Here’s the scoop from another one of our guys from last weekend. Colby Millen couldn’t get enough at the Greenville Spring Training races a couple weeks ago, so he went back for a little bit more. Matt McCarthy decided it was time to break out the race wheels as well.
Saturday’s race, River Falls, right in Greenville, SC was a 10 lap 7 mile coarse with a 1k climb. This particular weekend was going to be considerably tougher, being that it came at the end of one of Colby’s high volume training weeks. Add to that some of the first really nasty intervals workouts of the year, but hey, it’s the same for everyone, right? Colby’s legs, according to him, but I don’t believe it, lacked the usual snap to go with any breaks, so the goal was just stay with the group and finish the weekend without being trying to be a hero. Eight laps in…oops… popped n the climb. Game over, but great training!
Sunday’s race, at the Donaldson center, was somewhat different. He lined up with the likes of Team Type 1, BMC, Battley-Harley Davidison, Colavita and some 60 other participates, none of which ever prove to be insignificant. Feeling a little more rested, Colby made sure to place himself in the front of the group the entire race, ready to go with any potential move that get me ahead to the finish before the peloton.
Often, it’s much easier to commit to staying in the front of the race. Of course, it’s harder, faster and with less protection up there, but you’re more in control of what you are doing, versus the incessant and seemingly senseless yo-yo at the back of the field that can cause a rider who’s in perfect shape to simply snap off the back, especially so early in the year where we’re just not accustomed to the varying paces of a race.
After going with several moves through the crosswind and headwinds, nothing stuck. Only until the last lap, just after we got reeled in by the peloton, 4 guys rode away and was never seen again. Colby pulled himself together to place 14th in the group sprint and 18th overall.
Thanks for reading!