The 2008 USA Cycling Masters Road National Cycling Championships was held in Louisville, Kentucky June 30th
to July 6th. The individual time trial was the first event on Monday. The 38 kilometer, mostly rolling, curving out-and-back course began and finished at Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana, travelling west on Hwy 111 along the north bank of the Ohio River. Riders started every thirty seconds, beginning at 8am. The road race was held at Cherokee Park a few days later. The criterium was held at the now-infamous Churchill Downs race track.
Team Wheaton Franciscan was well represented by Kevin Pomasl, Paul Mehlenbeck and Greg Francken. These are their reports:
Kevin Pomasl’s races:
The drive to Louisville was uneventful so the trip started off right. I got settled into the hotel and tried to get as much rest as possible. On Sunday June 29, I registered for the races and had the TT bike checked to make sure it passed UCI regulations as this year the time trial bikes must meet UCI regulations. I was relieved that everything passed without issue. On Monday June 30, I was out of bed a little after 5 am so that I could eat a good breakfast and have it all digested so as not to cause any stomach issues during my time trial. I headed out to the course at 6am as it was a 30 minute drive from my hotel. This gave me plenty of stress-free time to change, get the bike together, and everything in order.
The temperature was a wonderful 68 degrees and partly cloudy with some wind. I did my warm up on the road in lieu of the trainer as I wanted to feel the bike and road. I finished my 40 minute warm up, changed bottles on the bike and they were calling my name for line up to start the race – perfect timing. I was slightly nervous about the start as I had never gone down a start ramp for a time trial. They counted down to my time and I was off and down the ramp without any issues so it all started well.
I quickly ramped up to speed and tried to settle into a good rhythm. The course was a bunch of rolling little hills with a couple of flat sections and goes out, turns around, and comes back. I was riding well and feeling good holding a steady heart rate of 182 to 184 bpm. I could see I was catching the guy that started 30 seconds in front of me and finally caught him about 15 minutes into the race. I could then see the next guy up the road and that I was gaining on him as well. This rider was being more resistant and it took me a little longer to chase him down but shortly after the turn around, I caught and passed the guy that started 1 minute in front of me. I could now see the next guy up the road but he was riding stronger, however I was slowly reeling him too. As I rode back on my return trip, the head wind was increasing as a small storm was rolled in. With about 4 km to go, it started to sprinkle and then rain. The storm lasted to the finish line.
About 2 km from the finish, I caught the guy that started 1 min 30 seconds in front of me and kept the power on. Coming into the last 500 meters, I had a guy in a truck pull out in front of me and take off really, really slowly. I did not hesitate and just cut to the center of the road and passed the truck and kept on heading for the finish line. I crossed the line and ended my race. I knew I had ridden well and better than I ever had to date.
I did my cool down, and then chatted a bit with two other Wisconsin riders and then went to check on my ‘official’ finish time. I completed the rolling course time trial in 52 minutes and 51 seconds, which placed me in 6th place in the 30-34 age group. I was very happy with this time as it was my best time to date and I had 6th. The guy that won my category won the overall and also set a course record. For only my fourth time trial, I am getting better, getting strong, and getting faster.
After two and half days of some of the best rest I have gotten in 5 years, I headed out to the 65 mile road race. I had pre-ridden the course the previous day to make sure I knew what I was in for. The Cherokee Park road race course is a 5 mile loop of rolling hills with one decent climb but it is only 0.3 miles long. This meant 13 laps of the course and not what I consider a grand road course. I personally prefer road races with loops about 10 miles in length with one or two good climbs.
The temperature at the start of the race was 91 degrees. It was hot but not overly hot as the humidity was not too bad but still quite hot to race in. With a shot of a gun, the field of about 40 riders was off (about 10 did not show up). As expected, the pace was fast and hard right out of the gate as people jockeyed for position. There were several attacks early. I jumped into a couple of break attempts but we were brought back each time. I even somehow managed to end up on the front on the first lap during one of the flat sections, however I was in no mood to lead the group and do all the work. I rolled from one side of the road to the other to try and get people to pass but no one went past, so I worked over the short side of the wind so whoever attacked had to work into the wind. I did not have to wait long and a couple of riders went past and then the attacks started again. I settled back into the pack in about 8th position.
Over the remainder of the first lap and most of the second lap, there were several hard attacks. I was trying to keep my position in about 5th to 9th so I could keep an eye on things. I followed Andy Crater’s (Wheel and Sprocket) wheel for a little while and even went with him on a couple of break attempts but we were brought back. I was watching the field and saw the next big attack setting up with Andy Crater, Michael Olheiser, and Chad Burdzilauskas but I was slow to react and they got away and stayed away and ended up being the winning move. This was my one big mistake during the race as I saw the move shaping up and should have gone with it.
The peloton settled into a fairly decent pace for a while but as usual several attacks started as guys tried to get away but nothing happened besides lots of accelerations. This kept up for laps three to seven. On laps eight and nine, Eric Bean of IS Corp and I did a little work at the front to keep the pace high coming off the small climbs and going through turns. This helped to soften up the field. Up to this point, everything had been going pretty well except for a case of hot toe on my right foot but I was able to manage it and race through it.
On lap ten, things started to go bad for me. My lower back tightened up, which caused a loss of power to the pedals. On the one decent climb, my lower back locked up completely and I went from 5th position to the back of the pack really fast but I was able to hang on to the rear of the field. I was able to hang at or near the back for the remainder of the lap eleven and I was getting my back to loosen up a little. On lap eleven’s first little hill, my back locked up again and this time I lost contact with the group for good. On this hill, I also saw an outstanding move by Matt DeCanio who had rode on the back of the pack up to the point waiting for the right time to attack. Matt attacked hard on the hill with one long solid effort and got away and rode to an eventual 5th place.
I continued on and refused to give up and continued to push and try to get my back to loosen up to free up my power. As I worked through lap twelve, I was able to stretch and slowly get my back to loosen up and could start riding ok again. I finished the lap strong and kept on rolling determined to finish my race. I knew I would not catch the field and was very disappointed but I refused to quit the race. As I worked through the final lap, I was slowly catching riders and I realized that these guys had cracked and been dropped from the field. This gave me a little motivation to finish strong and catch as many guys as I could.
I caught and passed five riders on the final lap to finish 23rd. I was glad I finished strong but very disappointed with the overall result. I felt strong all day even considering the heat. I had hydrated well prior to the race by drinking over three liters of water plus two bottles of electrolyte replacement drink prior to the race and two bottles during the race. I ate well and at the right times prior to the race. I know I had the legs to finish in the Top 10 if my back had cooperated.
Overall, Nationals was fun and a great learning experience. I learned that I am strong enough to time trial with some of the best in the country and that, when my back cooperates, I can also race with some of the strong guys as well. I am extremely proud to represent Wheaton at Nationals and thank the team for the opportunity to race the event.
Greg Francken’s race:
Greg raced as a Cat 4 in the Mens 45-49 year old division, starting at 9;14, finishing 23rd with a time of 57:14 against mostly Cat 1-2-3 riders. Being a father of three young, active boys, Greg was able to get a rare combination of good pre-race rest, hydration, nutrition, and warm-up. Rain started ten minutes before and continued through Greg’s race. This made bike handling more difficult, particularly since this was his first race on his tubular ZIPP 404 front and 900 disc wheels. Overall, Greg had a great time racing against a very competitive field and hopes to return even stronger next year!
Paul Mehlenbeck’s races:
I wanted to thank the team for their support for my trip to Nationals. It really meant a lot. I had hoped for better results.
My 38K TT was won by a rider who raced the course in just under 53 minutes. I had hoped for a podium finish but ended up 8th. I spent the previous day in the car and didn’t have a chance to ride.
The course runs north along the Ohio River and is sheltered from some of the wind by a bluff. At times you ride through a canopy of trees that also helps with the wind. After 6 miles it opens up for about 2 miles and the wind starts to be a factor. The road surface is very good except for a few small sections. There was one bridge deck that was raised an inch or so and I saw one rider who flatted when he hit it and there was a bottle that someone had lost at that spot. It seemed like a course that I could do a personal best but it didn’t happen.
Our road race had a good-sized field and Cherokee Park is a nice course. Our field split and I pulled things back together but was unable to get up Cochran Hill after red lining. I finished alone just to move up a few places after passing other dropped riders. I also spent one lap riding a 2-speed bike after my Dura Ace right shifter jammed. Of course it was fine by the time I showed it to the Shimano crew and they offered no help at all.
I was able to get some publicity for the team in the criterium by riding aggressively but my finish wasn’t what I had hoped for. Early on one rider started pulling away and I watched but grew impatient and went after him. I got 2/3 of the way across but redlined and then, as I was getting caught, the other 2 strong guys attacked and went across. Someday I will learn not to chase when the horsepower is still in the field. The three riders lapped the field and I tried to get away for 4th but they chased me down and then another rider made the move I tried and stayed away for 4th and the remaining spot went to the winner of the field sprint.
The criterium was the worst course I have seen since Linton in 2000, although I grew to like that one after finishing 2nd. This course was in the infield of Churchill Downs. You had to warm up in the outside parking area and go through a tunnel, under the racetrack, to get to the course. The tunnel had water and mud in it so they offered a golf cart to ferry you and your bike or you could ride through it. The course was .5 mile with no curbs and rounded corners. You would think they could do better and the course in 2003 was a lot better.
Thanks again, Paul