Tuesday the 6th

The 2021 Season Plot Thickens Up

We had what is sure to be one of the biggest crowds out for the ride tonight. Everyone was amped up to ride hard, despite a complete flipping of the wind from last week. Instead of a killer tailwind from the south pushing the group up route 10, tonight we had a big headwind. This gave a couple of opportunistic riders the chance to pedal hard tempo off the front while others dealt with the headwind. Wild Bill, young Rowyn Burgess, Dillon P, Billy Thompson, and Noah B. Then, Hunter P joined them shortly after the corner off route 10. 

The only only rider from from the main pack that got on his giddy up across the gap was Dan Smith. That resulted in a group of seven riders off the front. The junior was the first to drop back. The group went to work creating a gap while the chase slowly got going behind. Up front Dan Smith and Hunter P were doing the majority of the work, with Billy T, Wild Bill, and the rest chipping in where they could. Dillon P took the back door exit soon after. Back in the chase Curly Huesman got to the front and started driving it along with Nic V and Chris C.

 

The breakaway slowly pulled away, but then on Mountain Rd the leaders broke up on the rollers. That allowed the chase to gain a little bit of ground as the front group took some time to recollect. The breakaway put in one last effort before the light on route 68\70, but that was red which meant it was all back together for the time it took for the light to turn red. Once across the light and on to Moss Farms, things reset and others took the front to set the pace. As the pack near the route 322 crossover, there were a couple of surges off the front, but no one put in a big attack to create a gap.

 

Once through the light on 322, the next big attack came from P who jumped on the hill before Mount Vernon. Once again Wild Bill responded as well, but this time the pack was more attentive and didn't let them get any more than 50 to 60 meters up the road before responding hard. Curly was there, LIttle T, Chris C, Nic V, and a few others locked it down pretty quick. Even still there were gaps opening up as everyone was still dealing with the headwind. The ride turned right onto Prospect St this week and the unfamiliar road kept the attacks to a minimum. Instead Steve B, Evan B and Erin R from the CW team, as well as Curly and Hunter p were up there pushing the pace.

The pack stayed together for while, and got a rare green light going back over 322. The next attack came on West Johnson avenue as Hunter P jumped hard in an effort to get the light on route 10. No dice there, as the light was red and everyone waited for a moment or two. On East Johnson Ave, there were a couple that surged up the first hill but it was all together heading down past the greenhouses and up to the intersection for Cheshire st.

On the short kicker up to the corner there, Curly and Hunter P punched it and had a short small gap going through the corner. Wild Bill once again jumped into the group, making three up the road. The peloton watched, and the three off the front made the rest pay for it.

The trio worked together for a short time, but then Wild Bill dropped off. So two leaders made their way onto the long hill up to the sprint. Then Curly accelerated, leaving Hunter P dropped to get collected by the chase, which was being led by Nic V. Curly was able to not only hold off the chase, but added a bit to his advantage by the time the sprint point came up. From there he was able to get into the back roads of Hamden with a commanding lead and would not be caught. That's the way the ride ended up - Curly getting all the points for himself off the front. With  his impressive haul tonight, he's already ahead of his 2020 point total.

Solid ride all round! Let's keep the aggro level up.