The Tour Of Battenkill is the largest race in the US, with over 2,000 riders, all on the same course, on the same day. It is made up a combination of dirt and pavement, with lots of short/steep climbs, in upstate NY. Many people would consider this a "Bucket List" kind of race. Bill and Steve, our entire 55 plus team, traveled to this race to check it out. And guess what happened? Bill won it. Here is his first hand report with some photos too:
Yea, it was a good day at the races. It was a VERY hard race. Think Tour of Flanders and substitute dirt for cobblestones. The race was 64 miles and it was hill after hill after hill ranging from 10% to 20% grades. I had an 11x28 cassette and I used ALL of the gears. As it turned out the most significant climb that made the biggest selection was Joe Bean Rd at about half way which was paved, but over a mile long and something like 15% for the last quarter mile or so. I know this because I was in a 39x26 for much of it with my heart pounding through my chest. After making it over that in the front group we were down to 20 guys at the front with 30 miles to go.
I had some early troubles when we hit the 2nd climb of the day which happened to be dirt and 20%. At about half way up, I went to shift into my smallest gear (39x28) and the chain went over into the spokes!!! Tried to shift it back on, but it didn’t go. Miraculously, nothing got broken in the process. I was able to hop off my bike, put the chain back in the 2nd to largest cog and finish the climb that way. The only problem was that after when I went to get back on the bike, I had 100 other guys streaming past me on a 20% grade. Like trying to merge into the L.I.E in New York at rush hour. It took me a couple of tries and a failed cx remount, but I finally got going again and started to make my way back to the front. Over the top of that particular climb, I caught some good luck in that the guys in the front really didn’t press their advantage. I could see the first group and they were riding fat across the road. I crested the hill with the third group back and just sat on, letting those guys do the work of pulling the groups back together. As a result, I was able to get back to the front before the next big dirt climb with my legs in good condition.
Did I say it was climb after climb after climb? We just kept heading up one steep dirt climb after another. People kept getting more and more tired and to me it seemed like the pace up the climbs was getting easier. Then with about 15 miles to go as we were approaching the 3rd from last dirt climb, John Funk, a New England mountain bike legend took off on a solo attack. I had been keying off of former pro and brother of the famous bike builder, David Kellogg, and when he and the rest of the front group didn’t respond, I hesitated too. So in the course of that dirt section (Mountain Rd for those in the know) this guy built up a sizable lead. Then as we were approaching the next to last dirt section and still no real response from the field, I decided to go on the offensive myself. We were on the Meeting House Rd dirt climb and I went to the front and rode basically in the left gutter until the top of first of the two hills in this dirt section. I went to ease off to let someone else come through at the only to find that it was only one or two other riders with me. So I got into my sit-on-the-top-tube tuck for the ensuing high-speed pot-holed descent and managed to gap everyone. At this point I decided to go for it and took off in pursuit of Funk. It was not easy as there was a pretty stiff head/cross wind and once I got off the dirt the road was downhill to flat. I pulled to within about 15 to 20 seconds of Funk, but then an elite group from the remaining guys in the field got organized and pulled me back. Funk was still out in front, but with organized chasers and flat roads at this point, it was only a matter of time. And indeed we caught him at the base of the final climb. Now this was about 6 miles left in the race. The last climb was dirt and something like 15%, real similar to the steeper parts of Lee Hill but on dirt, and 2 miles long. Followed by a terrifyingly steep descent on pavement which led to the final 3 miles of flat run into the finish. As we hit the base of the climb, attack after attack launched, but nothing stuck since the climb was so long and steep. People would attack then run out of gas in a minute or so and get caught by the group that was steadily grinding its way up the hill. As we hit the top, somebody jumped really hard and I caught sight of him in my peripheral vision and jumped in pursuit. I took a big dig in my 53x11 as I launched myself down the hill and past all the caution signs at the top (max speed on the speedo was 51.5). Once we hit the flats, we linked up and started trading pulls for a mile or so. I had high hopes, but once again, we were brought back, but by this time, the lead group was down to 8 guys and I knew I would have a good shot in the sprint.
Now the finish was a little tricky. Instead of a straight run in to the finish, they routed you sort of around the back way with two 90 deg turns within 200 meters of the finish. It was one of those situations where the first guy through the last corner would have a huge advantage. So there I was, the final selection of 8 guys were rolling towards the finish line. People were starting to sit on and refuse to pull through, but there was on guy from Delaware who was still trying to keep things organized so as to not get caught from behind. I had a thought to try to sit on the back with the others, but then it occurred to me that if I just rolled through it wouldn’t hurt me and it just might help and besides, it would be the sportsman like thing to do, I would at least get good-guy points after the race. So now, with about a mile to go I roll through to the front for maybe the 2nd time and this one guy pulls in front of me and just starts drilling it. He was a tt specialist who decided that he didn’t have a chance in the sprint so he’d at least make everyone suffer and get to the finish straight in good position. I couldn’t believe my luck. I would have paid this guy $100 to just what he was doing. I just sat there in 2nd spot and he took me on a king’s chariot right to the last turn. One guy barged past me in the turn, but I just lit the afterburners and cruised home for the win. I even coasted across the line.
So that’s the story. Had a nice lunch with friends afterwards. Several of my dear old friends from the east came up to hook up, watch the race and take pictures. The winner’s trophy was an old fashioned glass bottle of chocolate milk and so we all shared the milk at lunch. It was a great weekend!
Bill making the final selection on the steep dirt roads.
Bill and Steve (behind Bill in the photo) early in the race.
Bill on the Podium after winning the sprint from a group of 8 riders.
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