Alex’s comments about acting as a gatekeeper really is the proper method of protecting the break. “Blocking” or intentionally messing up a chase really is a bush league move. Try something like that in the 1/2s and I bet before 2 rotations you’ll find yourself being forced off into the dirt (not a threat – I’ve just seen it happen). It’s common in the 1/2 races to have guys be granted access right to the front just by announcing that they are going to chase. If you have a guy in the move – you get to sit right behind the chase and enjoy it. Leave yourself an out to cover a bridge attempt if someone goes, but in general you let teams chase. You should expect the favor to be returned to you when it’s your turn to chase.

The other big thing that people tend to get too hung up on is that a chase is supposed to be frantic. You just get as many people to contribute as possible and ride a solid tempo. In some cases it makes sense to try and form a consortium of the teams that missed the move, but in general a dedicated team chase works best. Keeping the pace up is the key. Lots of less experienced guys will try and help chase, but will go way too hard before flaming out. It doesn’t help the chase and it just tires themselves out. It really helps to have more experienced guys on your team to help set some expectations with that. In the 1/2 chase – IJM had a guy with Zipps that was putting in super strong pulls and getting frustrated when he turned around to see gaps, so then started attacking to “keep the pace up” which really just ended up dragging the chase out longer as Lenovo and others just moved up to his wheel and sat on. This just resulted in a delay as we’d need to re-establish our rotations and get it going again. The IJM guy with the beard and Cervelo got it and contributed by rolling through with Wines, Garage, the one Valley guy, etc.

Ask your favorite former pro: Herriott/Richter/Russell. I think you’ll hear similar stuff. Teams that have guys who’ve been racing at the elite level really tend to operate by these “rules” as a whole.

Maybe we’re all saying the same things, but it’s not reading that way on the interwebs and the facebooks :)

No, really I don’t have a nutrition problem. It might look like I didn’t eat enough but really I totally had enough fuel before and during the race. Never once did I feel like I was out of sorts nutritionaly.

I have used Perpetuem and find that it’s a little heavy for short races or rides (anything under 80 miles) HEED with my own mixture of Powerbar Enduarnce mix and added Maltodextrin is perfect for me and is easily digestable. The gu shot and shot blocks I ate weren’t needed I just shoved them in my face out of habit. No need to eat a lunch in the middle of a 72 (or what turned out to be 60) mile race.

Now if weather conditions were different I would have had more water and electolyte replenishment. Cytomax or Nuun tablets.

Glad you had fun. :)