I arrived in Toronto five days ago and the focus since I landed has been on ensuring my body and equipment were in proper working order for my last road race of the season - The Queens Park GP.
In a previous incarnation the Queens Park GP was one of the classic races on the North American professional calender; it returned this year after a prolonged absence and may take some time to capture its former grandeur.
The setting for the race was idyllic. A two kilometer loop around the Canadian parliament, on closed roads, in the heart of Toronto. The loop was pan flat with three mild corners which required no more than a light feathering of the brakes.
Everything in Canada is bigger, shop floors span kilometers in diameter, the Blackrock tractors (SUV's) resemble hummers and donuts are sold by the dozen; cycling is no exception. The crowds of people who gathered to watch the race browsed stalls erected by major bike manufactures; hot-dog vendors tussled for prime position; exhibitors promoted the latest gadget that will invariably save you ten seconds in a race against the clock and participating teams sold club merchandise and paraphernalia. Cycling races, in this part of the world, are like any other event or exhibition - a chance for businesses to make profit and promote their product.
I was part of an eight man Jet Fuel team which had high hopes for the event despite the race attracting some of North Americas top professionals including: Michael Barry from team sky, Ryder Hesjedal from Garmin and a strong Planet Energy team directed by Steve Bauer.
The fear of the unknown in a race is uncertainty; uncertainty about your competition; uncertainty about the speed of the race to come and about how the body will preform in a warmer climate. I had a job to do within the team ensuring the team leader conserved energy and was not caught on the wrong side of a split. In addition I was given the freedom to initiate or follow any early attacks. In retrospect I was probably too conservative in the early stages.
The main break of the day formed about midway through the race and contained our team leader. The team was content with having their strongest rider in the break and patrolled the front of the bunch for the remainder of the race, closing gaps and ensuring a chase group was not established.
Unfortunately a mechanical problem within the closing meters meant our team leader dropped his chain in the sprint for the line but nevertheless placed a respectable 4th place. The rest of Team Jet Fuel rolled in as part of the main bunch.
The Crit experience was novel but I found I adapted fast and soon felt at home. Initially the intensity caught me off gaurd but once the body warmed up race pace was not a problem. I had a normalised power figure of 344 watts for the 80km race.
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