University RR: Overend Schools Fabrice!

University Road Race was a couple of weeks ago, sorry for the late report. The course is really tough and most people avoid it for fear of getting dropped within the first few laps. It's basically a several minute hill interval followed by a short descent, which repeats lap after lap. Only the truly strong and/or crazy look forward to this race. Sounds like one for Fabrice! Below is his report.

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Event: University Santa Cruz Road Race, Pro 1/2
Date: 8/23/2009
Result: 4th of ~40
Team: Billy and Myself

Full Results

Course:
20 laps of the 3 miles circuit, which was a loop with basically a 1.5 mile uphill and a 1.5 mile downhill. The climb was gradual in parts, moderate in others, and steep at the end.

Weather:
Cloudy, Foggy and cold at the beginning then clear and warmer.

Race:
On the start line, I saw an old guy like he could be my father, with grey hair and with a complete specialized setup in the middle of our field. I was thinking that he made a mistake; the masters race is later. But he seemed to be motivated to start with us.

Anyway, the start was given and my goal for the race was to do as well or better than last year, a 4th place. The race was started very quickly because on the second lap, one of the favorites, Scott Zwizanski from Kelly Benefits was in a 3 man group on the front. I decided to join them in the third lap. On the top of the climb Neil Shirley (also Kelly Benefits) had felt the danger and joined us. In the descent we worked all together and I was surprised to see that the old Specialized guy was there and worked too! The gap between our group and the field was increasing all the laps but the race was long.

At mid-race, we were only 4 guys after an acceleration from the Kelly Benefits guys. The old guy was still there. With 4 laps to go I was in a difficult situation because it seemed that the Kelly guys didn't want to finish with me. Every time they attacked and I was there, they stopped, maybe a thought from San Luis Obispo Road Race where I beat Shirley in a sprint!! Anyway with two laps to go after responding to many attacks I felt a little bit tired and I didn't respond to an attack from Shirley, but the old guy was still there and he jumped in his wheel. I felt very miserable to see him dropping me!!

The gap between these two guys and me with Zwizanski was just increasing, and I knew that would be very difficult to do better than last year. I did all the work in the two last laps, and I was dropped in the last climb and finished at the same place as last year, so 4th.

After crossing the finish line, I was very curious to know who the hell was that old guy. In fact it was Ned Overend, world MTB champion in the 90's, and always on the top of his shape. At 54 years of age still so motivated and strong, congratulations!!!!

Thanks for reading,
Fabrice