Nine ABRTers and Scott Giles (an honorary ABRTer for this trip as he comes with Katy Giles) rolled out shortly after 10:00am. The Fred Rompelberg 268 organization put us in our own group (for English speakers) with our own guide, Sebastien, a Dutch neo pro who just graduated from U23 and is looking for a ride with a pro team.
The ride out of Palma was easy, though the ABRT group rolled out last and wanted to catch the other groups before a scheduled stop at 11 kilometers to see if anyone wanted to switch groups. No one switched groups.
The Wheelsucker wasn't acting his age and rather than sit in and wait, was trying to drive the pace and catch anyone he could see up the road. Sebastien (the guide and apparently nanny) had to straighten him out a couple of times. But today's ride was 135k -- about 85 miles -- with two "races", and an aging Wheelsucker should have been saving his matchsticks...
The group rode like a pro team on a training ride, in a double file, with each pair of leaders pulling off after a longish pull and drifting down either side to the back. Deep in his heart, the Wheelsucker knows it is incredibly important to look like a pro ...
Some 50 miles into the ride, without so much as a coffee stop, the group started the climb. Wisdom prevailed for some, but not the Wheelsucker, who called down to the engine room for full Wheelsucker power, hoping a miracle would occur and he could stay on the back of the lead group. The engine room delivered the usual ~ 225 watts, and the gap between the strong riders and the Wheelsucker opened. Initially the lead group was Ace McDermott, Scott Giles, Jim Colgary, Matt Albanese and Katy Giles. Jim Colgary was looking good early but eventually popped and came back to the Wheelsucker, then Ace and Scott gapped Katy and Matt. Checking his power meter frequently the Wheelsucker tried to stay with power numbers only a little higher than he could sustain, so he didn't blow up and end up walking up. Riding mostly within himself the Wheelsucker gapped Jim and tried to keep Katy and Matt within view. There were lots of other riders grinding up the climb, most rather more slowly than the ABRTers.
At most turns the Wheelsucker tried to look up to see the top, but he never did until the last turn. Katy and Matt were in sight most if the time, but Scott and Ace were gone.
When he saw the top with riders waiting the Wheelsucker sprinted for the finish. He asked the engine room for everything they had left. But nothing happened. The Wheelsucker, trying to sprint, made it up the last few feet at a near crawling pace. Scott was already on the way down to ride back up again with the tail enders.
An incredible view!
Denzil enjoys the view
Ali asks if he looks like a pro
Denzil
Jim clearly enjoyed the climb!
Katy and Scott ride up with Bob
Bob, Katy and Scott cross the finish line
After a short break at the top (long enough to restore normal breathing and take some photos) and a winding technical descent there was an easy ride to a town square and a coffee stop.
Thank God for the coffee stops!The Wheelsucker tried to cram carbs to gain some energy, but a ham and cheese sandwich and a slice of apple pie did not make much of a dent in the Wheelsucker's power deficit.
One cannot rush coffee shop stops
A last look at this town squareThe wind had built in strength while the group was enjoying coffee and lunch and it seemed to be mostly on the nose. The double file occasionally switched to single as most riders sought to keep their noses out of the wind.
The Wheelsucker struggled to keep his power up on the pulls, and took shorter and shorter pulls. Then it was time for the second "race". The Wheelsucker suggested to Katy that she pull all the way so he could come around her in the sprint. Katy gave the Wheelsucker a look of derision and told him that was fine, as she would get a workout and he would not.
But when no one went to the front immediately, the Wheelsucker impulsively decided to attack, into the wind, on a course he did not know, with far stronger riders in the group. Wheelsucker suicide? It is possible his decision was influenced by Katy's words.
The Wheelsucker will claim that he was hoping the strong riders would be watching each other and each would be reluctant to work hard if the others did not. And he would tell you he was hoping the strong riders would eventually attack the group, and a small number would reach him, and let him tag on at the back and be towed to the finish. But this is a load of crap.
Wheelsucker got a decent gap, probably because no one else was dumb enough to go after him. With forearms resting on the bar tops, getting as low and aero as he could (does he look like a pro?), the Wheelsucker burned his remaining matchsticks one after another.
And then the group decided this was in fact a race, and Ace got on the front and started to drive, and most of the group arrived up to the Wheelsucker on Ace's wheel. But it gets worse! They caught the Wheelsucker on a climb!
The first four went by and there was a small gap. The Wheelsucker had eased up when he saw the group coming fast and had just enough left to accelerate and grab Katy's wheel. Then Ace rotated off the front and drifted back while Scott pulled. The Wheelsucker let Ace in. And then the inevitable happened. Aging Wheelsuckers cannot hold 400-plus watts, particularly when they are out of matchsticks. The gap between the Wheelsucker's front wheel and Ace's rear wheel started to open. Hoping to avoid making it more difficult for the next rider, the Wheelsucker pulled out of line, and neo pro Sebastien came by. But no one else did!
Looking back the Wheelsucker saw the others were slightly gapped.
The Wheelsucker put his forearms back on the bars, lowered his head, and went into TT/chase mode. But with Scott, Ace, Sebastien and Katy working together, the Wheelsucker was doomed. He chased and chased and chased and they steadily pulled away. But those behind were not chasing hard, so the Wheelsucker rode alone to the finish.
The ride back to the hotel was also in to the wind, with the stronger riders taking longer pulls and the Wheelsucker making shorter efforts.
Part of the group decided on an evening out and skipped the hotel dinner in favor of a nearby restaurant.
There is NO WAY Katy can eat all that Paella!
The Wheelsucker had sole
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