2nd2fignon
08-04-2006, 11:52 PM
I had a chance to ride a few laps of the course today. Sorry, I don't have the hi-tech gizmos that Raymer has (GPS, HR monitor, altimeter, Power tap). Actually I do have altitude but since we're in Ontario I don't pay much attention to it.
Wind: strong NNW wind. A factor on Wellington Rd. (the north side of the course). Most of course is sheltered but the cross-wind on the start-finish stretch is significant. There is a lot of new home construction just to the north of Wellington and as a result dust is blowing across the course. It's not just tough on the breathing but it actually reduces visibility. The head-wind on Leslie was only a factor for a km or so before turn 4. The course is well sheltered otherwise.
Road conditions: Wellington (start/finish stretch) is essentially a 4 lane highway, the surface is very smooth with stones at the edges of the road. Bayview starts out 4 lanes and then narrows to 2 lanes, with very smooth surface. Vandorf (the south side of the course) starts out smooth but 100m later it is rough. One km after turning onto Vandorf, it's complete ****e. This is a class 'C' country road (think of Vanneck) with lots of heavy truck traffic. The road is completely filled with small cracks. It's bumpy as hell. Definitely stay toward the middle of the road. Leslie (east side of the course) is 2 lanes and in good condition. Lots of stones on the turns onto, and off of Wellington.
General description: My computer indicates 8.4km/lap. The stretch on Wellington starts and ends with a slight downhill. Otherwise, Wellington is wide and flat. The rest is rolling and reminds me of one of those long stages in Beauce but with shorter hills. No flats, but rather straight so you can see a couple of km up the road or behind. Bayview has a couple of low grade ups and downs (~3%). Vandorf has steeper, shorter rollers and goes uphill just before you trun onto Leslie. Leslie has the one hill (30secs of riding at most) that is steepest.
What you need to know: Hiding in the group isn't going to work and neither is trying to position yourself at the front, planning to drop back on the hill.
Now I'll tell you why.
You can wheel suck on Wellington and Bayview but you'll have to do the work on Vandorf and Leslie. Both are well sheltered from the wind. The rise before the turn to Leslie will eliminate any speed you may have from the previous rolling road. You do a left turn, curve to the right, left turn to get onto Leslie. This is a false flat. On Leslie you hit the only real hill. I rode very easy around the course and never needed anything smaller than 53x23. At race speed, I assume you will be in the big ring all the time. There are no climbs, just short sections that you can power over. Stronger riders at the front will want to ride tempo at the end of Vandorf, then hard on the false flat , and then finally lay the boots to weaker riders on the (Leslie) hill. Dropped riders will have to ride into the headwind on their own which should be the end of their race.
How I see it playing out: It will either be fast from the beginning or slow and nervous with fast efforts on the uphill sections. I bet the latter for the first 2 or 3 laps. It will thin out after 3 laps and I'm pretty sure that the first real selection will be established after 5 laps. You'll know where you sit after 5 laps.
Good luck.
Wind: strong NNW wind. A factor on Wellington Rd. (the north side of the course). Most of course is sheltered but the cross-wind on the start-finish stretch is significant. There is a lot of new home construction just to the north of Wellington and as a result dust is blowing across the course. It's not just tough on the breathing but it actually reduces visibility. The head-wind on Leslie was only a factor for a km or so before turn 4. The course is well sheltered otherwise.
Road conditions: Wellington (start/finish stretch) is essentially a 4 lane highway, the surface is very smooth with stones at the edges of the road. Bayview starts out 4 lanes and then narrows to 2 lanes, with very smooth surface. Vandorf (the south side of the course) starts out smooth but 100m later it is rough. One km after turning onto Vandorf, it's complete ****e. This is a class 'C' country road (think of Vanneck) with lots of heavy truck traffic. The road is completely filled with small cracks. It's bumpy as hell. Definitely stay toward the middle of the road. Leslie (east side of the course) is 2 lanes and in good condition. Lots of stones on the turns onto, and off of Wellington.
General description: My computer indicates 8.4km/lap. The stretch on Wellington starts and ends with a slight downhill. Otherwise, Wellington is wide and flat. The rest is rolling and reminds me of one of those long stages in Beauce but with shorter hills. No flats, but rather straight so you can see a couple of km up the road or behind. Bayview has a couple of low grade ups and downs (~3%). Vandorf has steeper, shorter rollers and goes uphill just before you trun onto Leslie. Leslie has the one hill (30secs of riding at most) that is steepest.
What you need to know: Hiding in the group isn't going to work and neither is trying to position yourself at the front, planning to drop back on the hill.
Now I'll tell you why.
You can wheel suck on Wellington and Bayview but you'll have to do the work on Vandorf and Leslie. Both are well sheltered from the wind. The rise before the turn to Leslie will eliminate any speed you may have from the previous rolling road. You do a left turn, curve to the right, left turn to get onto Leslie. This is a false flat. On Leslie you hit the only real hill. I rode very easy around the course and never needed anything smaller than 53x23. At race speed, I assume you will be in the big ring all the time. There are no climbs, just short sections that you can power over. Stronger riders at the front will want to ride tempo at the end of Vandorf, then hard on the false flat , and then finally lay the boots to weaker riders on the (Leslie) hill. Dropped riders will have to ride into the headwind on their own which should be the end of their race.
How I see it playing out: It will either be fast from the beginning or slow and nervous with fast efforts on the uphill sections. I bet the latter for the first 2 or 3 laps. It will thin out after 3 laps and I'm pretty sure that the first real selection will be established after 5 laps. You'll know where you sit after 5 laps.
Good luck.