Tour of Sufferlandria: Stage 2

Tour of Sufferlandria: Stage 2

FEBRUARY 1, 2013
DEL MAR, CA

On to the second stage! Let's see what's in store for me today!

Preview video:

Uh oh. Climbs? Breakways? All the while the peloton is chasing me? *Gulp* Sounds like I'm in for a rough ride.

Alright, let's get going. These mountains aren't going to climb themselves!

Warm up: 2:30

Starts off with a good warm up. What's this? A pep talk from the team director. What words of wisdom do you have for me?

 Yikes... way to put the pressure on! Guess I need to step up to the plate and get a stage win.

Oh right, before I start, here's the Suffer Scale. That's what the number in the bottom corner means to get a sense of the effort.

As you can see, pretty intense right? Alright, that's enough chatting on the team bus, time to get to the start line!

Tempo: 4:00

Off and running with the pack. Better enjoy my time with the peloton now. Something tells me it's going to get lonely later

 Better stretch the legs a bit to make sure they are ready to take the stage later.

Break away: 5:30

This is it! Time to make my move to make the break!

Yes! Made a small gap! Time to get low into that TT position and increase my lead!

Stay low and keep that breathing controlled. Don't want to go over the edge at the beginning of the race!

You're killing it man! Keep it going!

They certainly will! I can see the podium girls already-- Wait.. What's this?!

STOPPED BY A FREAKING TRAIN! You gotta be kidding me! Ugh... now everyone is back together. And just before the big climb.. and when I say big, I mean big! Look!

Climb: 20:00

Let's go, time to start the climb. Gotta try my luck!

Whew. This mountain is pretty steep.. Really grinding a big gear here. At least I'm out in front. Just gotta hold this pace. What's this?

Hey! Frank and Andy! We're on the same team! Stop dragging me back! Come on guys!

What?! You're attacking me now? Come on! SAME TEAM MAN! UUGH!

I thought I was supposed to be the team leader! I won't let this mutiny happen! I'm sticking to the back of your wheel Frankie!

Now Gesink goes over the top? Crap! All this infighting and we forgot about the Dutchman!

Things are starting to heat up! I need some more ventilation!

 You bet I'm ready to sprint! I'm not gonna let him get away that easy!

 

That one hurt. Man, I don't know how much longer I can take it! But if I'm hurting he must be too.

So much for trying to take a breather on his wheel. Attack!!

Descent: 4:00

Nice! Made it over the top to snatch those KOM points! Time to zip up it's gonna get cold on this descent.

 Keep it spinning! 110+ Cadence! See if I can build the gap on the downhill!

Tempo: 5:00

Let's get an update from the race radio. How am I doing guys?

 Alright! That's what I like to hear! 

*POP* uh oh..

Flats.. They always happen at the worst possible times! 

 Now I'm part of a small group of riders. Looks like I'm gonna have to sprint my way to the finish!

Inverse Intervals: 5:00

It's gonna take several attacks to shake these guys. Throw in some decoy attacks before crushing them at the end. Here's how it's gonna go down.

First attack: 50 seconds temp/10 second attack

Then for the next ones:

40/20

30/30

20/40

10/50

You'll for sure crush 'em with that 50 second dig! Let's get going!

Dig! Diamo! Diamo!!

Alright! Last attack! Give it all!

50 seconds is a LOOOONG time! Come on this is for the win!! Drop these fools!

LAST 200M! Sprint man!

You got it man! They can't catch you!

YEEEAA! Celebrate the stage win!

aaaaand I'm done. Whew.

Cool down: 5:00

Much needed spin down. My legs are still burning from those final sprints.

Stage 2 complete! I feel like I'm finding my form! Time to carry that over to stage 3 tomorrow!! 

Now it's time for a much needed beer with my girlfriend :)