Race Report: 2024 Bariani Olive Oil Road Race - Men's Cat 3

Race: Bariani Olive Oil Road Race - Men's Cat 3

Date: March 17, 2024

AVRT racers: Brad Lovegren, Henry Mallon

Top Result: Henry 20/32

Course: 2 laps of a 20-mile course with about 500 feet of climbing per lap. Mostly flat with a few shallow rollers and sections with very poor pavement in the first half. The main feature is a 0.53-mile climb at 3.8% that summits about 1 mile from the finish. After a gradual descent, there’s a 90° left-hand turn and ~300 meters to the finish. 

Bariani KOM segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/1051199 

Bariani full lap segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/17156591  

Strava (Henry): https://www.strava.com/activities/10981878399  

Nutrition: 2 bottles with 80g each of homemade malto/fructose mix and 4 gels. 

Race Recap: Written by Henry. With only two AV racers, Brad and I made a plan to selectively mark breakaways with representation from the larger teams such as Pen Velo, Dolce Vita, and Velo Kings. In the later laps, we could try reducing the group on the Bariani KOM or decide on who to protect for a sprint finish.

On the first lap, Charlie Vanacht (Pen Velo) attacked and quickly developed a sizeable gap. There were a few bridge attempts from unattached riders, but no one made it across. By the end of the first lap, Charlie was out of sight, and we assumed the gap was more than one minute. With 60 miles remaining, we weren’t particularly concerned and expected Dolce Vita or Velo Kings to manage the situation. While I didn't know at the time, Charlie was the 2023 U23 ITT State Champion. 

Going into the KOM on the second lap, there was a small breakaway with ~20 seconds and I decided to use the climb to close the gap and hopefully reduce the field. While the field was strung out, the climb wasn’t selective (climbing for <90 seconds at ~22mph). I crested with two others who immediately took strong turns, but we only had a few bike lengths of separation from the main peloton. 

After rejoining the main group through the start/finish, I started looking around for Brad to check in and make a plan for the rest of the race. Unfortunately, he got a flat earlier and wasn’t able to continue.

In the third lap, everyone seemed more motivated to chase or attempt a breakaway, and the pace was hard through the section of rough pavement. I tried to stay near the front, sometimes sacrificing draft to see the potholes and take the best line through loose corners. In one of the final corners of rough pavement, a crash occurred just behind me and a few riders got ahead. Once there was a gap, I bridged across with a Pen Velo rider. All four riders in the break with me immediately started taking hard pulls, and it looked like we could stay away. But, the peloton behind was in a paceline and we were brought back after about 15 minutes.

At the end of lap three, I made an effort on the Bariani KOM in an attempt to split the field or make the race harder before a bunch sprint. It was enough to string things out, but I couldn’t create any meaningful separation. After this, I went back to the group and started talking to Dolce Vita, Velo Kings, and Super Sprinkles about working to bring back Charlie. They were open to helping, but the section of rough pavement made it challenging to rotate effectively in a paceline. A few riders attacked in the first half of the lap, but eventually the group came together. 

Going into the final KOM, Leo from Pen Velo set a hard pace and I came around him on the climb to hopefully drop some sprinters or reduce the group. Once again, my attempt on the shallow climb wasn’t enough to make a significant difference. Going into the final corner, the group was about 15, and I was positioned 4th wheel. It was clear that Charlie would win solo, meaning we would be sprinting for 2nd. 

While almost everyone was single-file, I was slightly overlapping with a rider to my left. This proved to be a mistake, as we went through the final corner at high speed and everyone ahead of me used the full width of the road. Because my front wheel was about level with the next person’s hip, I got pushed wide into the gravel shoulder and immediately slid out. 

I was in a great position for the final sprint, but I should have yielded one position to take the corner single-file. I’m not sure if the rider ahead of me knew I was there, but I don’t blame him at all for using the full road. And, I feel pretty bad about sending the guy behind me into the same gravel Slip ‘N Slide. Fortunately, the only consequence for us was road rash (gravel rash?) and a missed opportunity to sprint to the finish. 

I’ve learned a ton in every race so far this season, but I definitely prefer when it doesn’t involve torn kit and lots of Tegaderm.

Thanks for reading,

Henry