In lieu of our official website, which we have been unable to access for some time, I will use the blog as our vehicle to post information about our race weekend. I know riders from other schools check this from time to time, and this may be easier to check on the fly than downloading the flyer from the collegiatecycling.com/seccc website.
SATURDAY APRIL 10 - Road Race/TTT/ITT
Mens A - 8AM - 73 miles
Mens B - 8:10AM - 56 miles
Mens C - 12:00 PM - 39 miles
Women's A/B - 12:10 PM - 39/47 miles
All races on Saturday will use the same course. It is 8.5 miles long with 3 corners. There are only 2 notable hills on the main loop. About 4.5 miles into the lap there is a very short, very steep hill lasting only about 150-200 meters. it averages 12% but should take fields less than 30 seconds to climb it. The second hill is at 6.5 miles and is much more gradual, averaging closer to 6% and is maybe 2-300 yards long. both hills are immediately followed by descents, and should not prove to be too tactical except to riders already on breakaways hoping to extend their advantage.
Except the 2 hills, the main loops is very flat, very fast, and has very high visibility. riders on breaks will not be able to hide very well, especially on the front stretch which is almost 3.5 miles straight as an arrow.
This main loops is the TT/TTT loop and serves as the main loop for the Road Race. Here is the link:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/al/owens-cross-roads/203126840732567543
You may notice I have used "main loop" a lot. that is because this loops is not the only part of our road race. Once you have finished your set number of laps, you leave the course at the corner of Cherry Tree and Old Gurley Pike (NE corner of route), and head down Cherry Tree for a few miles. You then turn left onto Keel Mtn road, enjoy about a mile of flat before hitting what we like to call Keel Mountain. For about a mile and a half you will climb 900 feet for an advertised average grade of 10.6%. MapMyRide.com suggests it may be closer to 12 or 13%, and in my experience with MapMyRide in the mountains of North Carolina, it is notorious for being wrong...on the low side...There are sections over 20%, some in switchbacks, some deceptively after switchbacks. This is not a climb we incorporate into our training.
The profile:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/al/owens-cross-roads/448126840812583740
note, i couldnt find the "crest" of the hill on MMR, but rest assured you will not have a flat section of road to make up lost time from the climb. At the very end of the steepest part of the final pitch, you will be done.
If you don't have at least a 26 or 27, you may regret it.
Pertaining to the climb, we will have some rules and suggestions:
1) Absolutely NO Trailers going to the top - The curves are too sharp and the pitches too steep, and there is no room at the top for them. There is simply a line in the road where the officials will park with their clipboard and write your names as you trickle in one, by one, by one.
2) Please do not drive to the top unless you talk to official or Nathan. As I said, almost no room up there. We will try and organize some shuttles to get coaches and spectators up the hill to see the finish
3) BE CAREFUL GOING BACK DOWN. Riders, after going up, you will know how steep it is going down. I know dozens of Huntsville riders who have launched off the side of that descent because they were not paying attention. Using carbon wheels? I recommend finding a ride back down, at least to the bottom. yeah, its that steep
4) Feel free to chalk the road in support of your teammates. But please keep it clean. We don't want to be forbidden from doing this again
SUNDAY APRIL 11 2010 - CRIT
9AM - Men's C - 30 min
9:45 - Men's B - 45 min
10:45 - Women's A/B - 30/45 min
11:45 - Men's A - 60 min
Not much to say about the criterium except it is super cool we get to host it on campus, across the street from NASA and essentially every Aerospace and Defense contractor that exists (Including our title sponsor, ITT Defense).
No surprises on the crit. You will get a slight rise, and I do mean slight, up the last stretch before you turn the corner to sprint. Start finish is on the East side of the course, across from the Softball Fields.
Teams staying through the A race that arrive before the race start may park in the Softball/Baseball parking lots. Everyone else needs to park in the lot on the north side of the course next to Madison Hall and the Shelby Center. We will run on time and we will be doing exact time, not time+laps.
Course:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/al/huntsville/383123808297071481
If anyone has any questions at all, please feel free to contact me at
uahcycling@gmail.com . I respond very quickly
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