GamJams.net: Where Mid-Atlantic bike racers roll: Winner's Notebook: Squadra Coppi's Sean Ross on the Giro di Coppi

[Racing the Giro di Coppi is hard. Winning it must be even harder. Sean Ross (Squadra Coppi) would know. As a Cat 4, he won the 3/4 race out of a long breakaway. Below is his advice for some sweet suffering come Saturday.]

Winner's Notebook: Giro di Coppi
Sean Ross, Squadra Coppi

Some people would say the Giro is one of the most difficult races in the MABRA area. With the number of racers dropping from the pack at last year's event I would agree that this course is friendlier for climbers than crit-sprinters. (One unfortunate chap was dropped on the first climb.)

Because the event is in September this year the weather should make the races even more competitive for those coveted MABRA Champion jerseys. Dehydration and overheating shouldn't be an issue. The weekend forecast calls for thunderstorms, which may turn some people away. I'm not sure how rain affects a race: are people more conservative and wary? If so, use it to your advantage when attacking.

The Course

This is probably typical of most road races: the first lap is like a warm-up lap, the next lap picks up in pace, and then the race begins somewhere near the halfway point. A few fliers or small-group attacks will go off the front for about the first half of the race. No one with any semblance of strategy should take interest. Teams will organize, hopefully, and draw them back. The Giro Men's 3/4 last year had the winning break attack after the second lap (halfway into the race).

Teamwork is essential to winning this race. Designate strong climbers as the attackers during the race, and if a breakaway doesn't stick, use a lead-out plan for the sprinters. It couldn't hurt to have some mates attack to open up the field a bit. People should know their roles and use it to the maximum to make things interesting and set up their teammates for victory - for the jersey.

If you don't have much of a team, be selfish and look for strong individuals to join in breakaways. By this time of the season, if you've consistently raced all summer or stayed current with results, you probably know who to look out for. Follow them. Most importantly, stay near the front so you can make a move and not simply watch from the back. It's usually pretty easy moving up on hills, too, because the pack isn't congested.

I would suggest using the first road after the finish line marker, where you go down and then up into rollers, as a good attacking point. Or use Old Baltimore, the unpaved-like road in the trees/wooded area that climbs a bit, as another attacking point. I attacked on the short, steep section of Shiloh Church Road before the longish descent into Old Baltimore to bridge to the breakaway. It took a lot of power, hurt, and took me a few minutes to recover, but, as with anything, willpower will take you pretty far. I wanted to catch that break and didn't stop pedaling until I joined them. My legs were screaming. My lungs were a vacuum. But I ignored everything and pedaled, standing up for that extra leverage when I couldn't go anymore.

Most people probably wouldn't use the following tactic. I've tried it a few times and it at least made sitting in a pack tolerable if it doesn't bring intended benefit: talk to racers of other teams, especially those who you know are strong, and attempt to workout a plan during the race to "alliance." If you're going to attack at point B, tell someone you think would be interested to follow. If a break is away and you want help to bridge, tell an interested racer.

Attack together, bridge together. It forms motivation and commitment. And it makes the races more fun! Races are different so you should be able to conjure up something during the race. If others hear you, they may be willing to help, too. Or if they aren't, the worst they can do is attempt to bring you back. I've always thought, "People can hear you, but can they do anything about your talent and willpower?" There's another way of phrasing it as well:

How much do you want that jersey?