Stage 5, Wheeler Pass, the apparent queen stage of the Breck Epic. While this is the shortest stage in distance and maybe one of the least elevation gains, it gains almost 2x the amount of elevation per mile than just about any other stage. It also spends a lot of time over 12,000 ft. and goes over 12,500 twice. For those of us from the east coast this can pose a problem.
The start for this stage is a little different, since there is no real road section before heading into the singletrack, they started us in waves of 10 in a time trial format, 1 minute apart based on our results from the previous day. I was going to start in the group with the SS leader and have Dahn start 1 min behind me and Dan start 2 mins behind me. Not my favorite way to go since I knew if either caught me they’d already have time on me. However it is what it is.
We get the go ahead and I ride with Vince (the ss leader) for a while, having a chat about all kinds of things. Finally he rides just ahead, then he realized I was in 4th just behind Dan. So he slowed up and reminded me that Dan was going to be steamrolling this section and that Dan really wanted that overall place. Thanks Vince, my gut told me before the stage that Dan was the man to beat on this stage, and now it was confirmed. Oh well, stick to the plan, keep it steady.
Things go seemingly well for a while, we start the climb up above the trees, I see Vince not too far up ahead, in a line climbing not too many places to go. We crest the top of the first grunt and start the “level” section. My head doesn’t feel right, the “level” part seems hard to navigate, just not going as planned. One more little grunt up to the top and I look over my shoulder and sure enough, there’s Dan. Damn, that was faster than I expected.
We start down the other side, it’s all a big rut. I had been thinking this would be my strength for the day. However I hadn’t factored in the elevation, my head was still swimming and I couldn’t seem to handle my bike, thoughts, anything. Next thing I know I catch the edge of the rut, and send myself sailing, Fortunately I land softly-ish. As I’m grabbing my scattered water bottles and stuff Dan comes cruising by. Shit…I get on his wheel, roll with him for a while, but as we start up again, I can’t really hang on. I keep watching him get a little further and a little further away.
Remind myself to stick to the plan, keep it steady, keep pushing. After what seems like an eternity of on and off the bike we start the long descent down. Alright, time to shine…once again head still not right, roll into one of the sketchiest steep switchbacks I’ve seen in a long time and whoop over the bars again. Shit…pick everything back up, get back on. Take inventory…bars mostly straight, rear brake lever a little messed up, saddle…crooked…otherwise it seems to be good. After hitting another bush or two and some terrible line choices we finally get back into the trees and I’m starting to feel like myself again.
I open it up and start catching people, a few geared riders, there’s Vince, and a few more geared riders, the descent is awesome and I’m flying. Aid 2, only 6ish miles to go but there’s a lot of uphill and I’ve been out of water for a bit, so I take 2 bottles and get on the way. The peaks trail up to the finish is a pretty mellow grade but it is largely uphill all the way to the finish.
I rolled pretty well for a while but it just kept wearing on me. Finally feeling pretty low and grinding up one of the punchier sections, Vince catches me. He was very encouraging and complimented me on the descent. Even tried to get me to stay on his wheel to the finish. I tried….and couldn’t.
Finally, I hear the music, and some folks tell me I’m there, but no finish line, just more uphill. I can see the trailer…bounce off one more tree and cross the line as the 3rd SS. While a pretty good result, I gave up almost 4 mins to third in the GC, but 2nd wasn’t in yet. As it would turn out he had a rough go at it and both Dan and I gained a good bit of time on him.
We’d go into day 6 separated by only 4 1/2 Mins.
