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Just catch the lead bunch when they all stop at the next feed to get fresh pockets of gels, under-ripe bananas and maybe have their bikes looked over by the on-hand mechanics.
Or, HTFU and hit the climb first so you're not left behind.
hippy-
Ha!
I was smashing it at Bergen-Voss a few years back. Absolutely raging after my mate overslept, then faffed around, and we missed Our start time. Riding like a Complete idiot. Attacking every Group we caught within 5 mins of feeling any recovery set in. Probably wasnt going to finish
Stopped for a second at a feed station to quickly fill my bottles and a steward handed me a yoghurt, Complete With little plastic spoon. Kinda reminded me I was in a sportive and should just chill the fuck out.
Smallfurry
So in a race. When everyone goes hard at the very first selective Climb. You drop off the front Group, and end up in a mid Group. Which feels suitably tough for 30 - 60mins. Then you realise you've got a lot more in the tank then those around you. The pace is such that Group Ahead is now Beyond bridging without help. So you're kinda stuck. At the 60 - 90min mark you're basically bored.
This is describes every one of my races for the last 2 years. I've taken to stopping repeatedly during the last part of the race. Have a wizz, eat a gel in Comfort. Then Chase Down my Group.
This year I will fecking kill myself to make selection. If that doesnt happen. At the point were I feel recovered, and nicely warmed up, in my middle Group. I'm going to fecking kill myself attempting to bridge.
Really wont make a notable difference to my placing. Might even crack and get passed by the mid groupers. Just want my races to be more positive.
(for 'race' read 'sportive')