Sturbridge Road Race - OUCH! by Mark McC

The Sturbridge RR (which started in Warren, MA) proved to be another good day for the team. Mike Norton put together one of the best road courses we have used in years, one that reminded me of the District Road Race when I was a junior back in 1987.

From the start Frankie was very active and was off the front with a few riders for nearly the entire first 15 mile lap. Coming into the major climb for the first time (at race pace) Roger Aspholm attacked very impressively, like the race was over in 300 meters. No one could follow him on his attack.

A chase group formed of about 10 riders and eventually Frankie and his group were absorbed by Roger and then the chase group. About 1/2 way up the climb Roger went again and this time Mark G. followed and Frankie too. I stayed in the chase group as it tried to get organized. Jon Bold, Billy Y. and a few others were working hard to bring the trio back but the gap was growing slightly as the top of the climb was approaching. I jumped the chase group and bridged to the lead group and as I made contact Frankie went to the front for about 400 meters with his head buried and his legs plowing over a huge gear to really grow the gap to the chasers. From there it was 4 against the rest. Mark G., Frankie, Myself, and Roger were moving fast and the chase group was absorbed by the fast rolling field on the descent. The next lap was savage!

Roger was definately the strongest in the break but with 3 teammates against 1 it was a big task for him to do win on his own. Roger would be a good teammate in 2009...perhaps he would like to race with us next year. I am sure that he would enjoy the fact that the FUJI SL-1 is about 15lbs built up (that is the XL frame for me and Frankie).

We had Mark G. sitting on the entire way with the hopes that he would have the legs to pull off a win. That plan didn't come together as we had hoped and with Frankie and I both cramping I thought for sure Roger was going to win.

The final climb up to the finish Roger attacked at the base and immediately dropped Frankie and Mark G. I was thinking that I was going to be next but Roger's pace eased off just as I was about to start cramping again. I sat on with the hopes that Mark G. or Frankie would some how make it back up to Roger and I. They didn't...but fortunately for us I had enough legs left to get by Roger once the road flattened out with 150 meters to go.

Master's 35+ racing is HARD! Roger is stronger than any of the riders we have raced against all season and will win his share of races this year.

Tobi did his share of jumping around in the pack and still had a nice result at the end finishing 9th.

I am proud of the way Mark G. and Tobi are adapting to life on Team FUJI F/B Clif Bar. Frankie and I are working hard at showing them the ropes of true team work, racing together with a unified vision, and executing throughout an entire race while learning new hand signals, voice prompts, etc. that will make our lives more efficient in races. Soon enough we will have our top secret climbing weapon, aka Dale Stephanos, in the mix and we will be 5 riders instead of 4.

Tobi's top secret tip of the week: Use Record Cream on your arms when the temp is right where arm warmers are too much but there is enough of a chill that makes waiting at the start uncomfortable.

Results for Sturbridge Road Race - April 26, 2008

Mark McC 1st Team FUJI f/b Clif Bar
Roger Aspbalm 2nd Westwood Velo- Trade Manage Racing
Frank McC 3rd Team FUJI f/b Clif Bar
Mark G. 4th Team FUJI f/b Clif Bar
Billy Y. 5th NBX/APEX Technology
Dan S. 6th JW Dundee's/Home Performance
Fabio P. 7th New England Masters Elite
Max L. 8th Targetraining/Fastar
Tobi S. 9th Team FUJI f/b Clif Bar
Matthew K 10th Millwork One Racing/Weebike.com