Battenkill 2012 (and opening day Little League)

Tour of the Battenkill. First "Big" race for Jake for the year (national level competition; long, hard). Billed as the "Queen of the American Classics." The 15-16 race would be 62 miles with 10 sections of dirt/gravel and 3600 feet of climbing. Course map This was months in the planning. A long drive to upstate NY, long training rides on gravel. Worries about what tires to use. All of this was thrown into disarray and placed under a shroud when my dad's health seriously declined and on last Sunday, April 8, he passed while Jake and I were there with him. This hit Jake hard and he didn't sleep well at the beginning of the week. We would have the funeral the following Sunday. Dad would have wanted Jake to race, so we would simply leave to drive home immediately after the race.

Friday the 13th proved lucky for me and Jake. We left at 6:15am for our trip to the Tour of the Battenkill in Cambridge NY. We had no traffic and made it to the hotel in Saratoga Springs in just 6 hours 15 minutes. Lots of nice views in the Catskills. We got there in time to run to Cambridge, register and get Jake's race number, and meet the other HPC riders, parents, and Sue & Pierre for a pre-drive and pre-ride of the course. We had heard that the dirt roads were mainly smooth, and the first half of the race that was true. There were lots of climbs, many deceptively hard. Then we got to "Cheese Factory Road" at mile 37 (refer to map). Re-named "Cheese Grater Road" it had deep gravel and was exposed to the side winds creating massive dust.
This would be a decisive point we thought. The gravel on the penultimate climb was even gnarlier in some respects with big rocks.

and downhill rocks The boys got out and pre-rode the last 20 miles.
I saw Jason Berry and Ky Hunter out preriding (and Paul Curly) Here's Jason. He won his race, congrats to him.
After the ride Jake said we should definitely put the 700x25 tire on the back to handle the rocks. This would put him very close on roll out, so in the morning we would need to get there early to check it and change back to the smaller tire if necessary. We had dinner with everyone which was very nice. I got to talk to the other parents and then Sue and Pierre held a pre-race strategy meeting.

Since this blog is dedicated to the race parent, I should mention the special effort of the other team parents, like Larry and Pam Mauch, Allen Miller, Suzanne Scoggin, Jeff Fleming, Jacob Slife's mom, and the Panogiatopoulos (not sure how to make that plural). These folks put out a great effort to get the boys to the race and to pull together to make it so that the boys can race with everything they need. It's great to get to work with them. Also of course Sue and Pierre who teach the boys how to be better racers and to try and do things the right way.

We got to the course 2 hours in advance. I rode Jake's bike all the way to finish to check the roll out (my main concern) and it just passed with the 25 tires. Lots of nervous energy for me at this point, worrying about spare wheels (turns out there was SRAM neutral support w/ Junior gears). Jake, Shane Scoggin, Andy Fleming, and Jacob Slife were the 15-16 team and they did some warm up riding. Shane was the obvious team leader, having won the Cat 3 race at Blackhills in a breakaway, but Sue and Pierre believed that all the boys could do well. Here are some photos from pre-race.




They were off and I began my day of driving and running. I ran back to the car and drove like a madman to get to the first feed zone. They came through all together. Jake got a bottle from Pierre so didn't take mine, which caused some confusion.
On the way to feed zone 2 I stopped at a point where the course crossed. It was about mile 36 (see map). I didn't have to wait long and the 15-16 group came through. Jake was there. He'd made the selection of the final 20 along with Shane. I got some video


I was psyched. I followed their group as they headed for Cheese Grater Road and saw them turn onto it. And I knew that there they would unleash the dogs of war. I drove to feed zone 2 and waited. When the lead moto appeared there was a small group of 8. Shane was right in it. Then Jake and another boy appeared about 7 seconds behind, looking good. Jake took my bottle.

Bill Browne (himself an elite Soigneur Dad) got this photo of me giving the feed (thanks Bill)

This was incredible. 47 miles into this race and Jake was just behind the lead elite group of 8. Those were the 16 year olds who would win this race and he was just barely off them. Jake says that Shane had hammered the gravel section just before the feed and that's what gaped him off.

This is what Jake said happened. He went for the glory (my words) by digging hard to try and chase back onto that lead group of 8. It was carnage behind him. Andy and Jacob were 2 minutes or more behind with a bunch of others. Jake could have ridden conservatively and joined with other stragglers to go for the best result, but he went all-in to re-connect with the lead group. I'm proud of him for making that choice and going for it. He didn't connect but he rode with some other boys that caught him, but This sapped him and when he got to the last climb he cracked a bit. So he lost some positions on the final climb.

We got back to town just in time to see the 15-16 leaders turn onto the final 350 straight. I thought I saw Shane, but then he came in just 30 seconds behind them, finishing a strong 7th. He had driven the race at key points. Then we started counting. Jake came in a few minutes later with Parker Brookfield of the Miller School team and Jake outsprinted him.


I thought he was top 15, but he was 16th. Still an incredible performance. He was covered in salt and dust. I told him his grandfather would be super proud of his performance and effort.Justin Mauch had scored 4th in the 17-18 which was awesome. We made the drive home starting at about 4:30. Got home at 11:15-ish.

On the drive, Loren gave us updates from Liam's opening little league game that we had to miss. Liam had a lead off triple, a double, a single, and performed super in the field. He was given the MVP for the game. I'm not surprised. He has been playing really well in practice. Another performance that would have made Grandpa Tommy very proud.

Morgantown Road Race

Jake and his HPC teammates were in West Virginia for spring break all week. They were riding huge miles and climbing big mountains. Not a recipe for success at Saturday's climbing race in Morgantown W.Va., but part of a bigger training plan.

I was to drive up to get Jake and what the hell do the race myself. Friday night we had Seder at the Goodwins' which was nice, then I got up at 6am Saturday morning for the drive. Jordan Cross rode with me up to the race, which was nice because it made the drive go quicker.

Jake was clearly very tired and had developed a little congestion/cold. A good result would not be likely for him. Pat Luckow and Rob Eom were there for the 4/5 and I brought a jersey for new Coppi Mike Rousso to borrow.

Jake, Andy Fleming and James P went off with the Cat 4/5 field. I was in the 40+, which they ran with the 50+ and 60+. we went off 5 minutes later.

The masters race was hard. It was populated with Cat 1s and former MTB pro/living legend and West Va resident Gunnar Shogren. I was just hoping to stay as long as possible.
The race profile showed 4 significant climbs, but it doesn’t really show how rolling the course is. It would have helped to have known the course better to have some idea how long any given climb was going to last and when the next was coming.

The first 20 miles of rollers had some attacks in the combined 40/50/60+ group. At one point I was next to Gunnar and asked him when the first big climb was going to start; it started soon thereafter.

So we hit the first big climb, which I didn't know was coming. I dug deep but lost the front group on the first climb.

photo by Fred Jordan
But I fell in with a very big second group and we were working hard. On the second and third climbs I thought I felt ok and was climbing as well as anyone in the group I thought.

photo by Pam Mauch from the feed zone climb:
Thanks to Pam and Larry, and George P for the bottle feed.

We were slowly losing people. But on the long descent off the 3rd my legs were hurting. When we got to the last climb, I didn’t know it was the last climb. It was steep and I cracked a bit. Let a gap open. If I’d known, maybe I would have dug hard, I don’t know. So Long descent to flat run in along a river. One guy from the group 200 meters ahead of me doing the same speed as me. Then I see a sign that says “1 mile to go” I literally said “that can’t be right” then 2 guys catch me from behind (but both 50+ so not in my race). Then there’s a sign for 200 meters (again “really?”) So out sprinted them for kicks.

Turns out I was 22nd in the 40+. I think If I’d stayed with that group on last climb I could have been as high as 17-18.

Hard race. Not quite what I was expecting somehow (I was expecting more skyline type climbs and ridges) but it was really unrelenting. Should have put my garmin on miles so I could tell where we were (and maybe some lighter wheels would have helped).

Jake struggled apparently. Lost the first group on the first climb but chased to within 30 seconds. Photo by Fred Jordan

Jake's teammate James P did well and was 4th in the 4/5. But Jake was pretty destroyed, not surprising after a huge week of training.

Race Registration -- The Most Important Race

In the Cat 4 and Cat 3 races, there are far more racers than will fit in a given race, so for very popular races, like the Poolesville Road Race, you have to be poised to register on bikereg.com the minute the registration opens on line. So at 7:45pm tonight I was on the computer. I have my and Jake's license information pre-enter into my profile, and I signed-in in advance. Starting at what my computer said was 7:58, I started hitting refresh on my browser. At 8pm when I hit refresh the magic boxes showed up that I could click. I hit Cat 4, continue, when chose Jake from the list (he gets in first), continue, register another rider, Cat 4 again, chose my profile, then hit check out with paypal. By 8:02 we were in. And guess what, there were already 20 others (75 max in the race). 10 minutes later it was at 50.

File under elite soigneur/team management skills

New Blog First Post -- Jeff Cup 2012

I may abandon ScottsROW because it costs me $5 per month. So we'll try this new venue which will be focused on my travels and travails as a "Soigneur Dad".

What's a "Soigneur"? It's French for "one who cares" -- or something like that. In pro cycling, the Soigneur is the guy (typically) who does everything for the racer. Get's food/drink/clothes ready; gives massages and handles things they need. In this case, I'm also handling team ownership/financier, team travel, and mechanic duties. Our racers are, of course, the elite team, Jake (now riding for HPC/List U19 team), the development team, Liam (Squadra Coppi Jrs), and the masters team, me. After 4-5 years of this parent/soigneur thing, I am fairly expert, so think of me as a grizzled old Belgian guy who talks nonsense full of wisdom as he readies the race bags.

So, April 1st. Jeff Cup 2012. Held in Charlottesville (yes, as we pulled off the exit, which is the same as for Monticello, I realized for the first time the "Jefferson Cup" connection, duh). Jake would do the 15-18 race (although the 3/4 was considered). It would be him and Luke against hordes of Rock Creek Velo boys and 3 or 4 strong, slightly older, boys from ABRT. Tanner Browne (Bike Doctor) and Parker Brookfield (Miller School) were other strong singles. Only 30 miles this year. Longer would have been better for Jake.

My man Liam came with us and kept me company. He wore his Lion of Flanders hoodie in honor of the Ronde van Vlanderen (Tour of Flanders, I shouldn't have to tell you that).

So, we left the house at 8:30am (keep that in mind). Jake and his HPC teammates were going to West Virginia for a week (spring break) after the race, so we had all his stuff, plus groceries, in the car, plus Jake's bike and my and Liam's bikes (so we could ride from parking to the course).

We made good time despite some early stress. Jake got warmed up in his new HPC kit and MABRA BAR Champ jersey and staged for the 12:30 race.

(Did I mention RCV. Jake & Luke couldn't keep their arm warmers up).

They rolled out. It's about 3 miles to the start/finish line. And Liam and I rode over behind the caravan. This put us on a major road. Liam was scared but did great holding his line and staying in the 2 foot wide shoulder on the right.

We got a spot in the feed zone and had our sandwiches (that I had made and packed that morning). I got video as the boys came through after the first lap. Liam tried to take a picture but got only bushes. Video from first lap...



then we waited 20 minutes. And as they got the bell for the final lap, Jake was still sitting right up front, comfortable. Liam got a good picture this time.
And then we waited another 20 minutes. I set up just before the finish line to get some video. It's a long false flat/minor climb from the final turn to the finish line. Like 2km. I told Jake he had to play it smart and be patient and not sprint too soon. When they came into view, I couldn't see well but there was a small group coming off the front. I'll let the video show the rest.


video also uploaded here: http://youtu.be/iB51HduOdnc

Jake was 4th. He did well. He was the youngest by far of that top 4 and doesn't have the pure muscle yet. He said he started the sprint too late or would have caught Parker in 3rd he thought. Luke did great, coming in 9th.

"Podium" photos:

So, now it's 2pm, ish. Unfortunately, all of Jake's teammates were in the afternoon races at 2:30. I had hoped to dump his stuff in one of their cars and go. But logistics weren't in place. So Liam and I hung in the feed zone again for the afternoon races. Matt Amman got 5th in the 3/4 (possible 1st among Cat 4s), earning his Cat 3 upgrade we believe.

Everyone came back to the school and we started working out where Jake's stuff and bike would fit. Pam Mauch (Justin's mom) is going to be staying with the boys and her car was equipped for massive bike carrying. So we loaded it up.

Around 6:30, Liam and I got on the road home. We stopped at a Five Guys in Charlottesville for dinner. We were making good time home. I talked to my dad on the cell phone, and he wasn't doing real well, so Liam and I stopped in to say hi for a few minutes. Hopefully that lifted his spirits a little, as he was clearly suffering.

Then, as we were finally pushing for home, cruising along I-66 through Fairfax, Liam was struggling with a cough from allergies, and he tends to gag easily, so....I reached back to get the cooler bag for him to get a water bottle to drink. I put the bag in his lap (yes, Loren, he was riding shotgun) and he started coughing enough to where he made himself throw up. Luckily into the bag. Poor kid. We finally got home, in a light rain, at like 10pm. Quite a long day.

Next Saturday, I'm driving 4 hours to Morgantown West Virginia because Jake is doing the Morgantown RR and I'm going to race then drive him home. The following Friday/Saturday we will travel to up-state New York for the Battenkill Road Race, a big-time national race.