I arrived in Bromont, Quebec last night with the help of
Cycling BC and
Muscle Memory Fitness in Tsawwassan. The last three weeks of training in Portland have gone smoothly so I am stoked to get a chance to show some speed here in front of the nation's fastest track racers. There are eighteen riders from British Columbia here so the team is looking for strong performances throughout the week. Nineteen year old Vancouver local Scott Mulder started us off with a dominant win in the Men's Junior (15-19) Match Sprints just a few hours ago. In this
Olympic event, two riders attempt to outwit and overpower one another in a three lap duel. Tomorrow a majority of the team begins racing as Juniors, Masters and Elite riders take to the track. I will be competing in the individual 4 kilometre pursuit around 11am EST (I don't have Twitter on my phone so updates will only be in the evenings or if I get back to the hotel) and then again in the afternoon in the Elite Scratch Race. However with a 40% chance of rain in the forecast, there may be a change to the schedule.
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic track, now here in Bromont, has seen better days but the course officials have worked hard to make the course as smooth as possible. The outdoor wooden track has had many patches and looks absolutely terrifying but once on the track, I was pleasantly surprised. That said, a few riders got flats so I will be hoping for the best during my races.
I was also told this evening that I will also be competing with fellow BC riders Zach Bell (Kelly Benefits Strategies and 2008 Olympian), Jacob Schwingboth (H&R Block) and Erik Mulder (Cycling BC) in the 4km Team Pursuit. I don't know when this event will happen but with three teams qualifying (Quebec, Ontario (Team Jet Fuel), British Columbia) and only two allowed into the final showdown - it should make for a difficult competition.
So the seven day wrap up includes a good points race at Alpenrose last Thursday, taking 2nd behind Beardsley. Then a solid second place ride behind mountain bike legend Carl Decker on Saturday after a two man breakaway at the
Franz Bakery criterium in Portland proved the winning move on the technical and steep course (86 second lap with eight corners and 50 feet of climbing). Then a nice day of relaxation on Sunday before a long day of travel through Atlanta (ironic that that is where the track is from). Today we arrived at the track at 8.45am (only one kilometer from the hotel) for a track inspection. By 9.30am, the morning dew had dried and we all took to the track, forming an 18 person paceline. After a progressively faster 15 minute warmup, we each completed our assigned workouts. I did two practice starts in preparation for the pursuit events this week. I was absolutely appalled by my first attempt but then remembered that I needed to start with my left foot forward (right-footed). The second attempt a few minutes later was much better. Zinging up the high gear of 48/16 as I entered the 3rd corner, I followed my start with a full lap at a wicked fast cadence. But when we left the track soon after, I really didn't feel like I was at a place where I wanted to end my day. So later this afternoon I jumped on the rollers for about forty five minutes and the legs definitely came around. East Side Mario's for dinner and a team meeting finished up the day.
The Bromont track is not the fastest track in the world by any means (Current track record 4 minutes and 50 seconds compared to world class times of 4.15-4.20 in indoor facilities like Melbourne & Los Angeles) so tomorrow I am shooting for a sub 5minute time. I am planning on running a 48/14 in warmup and a 51/15 in the race (for those of you who know what this means).
I feel like I have just been writing and writing here so I am going to head off to bed now. Cheers!
More photos coming soon!
