Suzhou Full Race Report

Full Race Report... Suzhou Circuit Race

A brand new local team called "brown cycling" wanted me to race in the race with them in this race for some extra horse power and help some of the riders gain some experience. The team is made up of 100% local people who all started riding a few years ago. But for only riding a few years they are super strong, too bad they have no idea how to handle themselves in a pack. They gave me a kit and i was good to go. oh... the Director Sportif for GStay gave the ok.








Arrived a day early to register and pick up our rider packet, which included a brochure that listed all the registered riders, schedule of events, course description, etc... oh.. we had a synthetic number that could have been ironed on, too bad the hotel we stayed at didnt have an iron so i had to use the sewing kit, what a pain in the ass.



The next morning the race started at 1 but for some reason we all had to be ready at 7 for breakfast. Id normally prefer my typical cereal but ended up at a local hole in the wall that served beef noodles. Some carbs, protein, sodium, cant be all that bad...






Showed up to the race and noticed all the banners, balloons, Pit area, it looked like the Nature Valley Grand Prix. I was getting fired up.





Start time 1 PM, and of course i was out warming up and almost missed the start.. good thing we rode into the front of the start pack so I ended up with a good position at the start.




Course Description:

6km loop that is shaped in a lolly pop, with a crazy 180 degree just after the start and finish line. the couse was rolling and perfectly smooth, must have just paved it this year. This was probably the smoothest course i've ever ridden, smoother than OPUS.

Race started and two Trek riders got away off the gun, a Hong Kong team and us let them go for a while because they were not gaining any time on us.



After 1 lap i decided that it was way to dangerous to be riding in the middle of the pack so I decided to instigate the chase.






After catching the break, I counter attacked hoping someone would hop on, no one did when i looked back so i slowed down to have the pack catch back up. Right when i eased up i noticed a two person attack, i tried to accelerate but couldnt catch it. I don't have TT legs, only sprinting legs so i couldn't really do much. 4 laps to go, we figured we could catch the break again, too bad no one wanted to work so the break got further and further away. with 2 laps to go one of the breakaway got a flat.



1 lap to go.. everyone gave up on the leader, so it was pack sprint time. We spooled it up pretty fast, i was on my own, Trek and a Hong Kong Team had a train. With the Hong Kong team wining the sprint, i wasn't too far behind for 4th in the sprint and 5th overall. Not a bad result.

I was super happy with the day, I stayed upright even with the sketcy riders, and managed a podium spot. I am even happier that i still get a chance to race my bike while im here. Next race will be in 2008.. so its time to put on some base miles.




Here is a pic of the Martin (French) who i ride with in Shanghai, who won the race.