As you might imagine, any race with the word "Niagara" in it better include the predominant geological feature in the region - the Niagara Escarpment - and this race doesn't disappoint. The course is a 12.3km loop of country roads, with lots of descending, and a little bit of climbing. I know, that doesn't make sense, there is the same amount of vertical descent as vertical ascent, but the descent is spread over about 10.3km, and the ascent is the remaining 2km. Even that is not quite reflecting reality - the main feature in the Niagara Classic RR is a short, steep climb known as the Effingham Upper Wall. Strava stats show it as 400m of distance with 45m of elevation difference, with an average gradient of 11.1%. It seems to peak out somewhere north of 16%, and hangs around 14%~15% for a good portion. The finish line is just before the top of this hill.
Well, I sometimes like to think of myself as a climber, and it is true that much of my success in the past has come in, and as a result of, the hills. However since my return to racing in 2011 (following a 7 year hiatus to have kids) I haven't really found that I'm able to really fly up the hills with the same ease as I could "back in the day". I nonetheless allowed myself to think that the uphill finish on this course might suit me, and in fact started to make a plan to win both the KOM (points awarded for 3 of the 5 laps) and the race.
The M3 race (5 laps, 61.5km) start was at 8:30am, and the organizers got things going fairly close to plan. One advantage of being "stuck" in M3 is that we race in the early hours, before the day heats up too much; that was a factor on Sunday, with unseasonably high temperatures. It was a pretty easy roll-out, with a sharp downhill right at the start. The commies were right there on motos, almost immediately handing out warnings for yellow-line violations, no doubt to scare us into not repeating the M1 full race DQ at the Good Friday Road Race. It worked. Much of the roads have no yellow line, so in order to avoid the dreaded DQ, most guys stayed clear of the middle. One clear exception was in the corners - this seemed to be a free-for-all, with guys all over the road at each corner - not just the 90 degree sharp intersections, but also the twisty section leading to the last corner. In fact, disaster was only nearly averted in that twisty section, as we came around the corner, almost totally across the road, and some cyclist was in the oncoming lane - those of us at the front had a bit of a scare, but clearly this is what the yellow-line rule is for; if she had been a car, we would have been in trouble. Nonetheless, I observed the apparent leniency at the corners and used it to my advantage a few times to work my way up to the front.
So up we go to the Effingham hill for the first climb. No KOM points on this climb (points were awarded on laps 2, 3, and 4), so I figured I'd sit back and observe. And I didn't like what I observed. I was about 15 back going up the steepest part, digging fairly deep, and not really gaining on the first few guys. At that point I decided I wasn't going to go for the KOM, given that my relative climbing shape was clearly not that much better (and maybe even worse) than other guys in the race. I also looked ahead and decided that I should plan on being happy with top 10 for the race; what a great way to talk yourself out of a race - mentally throw in the hat in the first 12km, at the first hard effort. Such is my mental strength and confidence these days. Anyway, I crest the hill a few seconds behind the lead guys, panic a bit as I try to jump on, and realize there is no need to panic - they're all coasting. Like it's a club ride, taking it easy, letting everyone else jump back on. That seemed strange, I felt we should be making it hard for the guys as the back, so I moved to the front, took up my place with a hard pull, and did my work. About 60s into that, I start looking around to see who is going to go next, and the boys are happy to leave me out there. The guy behind me said something about "if you want someone.. . to work .. you'll have to ..". It was lost in the wind, so I kept on for another minute or so, then started to ease off to encourage someone else to do a little work. It took a lot of easing, and a lot of time before someone else came out front.
Shortly after that, #66 launched an attack. I was a little winded, and didn't go; it seemed a little early to be going off for the day anyway. But at that point I decided that the teams should be at the front doing the work, and I should save myself to be able to cover attacks, and maybe break. It seemed I wasn't going to be able to out-climb anyone, so I figured an attack was my only hope. The Kurzawinski Coach guys were at the front, watching #66, and they talked about letting him dangle a bit, but not get too far away. Yes, that's why the teams should be at the front. They've got the manpower, the tactics, and the ability to control the race.
Second climb (of 5) up the Effingham hill, and this one is for KOM points. I am once again near enough to the front, but unwilling to dig deep enough to go over the top first. Maybe I don't really want to know what will happen if I giv'er, maybe I'm trying to save myself, either way I've already given up on the KOM race before it's begun. I'm still not sure the exact truth; hindsight may be 20/20, but the heat of the moment still makes it a little blurry, looking back.
Same easy coast off the hill, I can see that the boys are not in a hurry to make this race hard. I ended up spending a little time in mid-pack, chatting with one of Jarrod's friends (Joel Rose), and a few other guys. Obviously I am just as guilty, as I could have been up there pulling hard, but at the time I figured there were a few teams there with 3 or 4 guys, they should be doing the work. I'm saving myself for my only real chance at winning this thing: a break.
#66 went away again on lap 3, quite close to the end of lap 3, just going in to the twisty section. This section is mostly down, so I didn't think it was a really good time to get away. We caught him again on the run-up to the big climb. Mid-way through the 4th lap, I came along side of #66, and asked him if he was going to go again. I had figured a fourth lap attack had the highest chance of success. Fifth lap, the last lap, seemed like a bad time to go, everyone would follow. So he asked "when?", I said "like, now". So, just after the corner at Maple Street and Kilman Road, I moved up the inside to get away. It was a bit of a risky maneuver; at least one guy told me so as I passed him on the very edge of the pavement. In (20/20) hindsight, I might not take that risk again; however I was stuck inside, and figured my best bet at winning was out front - now! So I got out front, #66 on my wheel, and pushed. Maybe about 90% effort. #66 came through for a pull, and it was obvious then that the pack was watching, and wasn't going to let us go at that point. After another minute or so, I eased up to give up the escape; the pack was happy to leave me out front, though, so I dropped the speed slowly until someone went by.
Now we're on the last lap. Amazingly, still a fairly easy pace. I end up sliding back a little due to inattention; once again, #66 goes on Maple Street, and I'm stuck on the inside, a ways back, and have to watch. I'm still a little too far back when we get to the twisty section at the end of Kilman Road, so I tried to move up a bit in the corners. Turning onto Effingham Street for the final 2km, on the final lap, I was probably about 20 guys back. It's all strung out, and gaps are opening up all over the place - not good! I'd get on to the back of a few guys, and then they'd be gapped by the guys in front of them! And so it was, I worked my way across gaps up the false flat approach to the hill. When I finally hit the hill, I believe I was in 6th or 7th place, and a ways back; it didn't look good. Push on - it seemed like I was closing on the guys, and I start doing the math - there are 5 guys ahead of me, it looks like I can take 1 or 2 of them at this rate. Then they all started moving backwards, and it felt like climbing "back in the day"! Effortless, and fast. At the steepest part of the hill I pass all the guys, and keep on going; I pushed on for another few seconds, before looking back to be sure no one is charging behind. By now, I'm out of the saddle, and starting to grind; it's no longer effortless, and probably not very fast... When I finally hit the line I probably had about 25m or 30m on them! It was a fun finish, lots of cheering along the final climb; I could hear the announcer, and I was anxious to hear him say my name - I still wasn't totally sure that no one had gotten away, and I need to hear him say my name. He did.
Here is my Stava data, for anyone that's interested. One interesting point is that, as of this writing, I hold KOM on the segment called Effingham Long Climb, for the approach to the finish. This is undoubtedly as a result of turning on to Effingham St. so far back in the pack, working hard to bridge gaps up to the lead guys, and then putting in a respectable climb up the wall.
Overall, a well run event, with good organization and nice facilities. I still think 65km is a little short for M3, but I can't complain for now!
Full results at this link: Niagara Classic Road Race Results.
On a side note: Niagara Falls, too! Some guys went over the falls on May 21, and lived!
