A Gap of a Whole Season

I still really haven't got the hang of this yet and its been more than a year. Last post was what, in Feb? Wow that's pretty bad. Well the 2009 cycling season has ended but it was definitely my best yet out of my total four even though I had some major setbacks. I broke my thumb in an early season race at tour of Walkersville and had to get thumb surgery. They had to reattach a major tendon that connects to my thumb bone and to do that they put two 4 inch rods into my hand- 3 inches in and one inch just hanging out. Needless to say it sucked but the worst part was not being able to ride outside. So I borrowed a computrainer and rode in the garage and continued my routine of plyometrics. I came out with some pretty good form an was able to hang at the front of some local races. My hour of pain and power on the trainer gave me great intensity for any race under two hours but over that I would start to cramp (which was a huge problem for me this season an cost me at least one first place). So with that I went to Fitchburg and raced the Cat 2's. I did ok in the time trial but I decided that I wanted to Green Jersey. First stage a break went up the road and I bridged up the major hill through the S/F area and the break stuck. I collected about all of the points available that stage and had a comfortable lead and ended the day in third. Lost the jersey in the road race, guys got away and were never seen again. I took back the jersey in the crit but it wasn't easy. The guy had teammates who were not going to give it up easy. I crossed the line with a second green jersey to take home.

The next weekend I placed third at Mt Nebo and the next day I won a little road race way out just north of Pittsburgh in a town called Butler. A great course and I hope that more people will come out for next year. The grand prize was a nigh time plane ride for 4 people but you had to win the kom AND the overall, I only got 2nd in the KOM, Dang! After that I did some more local races and placed well but the heat and humidity started to get to me. I will never forget the misery of the Page Valley RR, it was over 100 degrees and I suffered. I made the break that won but couldn't even keep the pace which wasn't that fast....frustrating. Ah well lessons for the future.

At this time I was approved for my cat 1 upgrade which was the goal of the season and I was very happy to get it. I was worried from my broken hand that I wouldn't be able to.

The last big race was Green Mtn where it was Pro/Cat1. This was my first race in just cat 1's and it was super tough. I could feel that my peak was waning a bit but thats ok because at that point I had accomplished all my goals for the season and then some. I suffered in the TT, crashed in the second stage but just a small one and had only one little scratch on me, (I was forced to run over a dudes bike in front of me when he went down). The road race was awesome! Dirt roads and a huge climb at the end. A finishing wall of 20%!!! The crit was super fast, one of the fastest ones I have ever done. I always stayed in tghe front third but just couldn't get up to the front to try for a preem but I stayed upright so I was happy.

While I was there I noticed that some of the Johan Bruneel Cycling Academy riders were there. I had been trying to get in contact with the cycling center for a couple of weeks since I wanted to apply for a chance to train and race in Belgium for next year. I talked to one of their seasoned riders Peter Horn who was very nice and forwarded my contact info to the Director...

That was the best outcome of the race for me, gaining that contact was pretty crucial.

So all in all it was a very good season. At this point I have only ridden about 4 times in the past two weeks and I have been enjoying it. Season five starts in November and I am already looking forward to it. I know that everyone says at this time of the year that this is it, this is the year. Well....it is! If I can include the huge miles I rode in Colorado with the intensity of this year- I think ti would make a good combination.