Züri Metzgete - a real selection
I am now finally finding the time to get around to catch up on some of the recent events from here. Back a month ago we went down for the weekend to visit our friends who live near Zurich and combine it with a chance to race in Switzerland. All week heading up to the weekend the weather was really not looking good. Temps were not getting close to 20°C anymore and there was lots of rain. Unfortunately, all the forecasts were correct and exactly that happened.
The race was to start at 8am which meant getting out of the house before 6am to get to the start, unpack the bike, warm up and get to the start. The night before was really dreary, lots of rain and not looking like it would end soon. We decided that I would leave alone and the others would come out around 10am to see the finish which should be around 11am. This was a 2 lap race of 52K each and each lap had 2 "monumental" climbs to be tackled.
To make a long, wet story short. It was pouring. The start at 8am had 100s all ready to make the journey and some were really looking cold too. I had bought a new rain jacket the week earlier and was really happy to have it with me. Once we got out on the course, away from the starting area, the packs began to form. Riding along with about 30 others at 38kmh with more water coming up from the wheels in front than from the skies above was really nerve wracking. The group I was initially with seemed to tire out after about 15k and was settling into a comfortable pace.
I had decided at the start that I may be only riding a single lap and this comfortable pace was a bit too slow for me so I started pulling at the front. I realized that my pull was too fast for this group and I had to make a decision, go for it or sit tight and roll with the group. I could see through the spray coming from the group ahead that they were about 600-800 meters out and also a larger group of maybe 20 riders. So I decided to just go for it.
I had picked up my pace to about 44kmh for about 4 minutes and had made up over half of the distance to the group when I felt a gasket about to blow. I was way over the top and beginning to feel I might not catch them as they were not slowing either. Then I realized that I had someone on my wheel who had tagged along with my break. I signaled to him that I was out and that he needed to take the lead. He was reluctant but finally pulled through. We made it. I sucked a wheel for about 5 minutes to catch my breath but was happy to be in this other group. Now it was time for the first climb; the Siglistorfer.
This was really hard to get up not only because of the pitch of the road but there were still many riders together. Some seemed to be going backwards or at least coming to a standstill on the 17% grade. So while trying to maintain a constant but slow pace I was interrupted by others coming from behind and others I was passing with shoulders bumping all the way. I did not notice the steepness of the road and it was quickly over. The second hill, Regensberger is a bit longer but not as steep with the hardest parts near 14%. But at the bottom of the hill the skies just opened. The rain water was coming down the road at me, unable to be carried away by the drainage and I felt like I was riding in a stream.
I was pretty much alone by this point and could easily make it up the climb. Once over the top I knew it was all downhill from there and could enjoy the ride back to the finish. Or so I thought.
Right over the top I almost missed one of the first curves and nearly ended up down a hill in a field, not much of a guardrail up there. At that point I resigned from my favorite descending and was just focused on making it down in one piece. Once on the flats I caught 2 others and we sprinted to the finish and were happy when it was all over. Many of those I spoke with had also planned to ride 2 laps but like me thought better to cut it short.
Through the finish in 1:37 which was 3 minutes ahead of my best planned time. I called the others who were still at home and told them I was already finished. They didn't seem to mind not coming out in the rain to watch me ride. All in all a great, wet day. I will keep this race in my calendar for next year where hopefully the weather will play along a bit more.
PH