Tour of Belize Stage 2 & 3. PODIUM!

This was written on Thursday 9:00PM. Internet connectivity here is TERRIBLE!

Happy Valentine's Day from the Tour of Belize.
Herring Gas Team makes the podium

Today was a double-stage day. What on paper seemed like it would be a relatively easy stage 2a, it was anything but easy. The roads here are TERRIBLE. Imagine you are driving down the interstate. You get off the interstate and get on a state highway, then you get off the state highway and turn down a county road... then you exit the county road on to a road that the local farmers pooled their money together to have their dirt roads paved. That is what the Belize highway system is made of. The roads here were all paved in the 50's by British contractors using the cheapest asphalt they could find. The vibration created at 33MPH will make your feet, your hands and the other part that touches your bike go completely numb within the first 10 minutes. These are Frank Moak kinds of roads.

The race started off like we were shot out of a cannon. A constant and grueling 33-35MPH ate up the first 10 miles in under 20 minutes. The attacks were fierce and frequent. Most of them included a Herring rider. Later the Mexican professional squad Tecos grabbed control of the front of the race and kept it in control for the next 35 miles. Trying to protect their yellow leaders jersey, they kept the pace at a more gentlemanly velocity. Off the front was a 3 man break away that hovered for the entire 35 miles at about 1:30.

As the 30 kilometers-to-go mark passed, the front of the race turned into another street fight, just like the start. Attack after attack blasted off the front of the race. At one point, Bain Foote got away with 4 other riders and gained about 45 seconds on the fast chasing field. Over the race radio it was finally announced what Herring rider had taken this flyer and the chase increased two-fold. Bain group was reeled back in and Woody Boudreaux made a brilliant counter move with only 2.5 miles to the line. Woody's group gained over 30 seconds as the peleton behind debated over and over if they spend their energy chasing, or risk it that another team would take up the charge. Herrring riders Bain, Tim Regan, Michael Olheiser and myself kept a close watch at the front making sure that no other riders slipped off the front before the finish.

At 1 kilometer to go the pace was well over 35MPH in a strong crosswind. Snaking from gutter to gutter as the leading riders where trying to shake off the followers from their draft. At 500 meters, the Woody group of 4 were only a few seconds ahead and the Herring riders at the front of the field had no choice but to start up the sprint. The front of the field was so disorganized because of the wind combined with the bumpy road that it was virtually impossible to organize a decent lead-out for Tim Regan. We caught Woody and the other 4 about 50 yards before the finish line and last year's winner Marlon Castillo blasted across the line first. Bain Foote finished a strong 10th with me and Michael O' directly behind in 12th and 13th. However, it was announced that Marlon Castillo riding for the local Santino's team had a problem with his bike and traded with a rider from the closely affiliated Red Bull team. This is a team sport and taking assistance from another team is forbidden and Castillo was relegated to last place, moving everyone up one spot and giving the win to a Team USA rider.

Stage 3 Team Time Trial 3:00PM

The Team Time Trial is the most graceful and beautiful event in all of cycling. But participating in one is pure misery. Especially competing in TT where one of your team mates is the time trial World Champion, another usually finishes within a couple of seconds of him and a third that is the master of all masters of time trialing. Throw in some more of the wonderful Belize road work and a stiff 25MPH wind and if you aren't a TT expert, you will have a miserable day. Like me.

Starting off we took our time getting in formation, which was quickly disrupted by a near head-on collision with another team. Then the formation was broken again by a confusing roundabout u-turn at mile 3. From here, heading back across the Start finish line in the other direction, we were already down to only 4 riders working and 4 of us sitting on. The wind in this direction was horrible and stiff, blowing each rider in a wobbly fashion around the bumpy road. At about 10 miles in, the pace started to slow a bit and the 4 riders sitting on started to pull through to help the other 4 TT experts. At this point is when we caught our first team, which started 2 minutes ahead. Before we arrived at the second u-turn, we had caught and passed another team that started 4 minutes ahead of us. The work was shared mostly by Bain Foote, Michael Olheiser, Tim Regan and Frank Moak. Only occasionally did the other 4 roll through making the Herring squad a solid unit. By the end of the race, we had caught 3 more teams and it was screaming over all the radios that Herring would be the team to beat. The results finally came in and Herring had only the 3rd fastest time. We were so sure that we had won, but the bottom spot on the podium would have to suffice. In front of us was the Mexican Tecos team finishing only 8 seconds better. They were surpassed just barely by the USA National team, finishing only another 9 seconds ahead of Tecos. Just to note, not a single rider on the US National team is over 20 years old. I keep telling them I'm their Daddy.

I never thought I'd be disappointed to be standing on the podium of a UCI stage race, but we really did expect to not only win but dominate in the Team TT. We were close, but no cigar.

At least we did have some nice arrivals today as 3 of the wives showed up to watch and help out with some of Mal and Perry's endless duties. It's nice to have female faces around in an environment like this. I don't think the lady who runs this hotel can stand any more testosterone.

Well, we hope to have good spirits and better legs tomorrow, where we finally head into the hills during an 85 mile stage. I'm sure it will be bumpy.

See you later,
Kenny

Team Time Trial podium

TTT podium, with US National team (1st) and Team Tecos (2nd)