Deer Creek Road Race

Last weekend was a nice road race about 40 mins from my house. Another great week of training and ended it with a tough race. A 70 mile race with super high winds.

We rocked up 7 riders and our plan was to be on the attack all day. I was on the 1st move literally straight out of the parking lot with 3 others. Really did not want to be there but wasn't gonna let the wheel in front of me ride away. So I just sat on and enjoyed the warm up. One of the guys decided he was gonna ride me off the back of the break and I just kinda laughed and took him back to the field with me. We ended up catching the 2 after the 1st lap and then the attacks started.

Jake ended up with 5 guys up the rode and another group of 5 or 6 were trying to cross. We didn't have anyone in the 2nd group and they were going away in the crosswind section. I looked at B2 and said lets go.. I launched to try to get him across but he mis-understood me and I was all by myself.. ouch. I sucked it up and got across the 20 sec gap to the 2nd group and we worked well to catch the break. We lost a few in the process so it was 8 strong. We smashed it for a lap and had 3 minutes pretty quickly. The break rolled smoothly to a 5 minute gap. Jake and I decided to keep it together as my legs were good. With about 5K to go the attacks started and Jake and I messed up the race completely. Just read it wrong and I panicked a bit with 3K to go and basically isolated myself. In the end I ended up 5th and Jake 7th. B2 had a nice ride and ended up 10th. Not real happy with the way I have been finishing races.. Racing tired has been frustrating and it seems the legs go a bit towards the end.

So this week I went back to my doctor as my leg (old injury) has been pretty sore. She said it was worse than I thought and I was losing about 30 percent b/c of it. I have been getting some treatments and its almost all better. So maybe this is a little why my legs aren't so hot towards the end of the race.. or its the training.. we'll see next weekend at Athens when I have some rest before racing:-)

This weekend is a TON of training and another local road race on Sunday. A few hard days next week then off to Speedweek!

If you haven't already, check me out on twitter at www.twitter.com/marcoaledia I will try to keep you entertained:-)

till next time,
m@

Race weekend...

Had a great week. Back into full training and some new workouts. Got behind the motor for the 1st time this year in prep for the big crits and had a blast. I love smashing it behind the motor.. Its been a bit frustrating racing with tired legs but I know it will all pay off at the bigger races. Sat was a pretty cool course that I guess Greg LeMond crushed everyone on for the 1980 Olympic Trials. The wind was pretty bad so it made the entire backstretch feel like you were climbing. Swain rocked up with me and the race was pretty aggressive. Jeremy from RGF is riding his arse off right now and I kept him contained until about 4 km to go. He put in a huge effort and I was a bit late to react and he rode away for the win. Mental error like 400 of the season.. Hopefully getting these out of the way. Anyway I won the little group for 3rd.

Sunday I got together with more of the boys... B2, Chad B, and Ben made the trip over and we were 4 strong. Back to Hueston Woods so a 10 mile circuit with 3 hills a lap. We had a great plan and worked it to a T. B2 was on the attack early and rode like an animal. Solo for the first 50 miles of the race! Chad and I did most of the covering and we let Ben sit in to save his legs. Once we caught B2 Chad and him rode tempo for the next 20 miles to keep anyone from attacking. Pretty impressive on both their parts. I chilled and looked after Ben. Coming into the finish Chad reacted to everything and got us close to the base of the final hill. I went to hit out with Ben on my wheel but the young fella beat me too it and just took off! Was pretty funny.. so I just sat up and let him go.. I gave him a nice gap and he won by a good 10 bike lengths.. I was cramping like crazy but made it up the hill for 4th. Great day for the team.

Legs were pretty tired after a long week and my 1st 2 day race weekend but super happy how I have come out of it. Here are some pics from the weekend.

Ben making it look easy..





Chad B.. one of few pics of Chad that his helmet is on straight


B2 killing it off the front


Katsu's work is never done.. poor guy just came to race and ended up working on our bikes..what a rockstar!


Ben trying to be pretty


B2 always stuntin'


Swain out for his 1st race of the year


This awesome band got us pumped up before the race..