Discovery Channel's Race-2-Replace

The weather at the 'Brickyard' was unusually pleasant in Indianapolis for August. The skies were clear blue and the temperature 82 degrees. Several hundred bike racers from around the country had assembled for the unique opportunity to race on the Indianapolis Speedway.

The race part of the Discovery Channel's Race2Replace. The overall winner would be able to ride with the Discovery team for one day at the US Pro Championships in Greenville, SC.

I had arrived the night before, having flown in from Washington, DC. Looking around at the rest of the field I was very apprehensive. This was my first bike race, and from the looks of the other riders and I was mixed in with many other very skilled athletes. The race would consist of 25 miles, 10 laps on the 2.5 mile long speedway.

For the past two months I had been training for the race, doing a mix of long distance rides and short sprint workouts. I fell in with a group of local riders that do after-work rides in the DC area at Haines Point, and a perfect location to build up my speed. This gave me the opportunity to learn how to ride in a tight group of riders, drafting techniques, and how to place yourself within a group.



We had a rolling start and the pace of the pack quickly shot up to 28 miles an hour. After one lap the field was had broken into a pack of 40 lead riders, a second group of 30 riders (where I found myself), and numerous stragglers. I thought that the lead group would not be able to hold their pace and we would eventually catch them, but it turned out that was not the case today. Over the course of the 25 miles several riders in the lead group were dropped and gobbled up by the pelonton I was in, but we never did catch the leaders. By lap 8 I was feeling the fast pace in my legs, but I was still in my comfort zone. The only time I felt pushed was when we would pass in front of the main stands. Each time the group would pass the stands, we would turn up the pace, I suppose it was a bit of bravado trying to make a good show for the supporting friends and family.

Each lap did get faster, and by the final lap the pace was a rapid 27 miles an hour. I had realized that I was not in contention to win the overall race, but I wanted to have a good placement within my group. With two turns to go I worked my way up to the front till I was the 6th man back. By this time the pace was blistering, and riders were bumping each other as they jockeyed for position. We rounded the final bend and had the 1/2 mile home stretch in front of us. Four riders broke out front, I switched into my biggest gear and latched myself onto their rear wheel. One rider dropped, not being able to keep the pace, then a second. I could feel the heat of the main field breathing down my neck as I found myself right behind two riders. With 200 meters to go I split the two riders, and pulled up between them. I had my head down and was putting all my energy into my legs, pumping as hard as I could. I couldn't believe my eyes as I started to pull away from them. As I passed the rider to the left, he rose up out of his saddle to give me a challenge for the final sprint and I did likewise, driving like a madman for the finish. I suceeded to keep the gap and somehow managed to win our sprint!

I realize that our sprint did not change the overall winners, but I was very pleased with myself since I had never considered myself a sprinter. One of the other racers paid me a great compliment when after we crossed the finish line he turned to me and said, "Damn sprinters." When the overall standings were posed I saw that I had placed 29th out of my field of 97 riders and in the top 50 overall. (Over 350 riders competed, by my field of 25-34 year olds did not compete directly with the other riders in other heats.)

Afterwards I had the opportunity to meet Lance Armstrong and schmooze with several other riders on the Team Discovery team. But for me the real thrill of the day was the final sprint, pouring out everything for the speed just to test myself and see how fast and far I could push myself. When everything was all over and done with, I snuck back onto the track to take part in the traditional 'kissing of the finish-line' and the Indianapolis Brickyard.