Tour De Inland Empire part 2

7/04/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Day two of the Tour De Inland Empire was about to begin and as an added bonus it was the 4th of July. After the first day, Monday, I found myself in the Yellow Jersey and the B team was ahead in points. Yes there was some luck involved when the race leaders missed a turn and allowed the B team to take the lead and they lost the Yellow but that as they say is racing. Today would be a climbing stage and team be only had one real climber, Coyote. As I pulled into the parking lot I was pleased to see some of team B already getting their bikes ready. Coyote, Nike, Dura Max were already sitting on their bikes. Team A only had Centaur and Centaur had brought two alternate riders to help him in Lee and Debbie. Phoenix, Highlander and Tax man were also there. 501 and Hornet arrived to join the group as did Bounty Hunter. The A team would be out numbered but they had a strong climbing team to start with as we left the parking lot and headed to Lyon and north to start the ride. We didn’t get far before Tax Man had a tossed chain and we had to stop while it was fixed.

By the time we were back on our way we managed to pick up Surgeon making the lion’s share of the Peloton B team riders. Much like the TDF race I was allowed to gain points by leading the peloton north past one cross street after another. It was as if the team planning was forming as the ride north progressed.

The B team decided to move to the front of the line and try to control the pace. If we allowed the A team to set the pace they would break the peloton into pieces and that would give them a big time advantage. We had a slim lead in the team standings from Monday and we could only hope to hold the lead today so we wouldn’t have to fight as hard on Friday the last day of the tour. Friday is a flat ride and normally favors the sprinters and most likely will have more of the A team available to challenge for the lead. We couldn’t worry about that stage yet and so we formed up to ride to Sanderson on Ramona with the B team leading the pack.

We made it to Sanderson and to the light on the Expressway before heading west. Surgeon took the lead all the way to Warren and I got it back heading for Bridge Street. I only got about half way there before Hornet and 501, the junior riders, made a tactical blunder and raced past me. That incited the A team and soon Lee, Centaur, 501 and Hornet were pulling away from the peloton. I wasn’t worried about points yet and at least Highlander was with the lead group so we would get at least some points if the A team made it to Evans first. And make it to Evans first they did with Centaur and Lee making it just ahead of Highlander. It didn’t matter yet because this race wouldn’t be decided till we made it to the finish line at Chris’s. We soon turned on Perris Boulevard and headed south.

The next part of the Tour would be very difficult for the B team. Not all of our riders would be attacking the Goetz climb and so we might not get as many points as the A team for the climb. It was set up that Dura Max would be leading Tax Man, Bounty Hunter, Highlander, Phoenix and Nike around the climb for no points and Surgeon, Coyote, Hornet, 501 and I would try to stay with Centaur, Lee and Debbie. The A group could get 18 points and the B team could be down to 11. But as luck would have it only 501, Bounty Hunter and Tax man followed Dura Max and Highlander, Surgeon, Hornet, Nike, Phoenix, Coyote and I were left to climb the hill and race to the Park on La Ladera. Centaur, Lee and Debbie did make the climb first earning the points for the climb but due to a nature stop Surgeon, Highlander, Nike, Coyote, Hornet and I arrived at the park before them and so we broke even on points.

Once we were headed back towards McCall things started to get interesting. Once again we had a climb coming up and as we turned east we stayed clumped together as we headed over the freeway and got ready for the run at the hospital Hill. I attacked first but that was mostly for show because my knee was starting to hurt a bit and I knew I would have to gear down early. The point this time however was to not allow much time to be made on the peloton. I stayed in front past the last stop light and was pretty much holding my own when I down shifted. Centaur and Lee past me with Centaur making a powerful break. Debbie got in front as well as did 501 but I closed back on 501 but I simply didn’t have the steam to pass him. Coyote caught us both just before the top of the hill and that kept the team within 10 seconds of the A team so we were still ahead in points. We dropped down McCall and headed for Heritage thinking of the final hard run down Simpson and the sprint at the end for more bonus points.

Things didn’t look good as the A team we soon formed at the front with Centaur, Lee and Debbie all towards the front. We had dropped two riders and they were working had to catch the back of the peloton by Leon. At this late stage I started to plan sending the two younger riders off on the sprint thinking they might have recovered more than the rest of us. Just as Centaur looked like he might be getting ready to drop the hammer and Debbie was moving forward the B team lucked out again when Lee flatted. Highlander, Nike and Tax man took advantage of this mishap and continued on as I closed on their back wheel with Hornet and 501. They broke for the front early and took the sprint to Winchester giving the B team the lead and allowing me to retain the Yellow Jersey even if I hadn’t won a stage yet. We got to Chris’s for the mandatory coffee testing and as luck would have it the B team had 4 no shows. Bounty Hunter left when the Dura Max group took the bypass. Highlander, Nike and Tax Man didn’t stop at Chris’s. Lee and Debbie were not awarded any points because they left before the coffee test we performed and so while Centaur had the best day he didn’t get the Yellow Jersey and the B team held onto the lead in points.

We cruised back to town by riding north on Winchester and then turning east on Stowe. 501 and Hornet were in the lead all the way down Stowe and most of the way north on California. Coyote pulled us up to the Juniors and we turned east again on Stetson. Some of the group took the airport road and some of the group stayed on Stetson all the way to Sanderson and then dropped down to Johnston. I ended riding home on Johnston and got back just about noon. Just in time for a hot shower and lunch. For the 4th of July a Hotdog seemed like the perfect meal to finish a perfect ride.