Whistler 2011 Grandfondo

[JasonK]

No comment     I honestly just dont know what to say

[Majo]

AWESOME!!!!

[tannille]

Hi all and thank you for the messages of support leading up to this race... you guys are awesome.

I struggled staying focused on this race for a second year in a row due to how late it is in the season.  However, this year I met with Chris 6 weeks out and suggested I change my schedule from a 7 day focus to a 4 day focus.  Perfect approach for this time of year. Well done and thank you Chris!

Two weeks out from this event I was feeling strong and fit.  Getting the intensity from the last of the TT's and Crits of the season but taking time to get long slow rides in.  I was feeling strong, had a good sprint going, and the endurance was there at higher intensities... I was excited to test myself against the girls in the field!!! Looking back on it all, I would have liked to race that weekend...

The stresses of life caught up with me the Wednesday before the Granfondo.  Too much socializing (had lots of family in town that week), not enough sleep, struggles with personal relationships and really unfocused time on the bike... I woke up Thursday morning with a sore throat... DANG!!! Cold-fx, electrolytes, tylenol cold, oil of oregano, garlic, chicken soup... you name it, I tried it. Awoke race morning feeling about 75%

Convinced myself in the start chute that I would put in everything I had and see how far that would get me. The plan was to make it hurt when it counts and recover when I could.  Climbed Taylor way mid pack and settled into the ride at balance point.  I rode the back of the pack for most of the time to Squamish.  Staying out of the crash and avoiding the cones (barely). The pace increased on the climb by Alice Lake and I didn't have it... my plan to hurt on the hills quickly evolved into settle into manageable pace. At which point my bike started creaking REALLY LOUD... not good for mental game. The head wind from the Brohm Lake to the dam took it's toll on me as a solo rider.  I rode in from the dam with the second chase pack from the Fondo riders.  I did get to see Martin, AJ, Wade Christie and heaps of others setting a blistering pace with the main pack.  Great job Martin, you looked super strong!

Aside from a terrible ride portion of the event, the rest of the day was SUPER FANTASTIC.  The  34 degree weather, good live entertainment, and fancy beer garden by the BareFoot Bistro made for a really enjoyable afternoon.  Besides, 7000 people in spandex makes for great people watching!!! The full moon came up over the free 54-40 concert at the outside stage and the energy of the event was still buzzing around the village. This event is amazing in so many ways; volume of riders, the organization, the route, the venue at beginning and end. I hope to be on the start line for 2012. Besides, Monica and I are signed up to the Transalps next year so  that will make the climbs in the Whistler GF look a little less threatening...

Thanks for reading!!!
 

[Andrew]

Great report Tanille! Racing with you at Transalp will be a spectacular adventure, and will certainly set you up for a great ride to Whistler next year!!!

[GinnySellars]

Tanille, thanks for the great post! It's a treat to hear from you. What a bummer that you got sick last minute, especially since you were so primed for a strong race. We sure need the stars to align to have a good race day.

TRANSALP! That's super exciting. I look forward to riding with you guys as you prep, and hearing about a most amazing adventure.

[kiwichris]

Really unfortunate circumstances T. - your dedication late in the season has been amazing and you were looking really strong, healthy and ready to race whenever I saw you!!! Chalk this one up to a great day out, enjoy the fall season and really look forward to working towards transalp next year!! You and Mon are going to fly!!!
Chris
ps - I know a good shop where we can get that bike looked at (hehehehehe)

[MartinC]

Whistler GF was quite an experience................. Sorry for the delay in posting as I was hoping to find out my time before reporting. When the results were originally posted I showed up as a DNF. I emailed the race organisation and have only just received a reply. Essentially they are going to forward my email to the people who do the timing................. I am not hopeful of any change in status.
The ride experience was unique, 7000 riders lining up. there was palpable energy in the air. I had attempted to get into the Giro portion of the ride but was unsuccessful in talking my way in. Guess a citizen race licence doesn't quite fit the bill. My theory was the Giro would be a lot safer.................kind of turned out that way.
So I started in the first corral aiming for a 3.30 finish. Thanks to Jason for helping me get up close to the front. From the moment the ride started it was a case of too many people trying to fit into too small a space. If it had not been so dangerous, it would almost have been comical. Guys riding down the wrong side of the road, constant dodging of cones, riders swerving, slowing, it was nothing like any crit or race I have ever done.
The consistent theme of the day became survival and vigilence. After two hours I was mentally exhausteded from concentrating so hard on avoiding danger. Quite frankly at that point I had had enough and if someone had said to me lets stop at the next feed station and drink wine I would have been all over the idea. Climbing out of Squamish, the inevitable happened and a guy went down in front of me for no obvious reason and I could not avoid him. Fortunately the pace was slow and I was third or fourth guy on top of the pile, so had a gentle landing and was able to jump back up and ride without losing contact with the lead group. No damage to self or bike, a little issue with rubbing brakes but was able to fix on the fly.
My strategy was to look for the local guys I knew could ride well especially Tom, Jason and Sean and to stay as close to them as possible. Within the front group it was a constant battle to hold position as riders would jump outside the cones to push to the front after the climbs spaced things out.
Finally at about 90K the group had shrunk to a more manageable number and the more or less consistent climbing out of Squamish had taken its toll. With the climbing and the headwinds the group behaviour settled down as well.
As we got closer to the end I started to feel better and better and was hopeful of a good time and placing in my AG. I tried to hold a place in the front 20 or so and was able to go relatively easily with the few half hearted surges that were made in the final kilometers. I was lucky to be close to the front and see the 1K to go sign, and positioned myself well into a crazy final corner which I managed to negotiate just in front of what sounded like a huge crash which I know took Tom out. The sound of the crash freaked me out a huge boom as the riders hit some plastic barriers.
The finish and timing gate were two different structures and I had no idea which one to sprint for. Anyway race over. I think my time was around 3.33 no idea of results.
Congratulations to everyone who survived.

[GinnySellars]

Martin, thanks for the read! It's been really fun hearing about your transition to road cycling this year. You know you are riding great when you're alongside Tom, Jason, and Sean.

What a shame about the mayhem and safety issues. I think this will be the case in any Granfondo if you are not racing Giro. Even in Salmon Arm, people were risking their lives riding into on-coming traffic. Morons. All the more reason for you to race like crazy and get upgrade points next year.

You must have been among the top handful in your AG given where you finished in the group. Well done!