A race to remember – Leesville Gap Road Race July 1, 2006
I am glad I entered this race! This year we trained on Copperopolis and several hidden roads that were known
to be bumpy. We even raced at Snelling where there was a section like Paris Roubaix. However, nothing we
encountered contained miles of potholes and stretches of dirt road like Leesville.
This race is a true classic in the sense that if you finish in the first few groups, you really have made an
accomplishment. I have never been so sore and cramped up in my life! However, after the screaming sprint, I
felt ten times more accomplishment than with any race this season.
Mile 1 – 10. The forecast for the day was clear Sunny with temperatures in the 90’s. This race starts out with a
pretty even pace and people try to break away. I began with chugging a bottle before the race and carried one
large water and one large Cytomax. I figured I could make the one bottle of Cytomax last and get another water
at he neutral feed. At around mile 10 the rough road begins. I spent more time focused on the road than on the
race around me. I knew that if I hit one of the potholes and flatted, my race would be over. Many racers flatted
around me. I was lucky not to flat even after hitting a pie-sized pothole.
Mile 10 – 22. This is the climb. It is not as gradual as some led me to believe. It actually is fairly steep in the
beginning. And dodging the potholes makes the climb more stressful. By mile 18 you know who is a climber and
who isn’t. The selection is made and the rest or us hang on with heart rates in the red zone. Set your pace
and try to stay with a group. I was lucky to find some legs half way up the climb and even pass some guys. We
climbed side by side through dirt and loose rocks. At the top there were many guys waiting by the side of the
road – victims of flats or mechanical failures.
Mile 22 - 35. This is mostly downhill. Here is where I crested the big climb and rode like a maniac to catch 3
guys. I knew if I did not connect with a group, it would be a lot harder. About 6 more guys joined us by mile 30.
We became the second group. In this group was a guy that went back for his bottles that shot out on a bumpy
section. He caught us on the climb then later would lose them again and continue on without water. I believe
only about 7 guys were up the road as the terrain and flats also took a toll. By now I had drank both bottles and
starting to feel a little dehydrated. I wished I had packed an extra bottle in my jersey pocket!
Mile 35 – 42. This is a tough little climb followed by a great descent. For the survivors, we set a pace and tried
to hang onto each other. I sat about third in line and gritted it out as my heart rate soared. After about a mile I
held the pace and finished the climb still at the front of the group. A few more pedal strokes and we hit a major
decent for about 3 miles. The feed zone was at about mile 42. I set a good pace into the feed zone so that I
would not get dropped and threw off my two, long ago, empty bottles. I picked up two large bottles. I wished
they were Cytomax. But, hey, water was what I needed and I drank half of one right off. At the top of the feed
climb, another guy motivated me to sprint up to the group of about 5 guys before we crested the climb. I’m sure
we lost a few guys on the feed zone as I reached the peak of my heart rate for the day.
Mile 42 – 65. This is a small descent to a gradual flat finish. This is the part of the race where you can say; I
made it through the climbing, dirt and potholes! We settled into a firm pace and began thinking of the sprint. A
few guys tried to attack, with no avail. This is also where the terrain and the endurance can torture a rider.
Many guys were cramping and were very fatigued. I was feeling the effects of not replacing the electrolytes I
was loosing via sweat. My right leg cramped badly with 10 miles to go. I was able to relieve the cramp by a
process of easing up and stretching, however, when there was a surge, I had to go through the process again.
I experimented with standing up and pedaling with bad results. Standing up gave me cramps in both legs! I
believe if I were able to keep drinking Cytomax the whole race, the needed electrolytes would have been
replaced and therefore no cramps. So, looking around my group of 8, I noticed there were only 3 guys in my
category. I only needed to worry about those guys. With five miles to go, I figured that if I could stay seated and
jump on a good wheel, maybe I could out power them in the sprint. One guy looked fresh and the other was a
climber that was sitting in the back. With 500 meters to go I was in third position and feeling pretty good. Then
at 250 meters the two guys in front of me jumped. I put in a huge effort and was still in the sprint line up. Both
of my legs completely cramped and I was somehow pushing the pedals without flexing any muscles. One guy in
my category was ahead of me and the climber passed me at the line. I was in the greatest pain of my life! After
dismounting and stretching, I was able to make it back to the starting parking lot. After lying on the grass and
eating a piece of watermelon, I spoke to one of the guys in my category. He told me that there were only three
guys in the first group from our category. I was elated when the results were posted and my number showed up
in the 6th position! What a great ending to a Classic race. I can’t wait until next year. You can bet I’ll be
packing at least three bottles of Cytomax!
-Coach Myron
LUZVIMIN USA Racing Team