Sep 22, 12:38 AM by Steve | Everest Challenge Day 2
Posted in Cycling & Race-Report
Things started out well today but fell apart somewhere on the second climb. On the first climb up to Glacier Lodge I kept the tail end of the front group of 11 in sight and was only a few minutes off the front at the turnaround. Two of the riders stopped at the checkpoint and I was sitting in 10th for the the descent and was chasing down one guy through Big Pine to the start of the second climb, but we were both caught by a group of 4 other riders and the lot of us went up the climb. I figured the group would stay pretty much together but at one point another guy came up to our group and after a few minutes rest attacked us and the group shattered.
I had nothing to respond and continued at my own pace with a Sho-Air rider from the masters field. When I saw the front of the field coming back down, I timed myself to the same spot and clocked 9 minutes. I got to the bottom and begain the final 20 mile, 6,000+ foot climb with just over 3 hours on the clock. Last year the climb took me nearly 3 hours (2:52) and I thought I felt much better then, so I was figuring 3 hours, at least.
I fell in with a group of 3 other riders for much of the climb, although a few others from the 4/5 race came up to and passed us. I dropped the 4s I was riding with at 10K to go, and repassed one of the 4s that passed me earlier, but the M45+ I was with dropped me with about 2 miles to go and I suffered to the end by myself. Final time for the climb was 2:38 and for the day was 5:46, proving that even with broken ribs I’m much faster this year than last year.
I have much more to say and I’m sorry that this wasn’t very coherent but it’s late and I’m getting ready for a business trip. I have to be at the airport in about 5 hours… I’ll try to write a fuller account and get all the pictures up during the downtime.
Everest Challenge Day 1 Pictures >>
14th place in Cat 4/5 -congrats sweetie!
— Kim at Sep 22, 08:33 PMAmazing, Steve, even with sound ribs. Get some rest!
— Scott at Sep 22, 08:47 PM