Baker City Cycling Classic
2013
Author: Conor Collins
Day One: the opening road race was 71.6 miles, with 3,000
feet of climbing. Scheduled to start at 2 PM, with a high temperature for the
day to be 94 degrees... This was bound to be an interesting ride. The field was
combined CAT 4 and CAT 5, with the addition of the masters categories, about a
total of 60 starters. The race started off slowly with a nasty headwind. After
about 20 miles, and a turn into a town called Powder, the road turned back
towards Baker City, but with a much longer, hillier, and hotter route. The
field was still largely together after the first "climb" and coming
into the first, much needed, neutral feed/water zone. It wasn't yet apparent
who would be my competition when the real climb arrived; however, that climb
was waiting, and so was the fun of climbing it. After going through a really
cool valley, riding right next to a creek, from which the road race got its
name, Catherine Creek, the first of 3 major climbs was upon us. I decided to
put it into the easiest gear, and spin up the pass. Next thing I know, the pack
was gone, and one lone soul was tagging on my rear wheel. He told me to let up
a bit to allow two others to tag on for the 20 miles we had to go to the
finish. This time I understood his reasoning, and the plan worked. Since I was
using Junior gears, my down hill speeds could no where near compare to what
they could do with normal gearing, thus drafting at 40MPH was the best I could do. A few roller
climbs were enough to knock the 2 other riders off our 4 man group. Coming into
the final climb, the temp was 95 as said by my Garmin. The land was so
desolate, nothing, but burnt grass, rolling hills, and an outcropping of the
Rocky Mountains in the far distance. No winds... Not yet... The heat, and
absence of life... Other than the struggling rider, made the climb difficult.
It was worse off for the guy behind me, all I could hear was him breathing.
After we summited the final climb, a rapid decent, and BOOM, there was the
wind. 100% of it in my face the final 3 kilometers to the finish. The “wheel sucker” was so pooped when he offered
to pull, he wasn't even able to pass me.. This could have been a result of me
not letting him pass, since we were so close to the finish I wasn't going to
take a chance, or just a lack of energy. For what seemed a lot longer than 1.86
miles, I crossed the line first for the CAT 4/5s. A major shocker to the OBRA
officials, and other riders. I won the leaders jersey, and $40
 |
| Finish of the 1st stage, 71.6 miles |
Day Two: stage two, was a time trial. With my victory in
stage one, I was awarded the position of last to go for the TT. Leaving at
9:20, the winds where beginning to pick up. I didn't realize why I was heading
out going upwards of 27MPH average, until the U-turn came, and so did a wall of
air. The return to town was brutal. Turns out the guys that wheel sucked me all
the way to the finish the previous day were good at time trials, and beat me by
over a minute... Along with some other guy, putting me in 3rd overall GC.
Day two, stage three, was a criterium, a simple L-shape
loop around downtown, fast, flat, windy. Didn't make a difference in the GC,
and I took it as more of a leg stretch.
Day Three: stage four, set to be the hardest of the 4
stages, and a challenging 101 miles with 4 major climbs. The race began at 8:55
am, when the temperature was a comfortable 75 degrees. Once the race began, the
peloton was sluggish. The first 4 miles went very slow, averaging around 16 MPH
(Very slow for 40 riders all together in a pack). Eventually, a rider from the
back of the peloton attacked, and gained ground fast. Then another decided he'd
had enough and joined the early attack. Once they began to gain more ground, I
made the final decision, go after them. My reasoning, what do I have to lose?
So, the race has began… at mile 4 of 101… not the smartest of moves, very risky, but fun without a
doubt. The group eventually grew to 4, and persisted to mile 15 with a 2-minute
lead over the main group. Once we reached mile 15, and the first “Climb” I realized my first mistake… none of the guys in the break
could climb… at least not fast enough to
remain separate from the pack. I then decided to keep a neutral speed, and
allow the other break away riders to catch, which… never happened. The next 70
miles were very interesting. Solo riding during a 100-mile race, especially
being solo at mile 17, is an interesting feeling. The real sense of being all
alone during a race came when a follow car came up behind me. Thus I had gained
enough ground to need both a lead, and follow vehicle. I was told my gap had
grown to 3:30, coming into the second major climb. I was beginning to
encounter riders that had been dropped from categories that left before us,
such as the CAT 3s, and Masters 1,2,and 3s, and the occasional CAT 1-2. After
about an hour of riding solo, the Lead/ follow cars began to offer me food and
drinks. The final few climbs were quick, I continued to gain time on the pack
with every hill that came, gaining 5:20 at my farthest point. Eventually, the
climbing obstacles left me, and returned the flats… With the help of other riders from my group, maintaining
this gap might have been possible, without them… it was a matter of time
before the inevitable. The land went from being green, and filled with trees to
once again, a desolate road with nothing to see but dead grass and dirt. To
help my ever-losing solo break, the wind decided it was time to pick up, and
blow right in my face. Soon enough the follow car pulled up next to me and
said, “the pack is 2 minutes back,” Great… here they come… Soon enough the pack was over me, and the chasing was
over. A Solid ~3 hours and 70 miles later, I was back in the pack, and ready to
start the final climb to HELL. I was very tired, and in a state of
mind to survive the climb, not race. In the end, I finished 5th
overall in the GC, with an incredible 70 mile solo break… Sure not successful in terms of winning the race, but an awesome experience. Overall, this
was a great weekend of racing with many wins within itself. Highly recommend this race, it is challenging, and very well supported
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