Heart Pounding

Things are getting closer and closer to the new season. I'm still trying to iron out how I want to attack it and make the most of the races I go for. I am racing to win. each. race. I do. I've got nothing but success in my sights. Thinking about the races I've done, won, and lost make me excited to have another crack at it all. Even thinking about my workout scheduled for tomorrow is making my heart patter with anticipation and nerves.

I know I've used this before, but I knew I won that preme lap. (I like how it looks too, okay?)

The nerves aren't the kind like I'm scared of anything, but that when I think about sprinting, going for the line, putting everything I have into every pedal stroke, it's like being on another level on my bike. My awareness goes up. I feel everything. I sense how my body moves - balancing each pedal drive, expanding and compacting lungs, where and when my fingers move gear shifting up only to call for more power from my already burning legs. It's all there. I sense where other people are. Any quick glance to the left or right - I'm taking in so much information. I will know how my speed is compared to theirs. I will know if I will get to the line before them. I will know how much pain I am in and can almost sense theirs. I will know where I need to point my drive and whether or not I will be the victor or not. This awareness is evident every time you see a professional rider raise his/her arms on the line when to nearly every spectator it was too close to call. When you win, you knew before anyone else... except for those sprinting with you... they knew they were going to lose (some mistakes happen tho...).

D2 wants out!

I figure I will focus on my sprinting abilities. Tomorrow's workout calls for sprints at race effort. I am going to drive at it as hard as I can. Tomorrow will be the coldest of the week, but apparently the sun will be out. That's encouraging. I know it's probably too early to be calling for continued warmer weather, but I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can. Getting some outside riding/handling experience will be important too. The trainer is no way to keep my riding sharp. I'm not about to drop money on a set of rollers no matter how many heckles I get from The Roller Cam.

I've also been thinking of selling my Garmin 305. I can live without uploading all my data and I have never used it for an navigation purposes. I will probably stick with it for a bit. No need to fix something that isn't broke (the speedometer magnet sensor is broke... cadence is fine tho. how annoying is that?) Relying on gps to assess my speed is not too accurate. That alone almost makes it worth swapping for a Cateye or Vetta. I'll live.

Sprints tomorrow! Tinie Tempah - Wonderman Ft. Ellie Goulding

I Need a Laugh

I'm in need of a good laugh. Seeing The Twisted Spoke's tweet about the battle in the Tour Down Under between Cav and Tyler got that laugh. I have been reading his stuff for some time now. It's good to have an honest comical poke at the ever serious sport of professional cycling.

If you care to read, here's a link.
http://www.atwistedspoke.com/cavendish-turns-tables-on-farrar-in-tour-down-under-98th-a-winner/

The creative writer of "Twisted Spoke," Matt Walsh, has been moving up in his status as a cycling journalist. I enjoy his stuff, but sometimes it's hard to know what's what. I hope he gets more exposure to the sport and keeps on doing his thing.

Sprinter's Year

All the hype last year about a battle in Le Tour between Alberto, Lance, and the Schleck boys, I believe, has played its course and this year will be the year of the sprinters. The media embellished rivalry of Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel will make some cycling headlines. The reigning world champion, Thor Husovd at Garmin-Cervelo will be battling Francesco Chicchi, Ton Boonen, Alessandro Petachi, Robbie McEwen, Matt Goss, Michael Matthews, Greg Henderson, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Tyler Farrar, Oscar Freire, for the finish line throughout the year. I think lead-out trains will be refined and tactical. The strong teams in the last 5-1k will make the difference for a lot of riders. Timing and patience will be key for these guys.

I'd like to keep those two factors in mind when I race this upcoming season. I need patience and timing. I am not sure if I am a "sprinter," but rather and opportunist. With the little racing experience I have, I know I can close gaps when I need to, catch and follow wheels, put time on the front, punch a powerful attack from far out, and sprint around riders for the win.  Sometimes I can get lucky with my timing and other times I surprise myself.

I think there is a lot that can be learned by watching the pros and their teams win races. Watching a solo victory or climbers duke it out for a win can be inspiring and a whole lot of fun to watch,

but seeing the teams work in the last few km for their sprinter against everyone else is what keeps the sport on it's toes.

I'm just babbling on at this point, but I hope to have some results like these guys. For a lot of them they know they wouldn't get to the line first without the hard of or their teammates. For others, they have the strength and awareness of the races to scrap or a win when their teammates will sometimes have other responsibilities or have already given their all. In professional cycling, when a sprinter takes it, they will rarely have done it alone.

At the domestic and certainly lower level races, teammates may not always be there to sacrifice themselves. Not to say I haven't had riders work for me, teammates or not. I must say I do recognize their hard work and sacrifice for me. It is a pretty amazing feeling to come up with a great result after seeing how yourself and teammates have worked for it. I want to get the results and have myself work for teammates to get wins now and the rest of my career. 

This year's Tour Down Under (Starting 1/18/2011... my bday!) will be a big showcase of the sprinter for the year. I want to see blood and glory. These guys will be hungry to prove themselves and put up some wins for their teams in this big year for cycling.

Speaking of my career, I am in the job hunt for life after my undergrad. I would love to be lucky enough to keep cycling part of it all. We'll see. My ride today was terribly short, but fun seeing as it was my first outside ride of the year. It is frustrating to not know of any great places to ride in Virginia, but I will be also looking to join a team if I move back to Northern Virginia after I graduate. I want a team that has experience, travels to race all sorts of races, and one that will have strength and the ability to keep me developing as a racer, teammate, and leader.