Day Three - 51st Longsjo Classic Stage Race

Day Three is here, this is where I've been spending a fair amount of time working on my Time Trialing discipline. I felt OK but wasn't sure how I would do once on course since this is the first time I was going to do a TT after racing hard for two days.

It warmed up quick and our times were starting in reverse order of GC at 11:00AM, I started at 11:15:30AM. I took the time to get ready, ensuring I wouldn't have to rush but so I could stay relaxed a bit and save all of my energy. I knew I would be facing some tough competition given the stacked field we had.

In the start house I was given the countdown 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Beep.......

I was off, a little to hard than I planned but good none the less. I motored up the first hill and settled into my position. About 3 miles in (8.6 total) I peeked down quickly at my heart rate and it was exactly were I wanted it... at about mile 4, just shy of the turn-around point (4.58m) I noticed my power (wattage meter) was dropping a bit but my heart rate was were I wanted it. I was going into a bit of a head wind so I assumed it was nothing.

I hit the turn-around in good form and started making my way back... at about mile 6 I checked again and noticed the same thing as previously. I was putting out everything I could, I just wasn't putting out the power. It was hot, I was drying out, my through was a bit raw and with no water on-board (typical of this distance TT) I just dug deep and motored on. I looked quickly at what I was approaching for time and realized I wasn't going to get the performance I was expecting. I just pushed forward, this was all I could do now.

I hit the finish line and finished with 20:21, ultimately it would place me 12th for the stage, which is good and move me up a spot to 11th in GC. I was definitely a bit challenged today after all the racing - that's the way it goes! On to the Crit tomorrow for the last stage - this will have to be an aggressive race with a break in order for me to move up in GC at all. I have a plan, but will have to see how it plays out tomorrow...