Tria Cycling presented by DonohooAuto

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/66812172

Just how cold was today’s BBL – snowing at the start with an average temp of 34 degrees for the entire ride! Not one complaint from any of the hearty souls who made it through the snow on a fun, cozy BBL that included two attack zones and two KOMs. Here’s how the attack zones and KOMs played out:

New attack zone – Camp Winnie Rd to the County Line Bridge on Wolf Creek Rd
This attack zone starts out with a healthy little climb. Towards the top Pat and I launched an attack that quickly separated out a group of about 5 riders with all major teams represented. Then as people started eyeing each other, Pat launched out again. This time there was only about 3 or 4 of us that could follow. Heading into a strong headwind, those who got dropped couldn’t catch back on so towards the very end our pace began to slow again with me on the front. We got closer and closer to the bridge. At about 150 meters, I started the sprint with as hard and fast a jump as I could muster. I got a small gap and thought I could hold off the two strong sprinters on my wheel (Pat and Ed) since we were starting the sprint from so close to the finish. But alas at the very last second, Pat won it with a bike throw at the line. Ed was just behind for 3rd. I believe it was Jim in 4th with Gavin storming to 5th.

Pat Allison (Tria Red) – 5pts + 0cbp
Brian Toone (Tria Green) – 4pts + 0cbp
Ed Merritt (BBC) – 3pts + 1cbp
Jim Brock (Bob’s Bikes/Alabama Masters) – 2pts + 1cbp
Gavin Lansden (BBC) – 1pts + 3cbp

Sterrett Attack Zone
After a short 1 mile rest, we started again with the Sterrett attack zone. This time Miro attacked a couple times early getting away on the second attempt. Pat came flying by and made the bridge solo to Miro. Our group started rolling fast though, and we had them pulled back in through the marshlands just before the finishing hill. We started the hill altogether and rode steady tempo until shortly before the corner. Brandon Thorton got things started. I came around him shortly after the corner, but I couldn’t hold it into the headwind. Pat came around on the left and Ed came around on the right. I came in third with Jim in 4th and Justin in 5th.

Pat Allison – 5pts + 0cbp
Ed Merritt – 4pts + 1cbp
Brian Toone – 3pts + 0cbp
Jim Brock – 2pts + 1cbp
Justin Bynum – 1pts + 3cbp

Vandiver KOM
We went hard on Co Rd 45 trying to warm up after the store stop, so we hit Hwy 25 at a pretty good pace. I tried to do something different since Pat has beaten me in this KOM the last few weeks. I attacked about halfway up the steep pitch at the bottom rather than waiting until the flatter section. It worked in that I got a good gap, but I couldn’t hold a fast enough pace once the climb flattened out. Pat motored his way up to me, and I led him all the way up the climb with Justin, Gavin, and Jim in hot pursuit. I tried everything I could to ride Pat off my wheel, but he was just too strong. So he handily took the sprint at the top, with me just behind, followed by Justin, Gavin, and Jim in that order.

Pat – 5pts + 0cbp
Me – 4pts + 0cbp
Justin – 3pts + 3cbp
Gavin – 2pts + 3cbp
Jim – 1pts + 1cbp

Karl Daly KOM
This attack zone played out about the same, and the finish order was almost identical except this time Jim and Gavin’s order was reversed. I attacked at the steepest part of the climb, gapped Pat, but he clawed his way right back up to me. This time, though, I committed to riding as hard as I could to the top even with Pat on my wheel hoping that he would be too tired to come around. Alas, Pat came around and took the KOM with me behind him, then Justin, Gavin, and Jim in that order. Kudos to Pat for winning EVERYTHING today! Also, a shout out to BBC who took the team competition. And finally, a shout out to Jim who has been climbing super strong and placed in both KOMs today and one of the KOMs last week as well.

Pat – 5pts + 0cbp
Me – 4pts + 0cbp
Justin – 3pts + 3cbp
Jim – 2pts + 1cbp
Gavin – 1pts + 3cbp