I
had heard about Tour of the Gila from a good friend of mine Cecilia
Potts before I moved to Tucson, Arizona where I know reside. She commented
that "It's windy." Cecilia, I couldn't agree more! I liked this Time
Trial though. Painful as it was, I usually take Time Trials quite conservatively
in stage races as I don't want to red line my engine for the last days.
Needless to say, my legs were feeling great and I held a good pace.
The
wind was quite a factor though, and I found myself laboring up through
the first 7 miles finding the right rythm. I just kept that gear going
in my 53x19-21 and found coming back even more fun. Hitting speeds of
up to 44 mph, I finished strong in 43:37 or thereabouts. I don't know
where that'll put me in the overall classification, but the next four
days will really separate the men from the small children!!
It
is great being here and I have so many people to thank: The KOA Kampsite
(Thanks for the Pancakes!), Cecilia Potts and my homey Robbie Ventura
of US Postal, the City of Silver City, and the great Librarian Melissa
who's leting me write this! Thanks all!
Take care everyone
and have a great day. Tomorow will be a epic day and I'll write more
soon.
Bye For Now,
John Nowak
Day
2
Hello from The
Tour of the Gila in Silver City, New Mexico! What a day it has been,
not to mention the wind has cut back a little bit. The wind yesterday
on Stage One was really brutal, but even so the cross winds today offered
very little respite. Today's stage up to Mogollon was to me an enjoyable
experience. It was a battle, but I believe that patience is the key
to this race.
Almost immediately
off the start the boys were really up to having a good day in the saddle.
Let me say this I started it off smart this morning by putting chamois
cream in my bibs. I needed some relief and that chamois cream sure did
help. I also vowed to myself that there would be no pulls to be taken
today and I hid myself in the field. That would be my saving grace.
I stayed well fed and well hydrated and was looking forward to the climbs.
Bring them on!!
As soon as we
made our way through some of the most beautiful ascents and descents
I've ever seen, the attacks came...sort of. I could tell in some stretches
before Glenwood that the teams weren't eager to catch the leaders who
put about 3 1/2 minutes into us. Climbing Mogollon would be hard enough,
and sure enough the leaders came back. I could see Team Eclipse from
Tucson up the road and when the gradients started pitching up to 8%
- 12% people started to die off. I knew that this would happen and I
made my way through hurting bodies. Keep in mind that a 124 pound soaking
wet climber will have an advantage.
I feel that I
kept that advantage mentally and physically today, finishing around
15th place and just a hair behind the leaders. I couldn't believe how
well I went but patience is a rule of thumb in this five day event.
Tomorow will be fun, and even though the descents are going to be hairy,
it is a new day.
Thanks always
to the Silver City KOA who came out to help and to Heath and Cindy McFarland
who gave me a ride home. I would also like to thank the creators of
chamois cream as it definitley helped. Thanks all and I'll write once
again tomorow!
Always,
John Nowak
Team Revolution Racing
Tucson, AZ.
Day
3/4
Hello all from
an exhausted competitor! Yesterday I was so tired after Stage 3 that
I went right home and didn't get a chance to write. I guess that two
hour nap was needed after all. My deepest appologies for my tardiness
on the write-up!
Stage 2 Inner
Loop Road Race
This was a stage
that was fast right from the gun. As we left Fort Bayard, I felt immediately
that this day was going to be one to remember. Mogollon was a great
day and although I felt great about how I finished at Mogollon, The
Inner Loop really tired me out. Everyone was talking about the descent
down Sapillo, and how dangerous it was. I couldn't believe the risks
being taken, and found myself in a group well off the lead group. I
still have that hard stage up to Pinos Altos on Sunday and going back
up Sapillo on that day will be tough.
Unfortunately,
a few riders lost it on the descent down Sapillo, and as I rounded the
last right hander I could see a downed rider and the ambulance taking
him away. I've always been a conservative descender and I bided my time.
I want to stay in the race, and not take unnecesary risks! Patience
is good but I lost about 20 minutes on the leaders. That's ok. Tour
of the Gila is so epic that just finishing is going to be a victory
in itself!
I finished in
"The Laughing Group" but there really wasn't a whole lot of
laughing going on. I think that everyone is just playing it safe because
Sunday's on it's way.
Stage Four The
Criterium
I like crits.
Don't ask me why though. Maybe it's because their dangerous and well,
going fast in town is more to my liking. Then again hitting speeds of
up to 35 mph is so cool. It was a great crit and I finished up in the
top 1/3 of this rather big field. At the very start my computer stopped
reading info to me so I had no idea where we were, and I pretty much
had to guess the laps. The race officials were great though so I wasn't
"Lost" at all.
The rectangle
loop had a great hill in the back where I could make up some positions
and get on the rivet. I moved way up as I was well off the leaders in
the first few laps. I found a great rythm and put the hammer down through
the town, making up more time. I really felt good and my warm up was
perfect as was my cool down. I'm glad that I rode my Spinergy Rev X's
as they can just accelerate like a banshee! I was very happy to see
that this criterium had no crashes, but it wasn't without it's flat
tires. Tomorow up Sapillo and to Pinos Altos will be a day for the record
books!
Have a great
day everyone and be safe out there. Thanks Tour of the Gila for everything
and Silver City, I will definitely come back next year. This has been
worth every day!
Always,
John Nowak
Team Revolution Racing
Tucson, AZ.
Day
5
Hello all from
Tucson, AZ! After finally making the trek home I just couldn't help
taking in all the experiences that I had this past week in Silver City,
NM. The people were fantastic and so was the racing. My team was so
pleased that we are planning to definitley come back next year. Tour
of the Gila was one of the smoothest events that I had ever been involved
with and to take part in it was a complete joy. The final stage was
wonderful and I had a great time making the climbs right up to the finish.
The crowds, the cheers and the race as a whole were just breath-taking.
So onto the last
day, Stage 5 ~~~ The Gila Monster Road Race.
this was an excellent
day to ride with temperatures in the 70s and hitting the low 80s. The
sun was out and so were the people to watch us compete in the last day
of this five day race. I spent much of my time in the field, being protected
from the wind and enjoying the draft. The climb up Sapillo would be
a task and I wanted to conserve as much strength and energy as possible.
At around 36 miles I felt in a great groove and was ready to get the
race underway. The descents were exciting and just incredible. Patience
though helps a racer, and I was patient today.
As the race made
it's way through the valley, I could just hear the groaning of the other
cyclists about what was ahead. Sapillo and that climb. As we hit the
base I said so long and farewell to the riders as climbing is my forte.
A lot of the guys gave me pats on the back and said:"Climb well."
I did and finished just behind the leaders 4:51 back. It was incredible
weaving through the group and making my way up to the chase group. The
Eclipse guys were working hard and being in their group was a great
feeling as we are all from Tucson. I was more than happy to take a few
pulls as they gave me a feed the other day. Nick Schreiber a friend
of mine was sitting in 6th overall, and it was nice to see him go well
today.
I felt fine and
finished where I wanted to. A top 40 place would be great for my first
"Gila." I would never get to do so well had I not had help
everywhere I went. Right from the start I would pray for the safety
of us riders, have a good breakfast, recover well, and of course drink
tons of water. I ate at some of the best places in Silver City, notably
Pinon Cafe and also Diane's. Wow! Incredible food. Incredible town.
Thank you Silver City, the KOA, Tour of the Gila Organizers and the
USCF for an excellent experience. We will be back!
Always,
John Nowak
Team Revolution Racing
Tucson, AZ.
