For this evening’s ride I took part in the Tour de Zwift: Stage 6 Race (C) on the Richmond circuit.
This was the penultimate race in the Tour de Zwift 2020, and to be very honest, I almost missed it. After a 11 hour day in front of the computer, combined with yesterday’s long, and suitably intense workout I just wasn’t in the mood for a race at 17:12.
However, when I realised today was the last day to take part in Stage 6 (catch up days excluded) I found the motivation required to get downstairs, undressed from normal guy clothes, re-dressed in Lycra cycle guy clothes, get the computer booted up, water bottle filled, towel ready, fan on… phew, just typing it all out is daft.
All of that, and some more stuff (brushing teeth) within about 7 minutes. By the time I got on the bike and in “game”, I had about 30 seconds left before the race began.
As you might gather, zero warm up.
As soon as the beeps counted down and we were off, I was at an intensity my legs were not thanking me for.
Now, one thing I should point out today is that I’ve been weighing myself over the last several days and I’m consistently around 10st 11lb at this point. However, I still have Zwift set to 71kg. I need to update Zwift to 69kg at this point, but I had not done so before this ride. No time. See above.
Would this have made any difference today? I genuinely don’t know.
What I do know is that out of the gate, I was dropped. Like a stone.
Try as I might (and I was trying, whilst also not wanting to blow up), I just couldn’t keep up with the first 100 riders. Watching them disappear, fairly quickly into the distance was really disheartening. I was there, huffing and puffing, giving it as good as I could under the circumstances, and there was simply no way I was anywhere close to their power.
At this point I thought my race was basically done and dusted.
Now I have no grand ambitions of even making the top 50 when there’s a small-ish field (130 riders, give or take), but I felt like I could have stayed with the pack in front, had I managed to put out higher watts in the oh-so-important first kilometer or two.
I’d like to say I settled into a steady rhythm, but the truth is I was going at well over 3w/kg for a sizable chunk of the first 10km / most of the flat, and was highly conscious that I would either blow up before I even reached the hills, or die hard pretty much as soon as I got there.
Keeping me motivated, however, was the thought of catching the small group of riders in front of our pack. I figured if we could catch them, that was an additional ~4 places that would be open for contention, giving access to ~95th instead of just breaking into the top 100.
By the time we caught the little bunch ahead of us, I was ready for a breather.
Easing off, back to about 2.5w/kg for a few short seconds of respite – predominantly on the down hill towards the first climb – I was trying my best to get my breathing under control, and drop my heart rate by ~10bpm or so, if at all possible.
I noticed yesterday that when working hard, I do not breathe deeply enough at all. By consciously focusing on taking more slow and steady breaths things suddenly seem that little bit easier. I figure I’m unconsciously almost hyper ventilating? I guess I’m not explaining that so well.
As ever, my plan was to try and gain some places on the climbs.
I’ve had good and bad experiences with the climbs in Richmond before, so was hoping that today would be a good day and I wouldn’t either lose my chain, or give myself severe muscle pain in the process.
As it happened, even though we as a pack had been fairly isolated heading into the climb, by the time we were up the first straight the mini map was showing loads of riders around us.
With a strategic use of the Feather power up I’d picked up after the first sprint arch, I came out of the first climb having gained 5 places. All good.
I managed to get my chain back from the little ring to the big, always a result.
But I found myself isolated at this point, and whilst the next segment is a little descent, I was definitely aware that any packs behind me may be working significantly more efficiently than I heading into the next climb.
Unfortunately I didn’t get any pics of the second climb as frankly, I was working my nuts off.
For my troubles up the Travelator I managed to pick up another 7 places, which I was really pleased about.
But boy, was I bushed.
All of that climb had been done out of the saddle, most of it with my head down, eyes closed.
Again I was conscious of getting back into the big ring without a disaster, which I managed, but the process was not fast or graceful.
All that remained at this point was to finish the lap off – another climb – and ideally, hold my position or improve it.
Going into the final climb I had a gap of about 5 seconds on the rider behind me, but I could see they were quickly closing me down.
I aimed to do the climb at 3.5w/kg, though am all too aware it’s not a “straight up” climb, and does require a bit of clever gearing as it levels off then goes up again, about 2/3rds of the way up.
Anyway, I did my best.
The run into the finish was a real chore.
I’d used all my energy in the three climbs, and though Richmond finishes up hill, I had nothing left to give in my “sprint” to the line. Even with an Aero power up I was struggling to reach 300w, and whilst I was passed by one rider, I managed to pass another as I pushed to the line.
Given the funky start, and not exactly feeling fresh or prepared, I’ll take 85/130 as a decent finish. I managed to pick up 15 places.
I wonder how much my true weight would have played a part, both on the climbs and the flats. Maybe not much. Still, interesting to see on my next ride out.
Even though this constant series or races and harder group rides is extremely tiring, I do think it’s been really beneficial to my fitness and riding progress.
I’d like to maintain the 1-race-per-week approach even after the Tour is over. They are solid workouts, no doubt about it.
I think at this stage that tomorrow will either be a light ride, or a rest. Not sure yet, see how I feel.
Thursday night will be Yorkshire’s Long group ride, the final one of this years Tour de Zwift.
Then Saturday, most likely, will be my next / final race of the Tour.
Right then, a well earned bath time. Then bed.
