It's like the real housewives of the Peleton
The families were all back together after the Rent wrapped up last week. So with the Blacks, Steve B, Sean C, Hunter P and NHA back in the fold, it was sure to be an exciting ride. However, the heat and humidity was turned up to 11 so that would serve to tamp down the top end of plenty of guys.
Once again, right at the start, Hunter P took off and was allowed to roll solo. He held a gap until halfway down Mountain Road. Hacker, Thomaas B and Brian Suto Returns were among those chipping in to keep the pace high as the pack slowly got up to speed. As the break was getting close, Turner French accelerated an split off a small chase with Sean Maher and MJ-The-finish-line-is-my-Pants-Alio. That made for a fearsome group up front but the pace wasn't there to keep the gap going, so it was all back together towards the end of Mountain Rd.
The pace chilled a bit on Moss Farms but there were a few moves and there. Joe K rolled off the front, which got Hacker going along with a couple of others. Then past the chicane, Little T took off up to Marion but that was short-lived. Then Steve B rolled off the front and had gap. Sean Maher did a big pull to bring him back and it was all together for the light. Steve went right back to it after the intersection, but with Turner French and Hunter P also attacking, the entire pack sped up it response.
The trip down Moss Farms was uneventful. Solid pace but no attacks or breakaways. The pace wound up on Welch for the turnaround, and Little T launched it into the headwind. A few guys were there to match his pace, and then just as guys started to look at each other, Steve B launched a well-timed attack for the line. That was successful, and Steve B took it. Behind, Little T rolled over next with Hunter P behind.
It all came back together on the backside and there were no big moves until getting back into Cheshire. MJA pushed hard past I84 but no gap. Joe K tried to make a lunge for the traffic light on 322 but it was red for him and the entire pack (which was down to about half it's original size as guys withered under the heat)
Onto the Greenhouse climb where Turner French took the early reigns on the front, setting a solid pace. When Hunter P was done at the front, Sean Cahill hit it with a well-timed attack and was off to the races for the line. He would not be caught. Behind him, Hunter wound it up shortly after the light. He took off with Little T on his wheel and was able to hold it to the line for 2nd after the fast greenhouse climb. Sean C was collected after that, and it was all back together for the run in back to Hamden.
MJA had a couple of digs on the rollers in Hamden, which served to keep everyone on their toes. Then, on the top of Boulder Sean M took off again. He hit the downhill hard but was being chased hard by Hacker and MJA. He would get swallowed up with a couple hundred meters to go. Steve B launched it for the sprint off Turner French's wheel. Little T had a bit of a gap to make up but he would get his revenge when Steve B sat up a hair as the road flattened (but well before the line). Timing this finish, which is one of Connecticut's most tricky semi-amatuer, half-pro, long-lived, much-hyped, ego-bruising, heart-stopping finishes is difficult. Little T continues to have the charge for it. He went over the line first, then Steve B, followed by MJA.
Great ride everyone!
