WaldoZ

I also though that Open is more difficult... until I realised I had it wrong and confused "Open" with "Elite" Elite is where the pro's live. Vets the older (wannabe/retired) pros. Then you get Open where everyone cycles that does not have a racing license.

I have analysed every person on that list so I have all the juicy details... also glad I am not racing you again as I am VB now but at the same time sad because looks like all the big guns have showed up in VB 😭 PS: substitutions might ruin my analysis so I think your T-5min plan might be better 🤣

Yeah I have actually started to feel a different "vibe" in Vets too. I mean you can do the same time from point A to B but one group does full on attacks and then Z2 and the other just a constant pace. One way burns matches till you pop the other just keeps you in the lactate factory zone. The VO2max levels in Elite is just that much higher for longer cause that is how the elastic gets snapped and the top guys just has that ability to stay there longer. That's what I found challenging anyway and is probably just my perception because of my power profile (and weight 👀)

The Elites is tough to analyse. There they ride to break the elastic. They chill on the blue route and bigger teams dictate the pace. In 1A there aren't really teams and people ride for themselves so they ride within their abilities on the climbs. It's "easier" because it's a much more constant pace and also at the same time harder because you don't get the very low recovery zone where everyone just stares at each other and wait for a team to try spark a move.

2nd laps are really cool cause you have done your racing and you can just go with the vibe. In this particular year (2016) I started in 1A and did my first sub 3. I actually entered for lap 2 beforehand (yes that lap was legal and shows up on racetec) It was almost more fun just cruising around. Was very lucky with the weather though, if it's windy and meh then I rather skip haha.

I'm gonna leave this right here: https://www.strava.com/activities/509872496 #fynbrag #lookatme #backintheday

Did this last year as a VA and this year VB... but I only see 3 of last years VB's returning this time round. Hopefully there are more guys as I would hate to be the only one not on the podium 🙈

@Pure Savage will win SA's if they hold it on Chappies #justsaying

In 2019 this wasn’t the case, the peloton started with a moerse bang got to the N1 on-ramp and mid pack had a moerse crash where the road funnelled… guess who was incorrectly positioned 🙋‍♂️ and watching all the oaks trying to free themselves from each other while the front half of the field just cycled away. Needless to say we formed a $.1 group 🤣 It was also a bit windy that year and the chase didn’t work…never saw main bunch again and ended up with a 10 man TTT and didn’t even get a sub 3 (which was VERY sort after that year)

He almost got a snot klap 🤣

Sho that looks like a ballsup waiting to happen

My advice… don’t worry about a sub 3, make sure you are fit enough to keep up with your group or even win your group. You have no control over a massive group unless you can dictate the pace, which in itself is more rewarding than a sandbagged sub3. Enjoy your race and don’t set yourself up for disappointment if the group isn’t fast enough.

I have to ride with the 40+ dudes. Or get an Elite racing license to ride in $… which errr no 🤣

Still not sure how no one crashed with the motorbike in the middle of the intermediate sprint 🤣🤣

Last year was my last year… apparently I’m a ballie now 😳

To be fair the email did say FROM 4pm Feb 11... in batches 🤣 Those entered in 99er might only receive theirs next week lol

Anyone know of a decent coffee shop in Malmesbury? #askingforafriend

Yikes, you might aswell group PE, Kimberley and Oos-london with Gauteng.

I was actually just coming to post the same thing as I compared Strava times. That first 5km they only avg about 31/32kph which would have decreased the Avg speed a lot. It would have also contributed to much more fatigue.

Maybe, but my 20min and 30min power numbers are two very different values in a TT. I'm guessing that would be the case here too and Junior would tire or pace her effort differently on the longer course. EDIT: Ok my 20min vs 40min is about 10W diffs but then when it gets to over an hour its about 45W lower haha... so yeah those AVG speeds are really close to each other and she would have had to endure that for 30% longer. Would be close! Great effort.

Ahh yes!! A race for the fat guys 👏

... and we didn't even get a thank you! Was leka working with you boys though 👊

That was also unplanned 🤣

Tomatoes tomhatoes.. Potatoes pothatoes 🤷‍♂️

There were planned and unplanned breakaways 😎