rolled back to let the pack pass. I got the chain back on and TT’d it uphill back to the pack. This was an effort I was not prepared for. I was psyched to have re-attached, but was completely blown from the effort. This reconnection happily occurred just in time for round one of the kicker. Nice. 2nd effort to remain attached up the first climb. I felt like garbage, but managed to just hang on to the back. I took lap 2 off as i needed recovery. Again, very dull lap of cruising amiably around the circuit w/ no action upfront. Climb 2 was good and uncontested. I sat midpack and rode tempo, hmmm things were looking up. Lap 3 was about position and I didn’t have it. I was about 30 back for this lap coming into the final climb. I came in hot and blew up. Lost contact w/ the front group and continued rolling backward. I shut it down and rolled in # 50. Little disapointed but I rebounded the next day at Wells and am looking forward to getting back into it at Sterling.
Great work by all at Blue Hills on Sunday, very impressive. Extra props to Julian, Jamie and Colm for racing Blue Hills and then getting over to Wells for their “Cool down.”