Zwift - Crit City Race A 7th May
Well that was a tough one. I managed to stick to my pacing plan for the first 5 of the 8 laps and then it all fell to pieces.
Another fast start, straight out the blocks with a 500-600 watt effort then settled in around 250 watts. Managed to stick with the front group until we hit the climb, but then had to watch them disappear into the distance. Rode out the rest of the first lap solo at around 280 watts.
The early stages of lap 2 a group of 3 riders caught me up and I stayed with them, working well together each taking a turn on the front. I had a little attack up the climb and again on the sprint to finish the lap, but could not shake anybody so we carried on working together. Had another little dig on the sprint finish to the 3rd lap, but the same outcome.
As we started lap 4 we caught one of the stragglers from the front group, he managed to keep with us and we carried on as a group of 5.
Our quintet stayed together until the end of lap six, when the other 4 guys managed to drop me. I made a last ditch attempt to catch back on, but my legs just didn't have it in them so I had to let them go.
End of lap 7 the guys from the very front of the race came around to lap me. I tried to catch on and use them to pace me in, but the legs didn't have it in them so off into the distance they went too.
Lap 8 the heart rate was up into the 180′s and I was struggling to hold 230 - 250 watts, but hang on to it I did and came in at 21:53. My worst time in the crit races, but just 56 seconds off my personal best so not overly bad.
Next race for me is Stage 2 of The Tour for All on Sunday, before stage 3 on Tuesday. Back to crit racing next Thursday.
Until next time.
Ciao J