Tour of the Battenkill
April 9, 2011
Riders: Steve Weller, Evan Burkhart, Max Korus and Peter Hurst
Result: Max Korus 16th, Peter Hurst 20th
The Tour of the Battenkill is a great race. This year, the course was redesigned, making for a 100 mile race, opening with two 17 mile loops before heading out onto the larger 63 mile course. In addition to the longer parcours a new dirt section was also introduced this year.
The five of us knew that the race would be one of attrition. But there is always the possibility that an early move sticks, or is bolstered by riders bridging across. The plan was to have representation in anything that looked threatening to let Peter and Justin stay fresher for later in the race.
With everyone aware of how crucial positioning would be, the yellow line rule was blatantly disregarded by the entire field. With people swarming most of the road, it was difficult to get to the front, but once there it was easy enough to maintain position. The opening laps were marked by attacks on the climb leading up to Juniper Swamp Rd as well as the steep dirt climb itself. Evan and I made sure to stay towards the front, but a break of 5 riders was already up the road. The group was reabsorbed, and everyone seemed to look around waiting for the counter.
After covering the early moves, I found myself sag-climbing Juniper Swamp on the third ascent. I looked around to see where everyone else was, but I couldn’t spot any teammates. Unbeknownst to me, Justin had flatted and Steve had stopped to give him a wheel. Mavic support arrived just after Steve got his wheel off his bike to give to Justin. The two of them were able to chase back to the group, and I found Justin and Peter as the field approached the longest climb on the course, Joe Bean Hill.
At this point, Jesse Anthony was up the road solo with about a 3-minute gap. The field was imploding on the climb, and only Peter and myself were able to make the selection with Justin, Steve, and Evan spent from chasing and covering the early moves. Peter went to the front and put in an attack, trying to get the now diminished field to close the gap to Jesse. The pace was lifted, and the group settled into a good rhythm with the new dirt section looming as the next place a selection was likely to be made.
The dirt road had recently been regarded and featured several rolling hills that were sure to hurt. I attacked on the last stretch of road leading to the turn onto the dirt, but to no avail. The field was pared down again, with Peter and me able to make the split. The last two dirt sections would prove decisive. On the descent towards Meetinghouse Rd. I had the misfortune of drifting off the road and into the grass, where I was somehow able to stay upright, but lost my position towards the front right before the key dirt section. Two riders got away in pursuit of Jesse on the rolling terrain, and I was able to chase back on. The ascent of Stage Rd. saw Bobby Lea and a Garneau rider roll off the front with no one giving chase.
The final 10k was either flat or downhill, and a few riders put in attacks, but went nowhere. With just under 1k to go, a KBS-OptumHealth rider was leading it out, and I was sitting third wheel. Coming through the final turn I was swarmed and cramping, finishing off the day in 16th and Peter coming home in 20th.
