The last weekend of April found myself (Jacob), Andrew, Chris Emory, and Jason headed down to the long standing Tour de Moore road race. This is the last year the current promotional staff would be running the race, and they had a great display showing photos and news articles from over the years - very nostalgic. This has been a great course and well run race and my thanks goes out to all of the staff and volunteers who made this race possible over the years. As the race has become a masters only affair over the last few years we were all racing the 30-40 category as a change from our regular pro 1,2 participation. Don't let the masters designation fool you though as the $1,500 purse (great for a masters event) and quality course had some of the Southeasts best 1,2 riders lining up to go for the prize.
Our goal as a team was to be very active early on and make sure to be represented in any move coming from the 50 rider field. After a casual roll out for the first 3 miles the attacks started in earnest as we took stabs one by one at getting things rolling. Jason and I were both on our new ID carbon wheels from I-9 which are 66mm deep and crazy light and in concert with the new Hutchinson carbon comp tubulars made rolling off the front feel almost effortless. Andrew got himself into a short-lived move, but for the most part, the fresh legs and motivated field kept bringing things back together. About fifteen miles in to the race the attacks started to take a tole on the field and a surge by Jason and a few other guys had everyone looking at each other as if to say "your turn." Well, the buck got passed, nobody cashed it in, and they were gone. For the next 10 miles or so the field yo-yo ed behind the break getting to within 20 seconds at one point, but with Chris, Andrew and I covering almost every counter, finally the field eased up and Jason and Co disappeared from sight. As Jason soldiered on with the wind, the 90 degree heat, and some strong breakaway companions, the heavy hitters in the field who'd missed the break went to work trying to make something happen. A few hard efforts from Pat Raines, Rich Harper and some other big engines had the field suffering in the heat as well. With around 35 miles to go Rich launched yet another attack and I covered it along with a couple of other guys, one of whom also had a guy in the break. As the break had over two minutes on us at this point, I decided to work for a while to get us separated from the field as Jason's group was at a safe distance. Chris Emory and Andrew did a great job reigning in additional counters and allowed us to open a decent gap over the next few miles. Once we had separated from the field I had the luxury of sitting on a fair amount with Jason up the road. However the the shock of the 90 degree temps, (after training in the 60s and 70s all spring), a quickly dwindling supply of water and no feeds, and the fourteen 800-1200 watt efforts (looking back at my power file) I'd made attacking and covering moves in the first half of the race had me slowly grilling in the hot sun. Rich punched it hard on a hill with 5 miles to go and rolled away from our group. After looking at each other for a half mile or so and going nowhere, I chose discretion over valor as I was on the verge of cramping, and agreed to ride wheels to the finish and not sprint.
In the mean time Jason's ongoing back issues had him suffering on the bike and although he did his share of the work all day in the break, left him unable to attempt a major effort to shed his breakaway companions. As Jason will attest to, sprinting is not his strongest suit, but he rolled in for and excellent 3rd place at the end of a 55mile breakaway. End result for the race and a good day for the team was a 3rd for Jason, 8th for myself and Andrew brought home the field sprint win for 16th - Unfortunately one place out of the money, as a second chase group of seven had gotten up the road. Overall though, a good day for the team.
Thanks to our sponsors: Industry 9, Trek, Hutchinson, Liberty Bicycles, Rudy Project, Honey Stinger, Dr. Miller, PML, Eco Concepts Realty, ABRC, Champion, Velosports, and Affordable Home Inspections. We couldn't do it without you! - Jacob
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