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| Vuelta de Acadiana Race Report |
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Vuelta de Acadiana: Pack Time I headed off to Lafayette Saturday morning at 0445. I knew it would be a small NOBC group as Vivian and Judith, Randy, Steven and Mignon planned on attending. Mignon decided to race with the Cat. 4s as she could not make the entire race. Based on last year as a Cat. 5, I knew the courses were flat but could be windy - Nice for people from NOLA. Fortunately the wind stayed down. At 64 miles, like the Tour de Louisiane, the Vuelta's Cat. 4 race was a big jump from the one I did last year as a Cat. 5. We left on time at 0810 and it was already hot and on the way to miserable! I mentioned loudly at the start if we could not attack in the feed zone and drop bottles everywhere like TdL. Fortunately someone agreed aloud with me and it sounded like a plan. I still packed 3 water bottles just in case there was no "honor among thieves". We had 4 from Sugar Cycles in Houston and Tiger Cycling but lots of other teams with 3 or fewer. We started off pretty easy and I did some work at the front during the first lap trying to keep the pace normal until my legs warmed up. The attacks really didn't get going until near the hot spot area at the end of the first lap. Then, to my amazement, we actually went through the feed zone at 17 to 18 mph!! Wow what a relief.... Neutral, cold water in regular bottles was provided by volunteers. Drink half and pour the rest on my head. Really nice! Well, the next two laps were more of the same with lots of attacks but all were caught. I reeled back a couple for Steven but the heat started getting to me so I hid in the back for a while. Mignon was doing great. It was great going through the feed zone like pros...... Finally about 3k to go and there was a surge and my left leg cramped big time, not my outside quad like from hills but my inside quad muscle - I guess two salt tablets were not enough. I could barely pedal. Fortunately things slowed until about a half mile to go but I could not get rid of the cramps. I drifted to the back with a Tiger guy who I asked "cramps?" to and he said "oh yea". The sprint started and I was really only hoping to stay in contact so I wouldn't have to beg for pack time. Turned out the group stayed together pretty well and we all got pack time except someone who flatted earlier and could not get back on . Steven got 3rd and Mignon was middle of the pack! After, Steven was in severe cramps and had to get off his bike. I guess 65 miles for 2 hours and 50 minutes in the heat will do that!! I pedaled around to try to loosen my legs when Randy and the masters came in. Randy got 5th. I didn't see Vivian but Judith said they got pack time too. My first road race this year where I was not run off the road by a crash!!! YES! The promoters had hamburgers and chips for a small donation and lots of water and Gatorade. It seems like a well run race both years so far. My wife and kids had headed to Lafayette and we met at the hotel at 3pm. My TT start time was 4:36 pm and after a pretty good warm up, my legs felt better. There was a slight tailwind that then turned into a cross wind to help us, unlike last year when it was a headwind. The course is advertised as 3.75 miles but I knew it was really 3.88 miles! I felt good until about mile 3 and then my legs felt bad but no cramps. I finished in 8:51 or 26.2 mph so I was happy. (At TdL, I did 25.4 mph with more tailwind but had not pushed hard enough in the first mile). Steven said he did not do well due to the cramps he had in the morning. After a quick shower and some dinner with the family, I was done and hit the bed hard. Mignon had to head home so she missed the TT but the refs and starter gave her kudos for a good race when I told them she had to head home.
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Overall, a nice but very hot racing weekend with the family, and I like the Vuelta !
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