With my GC hopes in the toilet, sitting in 50th place overall and 25 minutes down on the leader, today's stage presented itself as a pseudo rest-day. It was an individual time trial, 16.14 miles in length with 1600' of climbing. It would be impossible in 16 miles to bring back 25 minutes, or even 5 minutes so I decided to just go out and cruise the course to save my legs.
Since Nate was 14th on the GC, I let him use my time trial bike while I used my road bike with aero bars clipped on. I managed to sneak my ipod into my skinsuit (they are illegal in these races) and rolled out to the start line after a weak 15 minute warmup. As I was being held at the line ready to go, an official demanded that I take out my headphones. So I unplugged the cord from the back and had to "promise" not to plug it back in.
I made an agreement before I started to keep my heart rate under 160 bpm, about 20 bpm below my lactic threshold. The course started with a 4.4 mile climb, and I was able to settle into a comfortable rhythm – still maintaining a low heart rate. 2 miles into the ascent I had passed the rider who started 30 seconds ahead of me. And then by the top of the climb I had passed my 1 minute man and was on the tail of the guy who started 90 seconds earlier. By the time I hit the turnaround I had passed 10 riders, and yet I still wasn't working hard and was keeping my heart rate low.
At this point I realized I had super legs and super form today. I picked up the pace a little bit on the way back because I was having lots of fun riding fast and passing more riders. I hammered it up the final steep climb before the 4.4 mile downhill with a smile on my face. This was the first time I've ever enjoyed myself during a time trial. Usually it's a nonstop suffer-fest, with snot, spit and sweat splayed all over my face. Typically I can't walk when I'm done and often have trouble just getting off my bike from the effort.
I finished with a time of 42:26, good enough for 17th place. I wasn't even short-of breath when I crossed the finish line. My average heart rate was 158 bpm, my normal TT average is 178 – 185 bpm. As I spun my legs out afterwards I started to kick myself for not actually trying. I could have easily knocked 2+ minutes off my time and finished on the podium had I actual ridden at my limit.
Nate started 15 minutes behind me and rolled in with a time of 42:15 for 14th place.
Article was last edited on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 @ 2:06 PM
