25th Annual Wente Vineyards Classic -

25th Annual Wente Vineyards Classic

2May2012 Filed under: General Author: delta

25th Annual Wente Vineyards Classic
Livermore, CA
April 28, 2012
Road Race

The weather for racing on Saturday was about as perfect as it can get in Livermore…sunny, little wind, 60’s at start mid 70’s at finish

The course consists of three climbs and a flat section that is usually very windy. The steep climb on Carroll Rd. is the main obstacle of this course. But the fun doesn’t stop there. After crossing I-580 on North Flynn Rd. you go through a long false flat section for about two miles. Then descending down South Flynn Rd, There are a couple of pretty tight turns that you can come into with WAY too much speed if you’re not careful.
On to Patterson Pass and Cross Rd. you’ll find more false flat sections along with a few short, but steep rollers. Finally you get to start downhill again and then into the flats on Tesla Rd. Watch for a possible cross wind on Tesla Rd. Then over to Greenville Rd and into a headwind.
After several laps, the finish is on the steep climb on top of Carroll Road.

Taking his second series win of the season, Andres Gil continues his superb record for the 2012 NCNCA Bikereg.com Premier Series. “It was pretty smooth [early], nothing really happened. I attacked on the backside and then went clear for a lap and a half.” said Gil, “Then I was caught by three guys [and] we were caught on the last lap. Everybody came together at the end and it was just a dash for the finish.”

Gil took won the sprint by a good margin.

…Lots of digs on the flat section again, Andres and I were in a little break, but it was not meant to be. We were all together coming into the hill. Regrettably I stayed at the back of the group. On the steep part, the group split in half as we passed the 3’s. I picked my way through the carnage and got clear of my group. On the false flat portion I picked up speed and was closing in on the leaders (no hope to catch) and held my ground on the last rise. I ended up 11th. I think I could have done much better if I had been at the front on the steep part. I need some climbing confidence, but between Copperopolis and Wente this year, I think I’ve got it.
– Doug Hall
Master 35* 1,2,3

“…I accelerated slightly, starting to feel maxed. A rider caught and passed me-a man(I can tell because they catch me so fast) I peeked under my arm, there was a rider back there but I couldn’t tell if it was male or female. Another rider came by, also male. As I passed the Taleo crew they were cheering loudly. That’s not for me I was thinking. There had been 2 Taleo riders in our group. Shortly there was a rider on my flank- a woman- and she was out to pass me! She was gaining steadily at 100m to go! Oh no you don’t! I thought, no way am I going to let her pass me! I will die first or kill my self trying. I sped up, so did she, back and forth we went. Her front wheel was in sight nearly adjacent to mine. I thought I was going to pass out. I was gasping for air, but I wasn’t going to let her beat me. I didn’t think I could pedal harder, but I did. As the line came up I remembered Mike Ricks about lunging with the bike. I could see I had her by a couple inches, but I wanted to be sure, so as we came to the line I shoved my bike forward…”
-Lauren Liden
Womens Cat 4

…66 miles and 5 times up the feed zone climb put the hurt on a lot of guys including myself. First time up the climb I didn’t think I would survive, but I attribute that to not completing a proper warmup. From then on I felt much better. Decided to just sit in and conserve energy for the punchy climbs and the feed zone climbs. Stayed with the lead group coming into the last lap and decided to take a bottle. By the way, THANK YOU SO MUCH to Ben, Debbie, Alicia and Jim for putting together an awesome feed zone/motivation crew. You guys were awesome! As we were half way up the feed zone climb the moto neutralized a masters field, but our field was pretty strung out and the masters mixed back into the middle of our field, something I didn’t realize until I saw a group of 3’s moving away. I couldn’t get around the masters field until the bottom of the descent. Ended up soloing the last lap trying to catch the lead group, but wasn’t successful. Finished 39th out of 75.
-Trevor Gomes
Mens Cat 3