Giro Round 3

With the cancellation of last weeks races and the not so warm weather experienced in the past weeks round 3 of the giros went off with a bang... literally as I picked up right where I left off 2 weeks ago. And that is off the front, just as we rounded the first corner I jumped clear after only a few seconds I was joined by 2 others including Preferred Care's Mike Mathis fresh off his spring training in Spain and also Rob Dietrik (JW Dundees). Using the hilly nature of the Rochester course to our advantage we powered away and out of sight of the main field. A strong head and cross wind was our only adversary for the first 10 miles of the race as it proved too much for the Dundees rider.
Tete de Course we were at over 1:15 as Mike and myself were alone against the whole of the field as we crested the half portion of the big loop. With the wind in our favor we now raced along the rollers at speeds averaging 30 mph...
But disaster struck as an overzealous(to state it nicely)motorist blared the horn as we were about to make the turn onto the Mendon loop... brakes were applied making Mike collied with myself sending him to the ground... after a quick hesitation I was off alone now as Mike was waiting for the main pack...
The thoughts of pain were now a reality as I was doing the time trial of my life to try to maintain my lead for the remaining 12 very hilly miles I set the pace at 25 and was holding it very well when the wheels came off(almost literally)...
With the end within 3 miles and the thoughts of a solo victory streaming through my head, on the ascent of the hill just before Pond rd, I proved myself to strong for my own wheels as I snapped a spoke sending it into the derailer and into my very precious carbon frame. I was left with no other option than to dismount and fix the ailing wheel. The lead now down to a measly 15 seconds I was back off I a fit of adrenalin drivin rage that only lasted about half a mile as the rhythm had been lost and the legs were fried...
But I did not give up as I was caught by the peloton monster as I tried another few surges which lasted no longer than 100 meters before settling back into in the main pack to my dismay.

But it was not all a loss as the Orange Armada rolled into the final strait master sprinter Todd Scheske after much bumping took the win in the only mass field sprint of this Giro season.