The goal for my first race of the season, as presented to me by BJ, was to attack, attack some more, and basically attack until I couldn’t attack anymore, with winning, placing high, or even finishing being very distant secondary concerns. This was a training race, after all. Well, I cannot be accused to leaving the training out of this race. From the gun (er, whistle) the attacks started coming. My plan had me attacking on lap 3, so it was nice when the field shut down one attack right as we got to the line on the 3rd lap. I countered hard,* got a small gap, carried 2 or 3 others with me, and eventually the field. To make a long story short, I ended up attacking and/or covering attacks 7 or 8 times. The last time, which was my undoing, I bridged up to two riders with another guy but by the time I got there I didn’t have anything to contribute and I’d blown myself up at that point. I called it. Mission accomplished. Not the way I’d race usually, but this was about testing my limits. Needless to say, the plan for next time is different.

* New peak power record registered here: 1327 watts. Wroof.