TRIA Orthopaedic Center Your Cycling Blog

Here’s another race recap from Land Rover-Orbea’s Carson Miller:

The Nature Valley Grand Prix hit out for the open roads today. The racing was aggressive right from the start. Only 5.6 kilometers into the stage, and we crested the first of several KOM sprints on the day. I have noticed that Minnesota, at least this area, has no mountains. In fact, to highlight my point, the officials here have changed the KOM (King Of The Mountains) competition to a KOH (King Of The Hills) competition. As a rider who prefers extended climbing to the short and punchy hills that we are currently facing, my duties today would involve covering and initiating break away attempts, as well as fetching bottles from the car if the need should arise.

As I mentioned yesterday, with the legs starting to come around to the efforts, I am wanting to move towards the front end of the race – the sharp end of the action so to speak. Last night’s one hour race was just what I needed to sharpen up my systems, and I felt like I was firing on all cylinders today. Rolling along after cresting the first hill, and the peleton was getting settled into the rhythm of today’s race. As we wound through the countryside and farmland that surrounds Cannon Falls, MN, I put in several digs trying to escape the stranglehold which the Bissell and Ouch teams had on the field. No luck, just some moments of suffering.

I drifted back into the field taking a few minutes to evaluate the racing, as well as to take the opportunity to get down some food and drinks. Another 20 minutes down the road, and I was starting to feel frisky, again. Looking for the right opportunity for another attack, and I finally found my chance. A rider from the Colavita Sutter Home Cooking Light Team came down the left gutter, and looked to be headed up the road. I was right on his wheel, which initially resulted in disappointment when he arrived at the front of the peleton and stopped going forwards. With one lone rider up the road, and a hill coming quickly, I thought I had a good chance at getting away. Over the top of the hill and I had finally escaped from the peleton. Finally, it has been many days of racing and trying to get away, and today that success came – for a few short and agonizing minutes. I poured on the gas, hoping my gap would grow. When 3 riders from Bissell and 1 from Ouch came across, I thought we had it made. A few attacks and counter attacks from Bissell and I was blown to pieces.

After quickly being reabsorbed by the peleton, I hit the bottles and food again. I focused on staying out of the wind, and trying to get some energy back into the legs for the remainder of the stage. We rolled back into town at a furious pace which only quickened upon starting on the 5 technical finishing circuits. Another 20 minutes of all out effort racing around city blocks and the finish line was within sight.

Rolling across the line, my head hung low, with my tongue nearly scraping the pavement. After finally managing to get up the road, I was feeling a bit of success and joy, which was overshadowed by the pain and suffering of the previous two-and-a-half hours of racing. After a few minutes of spinning the legs, I rolled into our team tent and collapsed into a chair. Changed and ready for the drive home, we loaded our cars and return to our host houses for dinner, massages, and now bed.

Today was a fantastic and challenging day of racing here in Minnesota, and we are just getting things going. My legs are feeling better with each day, and I am finding my way towards the sharp end of the racing here. Three more challenging stages lay ahead of us. Time for another massage, and then it will be lights out for me.

Thanks for reading. I will see you all in Uptown Minneapolis for tomorrow night’s criterium.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,

C-

Carson Miller,Land Rover,MBF,Minnesota Bike Festival,NVGP,Nature Valley Grand Prix,ORBEA     Comments Off