Sterling: Strategy and Darwinian Natural Selection

After a week to marinate on (and as I often do, over analyze) Jiminy Peak I was looking forward to racing closer to home and more importantly, at a much more civilized start time. The course is 6 laps of an 8 mile circuit, with a neutral start over the finishing climb – so 7 opportunities to become acquainted with the climb. Having done this race before I knew it wasn’t necessarily the climb over the finish that would pose the greatest challenge but the gradual uphill that follows and takes you under the overpass – that’s typically where the break occurs.

With a start time of 1:15, the team agreed to meet at 11:45 and discuss strategy. Of course, whenever there is a climb involved there is a certain Darwinian “natural selection” process that occurs (trumping even the best plans), but despite that it was agreed we would launch attacks early on and see who had good legs and who would respond from the field. On the 4th lap Mary and Rebecca were to attack on the top of the climb and see if a break could be established. Whether a result of luck or perfect execution (we’ll go with “perfect execution”) that is essentially how the race unfolded!

But as anyone who has raced knows, there are some things that are discussed and planned ahead of time and there are some things that are decided on the fly. Well, on the start of the 4th lap Brooke comes over to me and says the next time we are on route 12 I want you to attack the field – with the intent of stringing out the field and setting up the attack over the climb. So as we rounded the corner onto route 12 off I went…and like white on rice, so too went Sara Bresnick! I just turned around to see who was there…and there was Sara smiling…yelling up “no chance” – as in, there’s no chance she was going to swap pulls with me! Gee thanks Sara! Drat! An escape artist I am not – despite my hugely powerful surges (note: sarcasm).

So we get to the corner of route 12 and make the right turn to begin the climb…Debony Diehl would be on my right and my teammate Nat was on my left. As we rounded the corner Debony would drift left, forcing me to also drift left – jostling a little with Nat. Nothing major but enough that Nat I would lose a few positions as the climb began. And as luck would have it – just before Mary and Rebecca would attack going over the top. Fortunately the strategy would work, however Nat and I would be in the wrong place at the wrong time and did not make the break.

With the break up the road the field would have to regroup. With the field not sure how to handle the situation Cathy Rowell decided she would stretch her legs and drift off the front. Well, after being out there for quite some time and no one chasing, Cathy decided to take the opportunity to put to use those spectacular time trial skills of hers!

At the end of the day, apparently after much debate between Rebecca and Mary over who was going to win, it was Rebecca who would cross the line first, followed by Sara Bresnick, and Mary for 3rd. Cathy Rowell would soon follow, soloing in for 6th – and the field would roll in to follow. A great day all around for the NEBC women! And on the eve of Cathy’s birthday!!!!