Thursday race + Sunday = watt ?

From the test a couple of weeks ago I noticed that the power was loaded to the back with the lats 20 minutes at 359W average or 357W taking out the last 2 minutes. The first 25 minutes averaged 353W and backing off when I got the chest pain at 35min took another 2-3W off the average. The one thing that I'll have to look into though is the normalised vs average aspect, when the intensity factor is calculated as my rides are now getting close to an IF of 1 and over (Sundays ride of just over an hour was 1.001 - as below) even though the average is way below my threashold.

Raced on Thursday night last week, which was good, although I managed to get no points. But it was not for trying and helped some guy win.... hmmmm...

The race was the clockwise loop with the upper circuit for the 2nd half of the hour + 5 laps, which I preffered as the hill seems steeper and more effective than the clockwise loop. What tuned out a bit diferent was the pace was higher, never split up much and did not join the CAT1+2's when they came past. That was better as I could then sit in for a while before putting much effort in, with the original strategy to go at 3 laps to go.

Within the race the pace picked up and slowed down as usual with the odd occurance of people going for a break (or more likely a stretch of the legs) on the down hill sections, which seemed a bit pointless or a place where you were going to burn more effort to gain a given gap.

Slowly through the first hour people dropped off the back with the sustained pace and the odd bit of pressure placed at the front.

4 laps to go, started to move into position, when a bunch of CAT1+2 came by and then sat about 10-20 yards in front with the CAT3+4 at the back. Going into the 3rd lap the situation was the same and into the 2nd.

With the last lap approaching going up the hill I realised this was the only option left, unless I waited for the final sprint. So, I picked up the pace and moved through the bunch and off the front past the CAT1+2's that were sitting at the front.

Going round the first corner at the top with no brakes I almost over cooked it and nearly ended up on the grass, which helped push my HR up to 188bpm and then I looked back to see where I was. From the vauge image I figured about 20-30 yards and did not notice anyone on my wheel so I pressed on again into the next corner, where again I almost ended up in the bushes.

Looking back again I think I had about 40 yards and someone was on my wheel, so as we entered the flatter section I signaled for him to come through and I took cover.

As we came to the bottom of the hill section I knew I had less energy left than him and shouted "go for it I'm knackered", which probably wasn't the best of things to do in retrospect....

He launched off the front and I continued to plug on, with the energy draining from my legs.

Reaching near the top and thinking I did have a chance of 2nd with 30 yards to go and the first person past me on the final sprint, then the 2nd, 3rd...... 10th, 11th.... "bollocks!" With 30 yards to go and 10 seconds later I was out of the points after backing off completely when I realised.

The aspectes of the race and the lessons are that I don't know when the other guy got on my wheel and if the CAT1+2 group helped pull the rest of the 3+4 back up a bit. Either way I felt it was a great race and a great lesson in racing strategy and tactics. My lesson is to make sure you look fully, guage your pace better and get some more luck. Plus, get out and add some more watts...