April 18, Santa Cruz Classic Criterium

CTL: 110
TSB: 11
Had an easy week in an attempt to get out of the funk, seemed to work mostly. Last year I did this race while a little sick and couldn't keep up with the pack for more than a few laps. Hoped to do a lot better than that, but the only times I've done well on this hilly course, my FTP was ten percent higher than what it is now.

The E4 race seemed manageable as I just tailgunned it and made sure to not get stuck behind anyone that was getting dropped too far behind. There was an accident in the hairpin on the second lap, so this made the pack come almost to a complete stop for a good five to six laps, followed by an extreme acceleration. Was starting to get comfortable when on the eleventh lap of twenty, I had a mechanical and had to retire. At least I did not get dropped due to lack of fitness or illness this year...

2010 April 18 Santa Cruz E4 Criterium, first ten laps from Steven Woo on Vimeo.

T: 21:55
S: 36.5
C: 102
Pavg: 192
Pnorm: 243



Last year the masters race was much harder than the E4 race but that did not happen this time. It seemed easier than the E4 race, but that is probably because I did not have to jump from a dead stop in the hairpin and avoid a body in the road a bunch of times. There were a couple of close calls in front of me in the last few laps so I had to burn all my matches to keep up with the pack, and did not get into good position for the last lap, started the last corner from about 30th so just rode in with the pack.

T: 28:43
S: 37.1
C: 101
Pavg: 180
Pnorm: 243

April 10 - CCCX Circuit Race #3

CTL: 115
TSB: 20

Not trying to peak, still not feeling 100% after the two stage race weekends. Had a sore throat off and on this week, probably would not have done this except I was the driver in a carpool and I prereged so off to the races...

E4 race :
This turns out to be easier and shorter than the first race of the year where I got second but this time I got dropped on the last lap on the next to last roller.

CCCX Circuit Race E4 April 10, 2010 from Steven Woo on Vimeo.

T: 58:34
S: 35.5
C: 97
H: 168
Pavg: 182
Pnorm: 227



35+ 4/5 race:
The winds have picked up to make the race even harder. Not feeling that great but when someone goes I follow to get a warmup in and we are off for about a mile before the pack reels us in. After lap two I guess fatigue from the first race is setting in because even though this race is slower than the E4's I have trouble hanging on and the elastic snaps at the end of lap 4 and I have to TT for a lap, almost catching the pack on the false flat but losing them on the next hill.

T: 1:02:33
S: 33.3
C: 97
H: 177
Pavg: 175
Pnorm: 220

April 3 - Copperopolis Road Race

CTL: 115
TSB: 20
It would appear that was trying to peak for this race but just a consequence of the legs not cooperating and being unable to ride very hard this week. Maybe still in a stage race hangover.

Fourteen riders pre-reged for the 35+ 4 B field and ten riders show up so not only is the race going to be hard as always, there's going to be not a lot of places to draft. We do get lucky with no rain and only a few sprinkles during the race with temperatures in the forties.

Not much to write about, legs still flat after the epic road race at Topsport, got dropped on the main climb at only 3w/kg. Weird. Manage to make myself time trial the next forty miles to at least get a work out in today, snag seventh after a couple of guys in front of me DNF.

T: 2:28:10
C: 79
S: 27.8
Pavg: 174
Pnorm: 203