Tri-State Velo

I have just completed the Coupe des Ameriques Stage Race here in Sutton, Quebec, Canada. Although I finished second on GC, I had a pretty good weekend. For three days I have been locked in a battle with John Sullivan, also 60 years of age, of Vancouver(Canada)Velo.

John betterd me by 1 minute 22 seconds in the hill climb Prologue. He, Greg(another Canadian rider) and I dropped the field on the climb, but I couldn't hang with them as the gradient hit 15% about 2km from the finish. John won convincingly, but I wasn't upset. He is a tremendous athlete at about 5'10" and 146lbs. Greg was considerably smaller than John and they are both in the East for the Canadian National Championships next weekend. On Saturday I rode the 12km time trial like a man possessed. I bested the field with a time of 16:48, but more importantly, took 1:21 out of John. I also caught and passed six riders.

Riders departed the start gate at 30 second intervals. This now had me, after two stages, just one second out of the yellow jersey. That afternoon at the Criterium I was certainly in my element. I rode the stage like a points race, attacking at regular and frequent intervals. This effort was for naught as I was unable to get away or even cause a small selection. I sat in the last two laps, positioned myself well on the sprint and won by a margin of over ten meters on the second place rider. John was just behind at fourth, but more importantly, one second back. This put us at the same cumulative time, but with two wins to John's one I would be wearing te Yellow Jersey on the final stage. Today was the 75km road race. Mercifully, the organizers take the first climb out of the 60+ race, so we acually started on a long descent.

The group stayed together until about 25km to go. Here I attacked on a long gradual hill and only John and Greg were able to get across. We were gone. This was good, as I thought 25km of "thru and off" riding would sap some of the climbing ability out of their legs. It did. John and I dropped Greg almost as soon as we entered the 6km climb to the finish. John was weakened for that run-in, as well. . .he only beat me by 30 seconds to the finish. All-in-all I am very satisfied with the result, 2nd on GC. This is a climbers race and I am certainly not a climber. I am really excited about my own prospects at the US Masters National Criterium Championships next weekend in Seven Springs, PA. This weekend did wonders for my condition and confidence. Ciao for now, Steve