Copperopolis Road Race, Milton, CaPro/1/2, 105 Miles (5 Laps)
Date: 7 April 2007
Weather: 50F/70F Start/Finish, Slightly Overcast with a 10mph WNW Wind
Field: 66
AV Team: Jono Coulter, Peter Dinolfo (18th), Dominic Giampaolo, Rob MacNeill (22nd) , Matt Morenzoni, Greg Drake (8th)
The 27th Annual Copperopolis Road Race, advertised as the Paris-Roubaix of California didn't disappoint. Your Gumby Warriors were aptly prepared for anything that would be thrown our way: chunks of asphalt, water bottles at 40mph, or even a Pro Tour star showing up at the start line. Well maybe I overstated our preparedness with the last one but you get my point - This race is hard but we went in knowing full well what was in store for us when we signed our lives away on the USAC waiver.
As we slowly gathered ourselves near the start line and kicked around our strategy for the day someone mentioned that Levi Leipheimer had shown up again. After some "no ways" and "I don't think he's in the country" we rolled off the line and sure enough, in his stealth all-black Nike kit replete with white shoes was the man himself - back again after crushing the field last year by more time than it takes to brew a vat of coffee.
The field was much larger than last year and was pretty stacked with talent, from the aforementioned euro-stud to top North American cyclocrosser Barry Wicks (with a couple of his Kona teammates thrown in for good measure). This was in addition to some of the usual suspects on the NorCal road race scene. Cal Giant, RHVilla/BPG, Davis Bike Club (who were apparently bringing their A-game as they were all sporting race radios) were all very well represented.
The race started off with an attack by one of the Kona boys as the rest of the field rolled briskly on the mangled roads trying to get warm in the cool foothills air. The main climb which begins around mile 5 or 6 caused the field to string out a bit. By this time the Kona guy was back in the fold and a Cal Giant rider pushed up the road a bit.
Jono was active at the front covering several moves that dangled off the front on the climb. Then, near the top of the climb a few riders tried to bridge to the Berry boy but were brought back in short order by Levi, who effortlessly noodled his pedals as the pack panted heavily behind him.
As we approached the top of the course after passing the reservoir, Dominic attacked to try a bridging move to the Cal Giant rider but the winds had shifted and made it impossible for him to get up the road.
We then hit the backside of the course which is a combination of rolling hills, fast twisty descents, and boneshakingly bad asphalt. We were still gruppo compatto which made for a semi-hair raising experience, as the more bikes around you flying down a bad road at 40+ mph, the more rocks, pebbles, and water bottles that you have to duck and dodge.
On the main climb of lap 2 the lead break of the day went up the road. It contained Levi, Kevin Klein (Klein Real Estate), Barry Wicks, Jamiel Danesh (Sierra Nevada), and Andy Jaques-Maynes (Cal Giant). Being only 25 miles into a 105 mile race this was a rough ticket and only those with the proper intestinal fortitude or complete lack of sound judgement need apply. I along with the other Webcor / AV boys passed on this opportunity.
Things settled in for the next couple laps with the usual surge, lull, rinse, repeat as the course took its toll on the peloton. The field had whittled down considerably to less than 20 guys by the end of lap 3. Matt, Peter, Rob, Dominic and Jono had experienced varying levels of suffering in their own personal pain caves and ended up losing pace with the group.
With a man up the road and superior numbers in the field Cal Giant was active in covering every move, sending two men on many occasions: one to cover and the other right behind him to let a gap form. They were tactically excellent today.
BPG, who didn't have a man in the break was intent on getting up the road and Jesse Mendonca was leading the charge, only to be brought back over and over again. I covered several of these but in the end you have to play the numbers and try to get the ones that look promising.
Lap 4 saw Jesse Moore (Cal Giant), Jesse Mendonca, and Adam Switters finally get away on the backside of the course. I wanted to be in this move because of the horsepower but thought for sure it would be chased down in short order. With everyone looking at each other they slipped away. After several miles of riding in the seemingly indifferent group, I attacked and brought a CVC and Cal Giant rider with me to bridge to the break. After rolling through for several miles the field suddenly woke up and chased us down.
By this time Barry Wicks and Jamiel Danesh had been popped from the lead group and absorbed by the main pack. Heading into lap 5 I knew I would have to make another move to try and shake things up.
After getting a feed we hit the climb and I attacked the group, getting away clean, this time with 2 riders, Erik Easterling (CVC) and David Bryant (Sierra Nevada Club Team). We agreed that we needed each other and that we'd all work to catch the second group on the road in the hopes of then having the horsepower to catch everyone - sans Levi.
As we rolled around the top end of the course we finally saw the group about a minute and a half ahead which looked to contain 4 guys, meaning the lead group had come apart. This gave us hope as the race for 2nd place was still in play.
Apparently, Levi had attacked on the final climb and popped Kevin Klein and Andy Jaques Maynes with Kevin continuing alone and Andy being absorbed by the chasing group containing his teammate, Jesse Moore.
They ended up seeing us as well and dropped the hammer and it see-sawed for the next several miles in a classic chase. In my group, Easterling began to suffer and came off before the main descent. As we came to the downhill section I turned to David and told him to get on my wheel and whatever he did, "do not touch your brakes!"
We flew towards the finish finally closing the gap to about 45 seconds but it was too little too late as the 1k to go sign appeared. We rolled in for 7th and 8th.
Needless to say, Levi took the win. Kevin Klein was nipped by the chasers from behind right at the finish after being out there all day long.
All in all it was a great day of racing. The weather was beautiful as was the locale, with green hills, blossoming trees and happy cows dotting the course.
Now to the awards presentation. Peter Dinolfo and Rob MacNeill get the over-achiever award as they were either serving out a self-imposed sentence or were just enjoying the pavement a little too much but regardless, they rode the entire race after being popped in lap ~2 - meaning they suffered out there for 3 additional laps afterward, getting full race-training benefit. These miles are like money in the bank. You can't buy that kind of training - you've got to earn it. Nice work boys.
Lastly, kudos to our bright and beautiful contingent of feeders who selflessly gave up their Saturday to sit on the side of the road outside Milton, CA to hand up bottles to the Gumby Warriors (sorry, I can't get enough of that nickname).
Next up on the calendar: Sea Otter Classic
-Greg Drake
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