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nate etchells
Posts:14
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| 07/06/2008 3:39 PM |
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| wow well today was a whirlwind on emotions from nervous to scared to actually worrieing about my finishing position. the first good thing i can report is that i didnt end up taking my glases till the last few laps, due to the fact i sucked it up and bought a nice (and expensive) pair of specialized glasses. the morning of this race i was nervous, but i felt a little bit of my racing and competive side comming back. i know i had to do well because if you get lapped today you get pulled from the race, and as i told me dad this morning "today i WILL NOT get lapped, and i WILL be in the field sprint at the end". the start was crowded as usual but i stsrted to get that feeling of comfidence back, probally because 1i usually do better in crits than any other type of race and 2i was so hopped up on the accelerade and accelle jell that i probally could have did another 100 mile race. when the race started i had trouble clipping in and lost contact almost instintally. all i rember thinking was damn this is going to be alot of pain. i bridged really fast, worried of getting "lost" and not being able to bridge back. well after the first coupple of laps the sugger had worn off and my legs were back to that level of pain i had been feeling over the last three days. but the raceer inside me made a super find, the pack all shot to the inside line forceing them to all slam on the brakes and lose speed into the corner and thus the need to sprint out of it. i thought to myself wouldnt it work to brake erlie get a 5-10 foot gap and while the other guys in front on me are hitting there brakes. i would be peddiling comming into the corner at a faster speed eliminating the need to sprint out of the orner and thus saving energy. i tried it and to my amazement it worked! i was passing 5 to 10 people in the corner and hanging right around the leaders (i have a pic to prove it!)! i ended up staying twards the front and eventually fins=ding i was using too much energy. but then dissaster struck, just as i was moving back to get a rest the pack surged. i lost contact to a 10 to 20 sec gap. all i could think about was what mr.kirk had told me about gapping when tired "get it done quick, dont drag it out and restwhen you make contact". well thats exactally what i did, i sprinted back to the pack and luckly the pack had slowed and slowed into the sweeping left even more. i was drafting again wit h a new found sence of accomplishment "i was hanging and racing with these guys, the best guys". i stayed back into my 1/2 to 1/3 back in the pack position till the last lap. on the last lap comming into the 3rd to last corner (a sweeping right) a crash happened and i saw the tailend of it, it looked like 2 guys were rubbing elbows and they got carried away and hit the pavement with bikes bouncing all around. i missed it with alot of room and just couldnt wait for the end of this race. well it wasnt over yet, 150 feet from the second to last corner 2 guys shot for the same hole, connected and took another guy down with them. they landed porobally 25 feet in front of me giving me just enof time to react. i skooted right through the people (2 on the right and one on my left, people that is). i ended up being in the feild sprint and getting an amazing 29th! i was really happy to compete in this stage race, i gained more knolidge about racing and my body, even though i ended up getting 57th in the gc i am happy. i race 4 days straight and got a good finish on the last day, the other days i put more effort in a race just make time cut than i ever have before. i cant wait till next years longsjo classic where i hopefully will be getting good finishes every day! |
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-nate etchells |
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Kelly Parsons
Posts:75
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| 07/06/2008 10:46 PM |
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| Most impressive race, Nate. I must say that I read your report before I read about today's TdF stage. It's great that as the days went by, you found new strength and didn't let the punishment of the climbing stages make you lose focus and self confidence. It's also cool that during the crit you were able to constantly analyze the race and use your head to make the best use of your legs. Your cornering trick is a perfect example of this. Jeremy Powers told me that he was doing the same exact thing in the Providence race last week. I think you gained a world of experience this weekend and you will find yourself racing at a higher level because of it. |
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Bill Humphreys
Posts:1
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| 07/07/2008 7:09 AM |
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| Nate,
Mission accomplished, you finished Fitchburg.
That was the goal going in and it never changed. Great reports for the club to see also.
Nice to hear your excited voice mail instead of the down tone I had heard over the last few days. I spent a fair amount of time in the grouppetto back in the day, just trying to make the time limit so I could help the team the next day.
I know it was tempting to pack it in on several occassions but you hung tough.
The benefits of what you just accomplished will show up with a few days rest and slowly bringing your legs back by this weekend and into next week.
The stage race in Trexlertown, PA June 19 and 20 will be where all your suffering will pay off. |
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Ian McFarland
Posts:4
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| 07/10/2008 1:37 PM |
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| great great great reports nate you've come a long way since our first meeting at rockey neck back in the winter it's been awesome riding with you and i am looking forward to sucking your wheel this weekend at New Britain |
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Ian McFarland |
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