The Tour de Millersburg consists of three races, with racers being ranked in a general classification standing. Each of the three races differ greatly- a 10 mile time trial, a roughly 20 mile criterium and a nearly 57 mile road race.
This was my first ever time trial and I greatly enjoyed the out and back ten mile course along the Susquehanna River. The course was relatively flat with a few slightly rolling hills. With racers separated by 30 second increments Jeff, Jason and I rolled off the line within a few minutes of each other. My plan was to keep my racing smooth and to not go out too fast. Keeping an eye on my heart rate, I was able to stick to the plan. I felt good throughout and was happy to finish with a time that put me near the middle of the general classification. Jeff and Jason also rode very well, with three of us being separated by less than a minute.
After the time trial, we all congregated in our team tents just a few blocks away. With a few hours to pass, it was great to enjoy the camaraderie of the Swashbuckler Cycling Team. Adding to the fun, many members of other local cycling teams were close by. It was a lot of fun catching up with other local racers, sharing stories and some good natured trash talking.
With a start time around 3:30 on Saturday, the next race we participated in was the criterium. With a big field of nearly 70 riders and some relatively narrow streets, there was an assumption among the racers that this was going to be an exciting race. From the gun, the race was on with riders at the front attacking almost immediately. I made the mistake of not getting towards the front soon enough and paid the price. With gaps opening all over the place, officials made the decision to begin pulling groups out of the race. I was pulled with a group of 15 riders or so, with the same fate meeting Jeff and Jason a few laps later. All in all, it was a very fast and exciting race. After a long day, we packed the cars and headed home to enjoy a few cold Swashbuckler's Gold ales.
Sunday's road race started at 8:00 am which made for an early morning commute up to Millersburg. With perfect weather - Jason, Jeff and I were all excited for the road race. Consisting of three 19 mile laps, we knew we were in for a good morning of racing. All in all, the race was a pretty smooth one. A few teams tried to attack and were brought back pretty quickly. Each lap contained a nice little climb with a switchback halfway up the hill. Jeff, Jason and I all rode relatively close to each other in the pack. Entering into town on the final lap, the race came down to a group sprint with all three of us finishing comfortably in the group.
My thoughts on the race- The Tour de Millersburg is a fantastic event. It is very well organized and both the town and the people who live there are amazing. Hanging out with my teammates over the weekend was a lot of fun. Jason and I both learned a lot from Jeff as he shared some insight into things he has learned over 20+ years of racing. It was great to see how many racers from Lancaster County participated in the race with great results. I am already looking forward to racing in Millersburg in 2015......
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