Tour de Bintan 2013, Race Report (cat. 3) by Jerome Limozin This is the first time I participate to Tour de Bintan, being a still relatively new cyclist. I have done a whooping total of 2 races so far, one was Batam 6 bridges, during which I got dropped at about mid race, and Desaru, where I had a flat at 30 km after start! In both of them I had to ride alone for many kilometres, which wasn’t too fun. So my goal for Bintan was to finish the race, with the peloton! Several month ago I booked the granfondo, just Saturday... but I changed to Cat 3 after a while, training with the JRT team I realized I could do more. So new goal was to complete 2 days of racing, something I had never done. The first day started nicely, I felt very strong and excited. It was nice to ride together with Dale, we helped each other through the journey. Emmanuel was here too, but not riding with the JRT jersey, and that probably gave him back luck, as he suffered from a crash that wounded his knee, and then a puncture. not a good day for Emmanuel. 150 km almost passed like a blur, I can’t remember much details, just pedal pedal pedal, stay somewhere in the front. I wasn’t too bothered with the constant hills, in fact it felt pretty easy, certainly easier than I feared. Many loop trainings at mount Faber must have helped! Towards the second half I was feeling very good and pulled 3 or 4 times, in particular when climbing hills, not because I wanted to be a hero, just really because I could. Approaching the second KOM I was well placed, I think I was 4th, and I had a go at it, and got lucky that the 3rd rider lost his will on the last hill before the KOM, so I passed him and got 3rd place on the second KOM (or so I think... as it wasn’t recorded by the officials). Just before the finish line, I placed myself on the far right, very close to front, knowing that placement is crucial. For some reason I ended up completely in front at the 1km mark, pulling everyone else... and it was already sprinting. I kept going, still in front at 500m, then BAM! Big cramp on my right thigh. I couldn’t press the pedal anymore and I had to slow down and let people pass me. I finished 28th, just enough for the top 30 cutoff, to stay in cat 3 on the second day. The second stage was a bit more difficult for me and an certainly felt more tired than Saturday. My right leg thigh and quads were on the verge of cramping pretty much all the ride, and I had to manage that carefully. It was raining hard for until about 50km, and it was pretty dangerous – very steep descents and narrow roads. On a sharp right turn I saw the guy in front of me arriving too fast for the turn and he had only 2 choices – turn, skid and fall on the pavement, or keep straight and fall into the bush on the side of the road. He chose the bush. Rain somewhat stopped as we arrived at a very flat and large section – thanks god for that! – and for some reason the train was pretty slow during that section – however I didn’t complain as I was cramping and felt tired. ;-) For some reason my mojo came back, conveniently when I needed it, i.e. about 20km from the finish. I managed to stay with the front group all the time, even on the several steep ascents which were back (in Bintan, it never stays flat for long). Dale was with me and in front, looking very strong, but I guess he got tired too on one of these climbs, as he had to drop a bit on one of the last ascents. At the 5 km mark to finish I felt like the horse who knows home is not far...Re-energized! The fastest I go, the fastest it’ll be finished! And boy it was fast, and dangerous too, on the cobbled roundabout in particular. I was well placed again, with maybe the 20 first guys (excluding 2 or 3 which had an earlier breakaway), and was set to finish top 20... when some of the guys in front of me crashed, literally less than 50 m from the finish line. Suddenly there was a bike on the road in front of me and I had no choice but to crash on it. I was very lucky that no one crashed on me from behind. I was able to stand up and finish the race, running to the finish line. Eventually I lost 50 seconds on this crash, and finished 45th. I didn’t win any trophy, but I now have 22 stitches on my left leg, which I am pretty proud about!! Dale finished strong, less than a minute behind me. for him too this was his first time and hes delighted to have finished the race, and in such a good position.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 13:33:44 +0000