Tour of Bronte

Sunday, April, 11 2010

Sunday April 11th Team PowerWatts PFR p/s Endurosport raced the inaugural www.tourofbronte.com race in Oakville, Ontario. The course, a split between pavement and rail trail, was a perfect match for the days’ other big race over in France, Paris-Roubaix! Our group of Scott Coulas, Andrew Stewart, Andy Hannaford, and I joined a few other M1 racers with the predominantly S1/2 racers. Approximately 50 starters joined and luckily we were blessed with sunny skies and dry roads!

Our first challenge was not to get too dizzy with 6 out and back laps on the pavement. Right away a break formed with Jet Fuel, Mazur Coaching/Wheels of Bloor represented. Team Spidertech were not in the break so we knew as we hit the dirt Randell would put the hammer down to bridge. Over the course of the next few laps Andy and Andrew tried to form secondary breaks to get to the dirt first. Andrew being the most successful, hitting the turn onto dirt first; his own Forest of Arennberg.

From there it was serious GAME ON! Randell went and got his gap and lots of attacks tried to bridge over. Surviving the first lap we were all together coming back into the 2nd of 7 laps on the dirt portion. I attacked and took Nathan Chown with me who is a strong rider in Paris-Ancaster so I was stoked thinking we could bridge together to Randell. Unfortunately I was running 110psi on tubular wheels and simply drifted right into the gutter forcing an impromptu moment of UH-OH. Back on course it took everything to bridge back to what was left of the front group. Once back on the front selection was made of about 15 riders and Jet Fuel put 2 guys on the front to reel in Randell.

The remaining laps were constant attack after attack to form a winning break and finally Peter Morse from Jet Fuel and Charlie Bryer from Mazur Coaching/Wheels of Bloor got away with one or two others. After trying some solo efforts I was done and looking around the group that was left I knew I was not getting a top 10 placing in a sprint! With a mile to go I hit the front and put down the lead out train for some fun with the boys coming around me at 500M to the finish.

I cruised into the finish 15th, top master racer, but more importantly feeling really good about the fitness levels.

Scott Coulas rode a great tactical race too. With 1 rider in front group and another behind him he sat in and played the team player. He came in a few riders behind me in 20th. Andrew was caught in a crash and Andy tweaked his back on the corner right after I went off course; tough luck for them both.

It was a great day out and fun to join the S1/2 peleton for a day. I do recommend this race and hopefully next year it rains.

- Rhys