Another WBL Kick In The Pants
As the title suggests, I ventured out to the WBL again this weekend. The pace quickly jumped from base to “what the…” in 10 miles. The AEG-Toshiba team was finishing their team camp at the rest of the peloton’s expense. They had 15-16 guys on the front while the rest of us hung on for dear life. Just when I was contemplating the long ride home alone….without a map….we hit Madison, GA and the city forced a slow down. We hit the “store stop” which is was actually someone’s house…I’d explain who, but it takes too long…let’s just say a good friend of a good friend to the Athens cycling community. I refueled to cover the caloric debt I was in and we were off again. As exited the city limits of Madison, the AEG team pulled off to go for a team photo shot while the rest us continued at a much more civilized pace. The cat 3 and below (that’s me 
) was set to go after the women’s sprint. So right after the women go there is a surge at the front of those looking to sprint. Last week there was no team big enough to take control, but this week Myogenesis was on hand in numbers and pushed their way to the front. Being a lone man with few friends in this bunch I was stuck about 4 rows back. I waited for the whistle, jumped when it went off and then saw I was already 4 bike length back because of the crowd in front of me. No worries, sprinting is not my gig, but I think I can mix it up with these guys if am more of an opportunist in the future. After the sprint, I was on the front, so stayed to do my fair share of the pulling. I was up there for close to an hour when the WBL ring lead, Crowe, announces we just missed a turn. We pull a U-turn and now I’m at the back. I think about rushing back to the front, but decide I’ll take my time and rest my legs before the big finale. Stupid move. Not 2 miles later I hear a faint whistle from the front and the huge surge of the final attack zone begins. I am pretty close to the last person in the group and start cruising forward to get passed the ejected riders that are sure to be coming off the back real soon. Nothing doing though…between the riders going backwards and this stupid driver trying to pass on the right when another car is coming at head on I see the front group leaving quickly. As the two cars near each other there is hesitation just in front of me…I go full gas because the chase group is now pulling away and there is nothing but us ‘left-behinds’ now. I crest the next hill bomb down the next and go full on up the otherside…I’m so close…just a little further….grab a wheel…any wheel….nope. I rested a bit and made one more attempt to bridge up with another guy, but it was all in vain. The rest of the ride was painful…slow, painful and a little lonely.
Here is a shot of last weeks final sprint winner, Todd Hendrikson (AEG-Toshiba-JetNetwork) and ride sponsor, 55nine Performance owner Eddie O:
This guy will be in for a fitting next week.
A super easy ride on the agenda today.
Eddie O