Moltosg Els to Tuul Ovoot
MBC 2019 - stage 2
101km, 1100m climb
3hrs 33mins - 4th equal overall, and 1st in masters 2
Leah: About 5hrs and 2nd women today!
No Strava file for me as my Garmin corrupted the file. Here is Leah’s: https://www.strava.com/activities/2626244586
Another fast start, although the fast start was more for positioning today, as the track we followed out of camp was a double track but with lots of deep potholes filled with water. If you were not in the top 4-5 wheels chances are you would be getting wet and with 101km in front of us, I did not want to get that wet, so it was a classic case of the strongest riders fighting for position.
In the meantime, two Mongolians attacked and disappeared up the road, and the pink jersey wearer, race leader was back with us. I think he expected us (Richard who is leading the Masters 1 category, and myself to cover and case down his 2 teammates then he would ride away from us. In the end his plan did not quite work, as his two teammates slowly pulled away from us, and the pink jersey wearer saw his pink jersey slipping off his shoulders. He attacked hard on the flat and I was on his wheel, and all he achieved was to pull three of us and him out of the peloton for a lonely day up the road. In the end he attacked the three of us a couple more times, and each time we covered him, until we had a small hill. He rode up beside us, and told us he was going, and he was gone! The only bugger for him was by this time his two teammates were gone, and I have just found out he finished 2 minutes back on them, but still 10 mins in front of us. He would have had a long lonely day out.
The rest of the day I rode with Richard and an American until we dropped him on a steeper climb, then it was just the two of us. I was super happy to be with someone as we rode into the block headwind again. After a lightening fast descent from the 2nd feed station at 58km, we eventually ended up on the flat with 30km of lose sand, corrugated roads and headwind to the camp. Richard and I worked together until he had a mechanical and stopped, and fixed this. I waited for him at the 3rd feed station, as the idea of 23km into the headwind did not sound like fun.
In the end we came in joint 4th overall, and this time I did win the Masters 2 category, unlike yesterday, when I thought I had but the gravel bike rider took it instead.
Overall, I am happy. It was a tough day out, and suited the stronger riders, so I made the most of it.
Leah had a good day out and came in 2nd women, so more podium time for her tonight.
Tomorrow is the queen stage. 135km and 1800m climb. First up is a 500m climb over 30km with a nasty little steep piece part way up. I suspect it will be another fast start to force the groups and then everyone will settle into group pace. The back half of the ride goes up and down over multiple 100m climbs. I have a feeling these will be tough, as the short ones are often the worse. Then from 110km it is downhill into the camp.
That is tomorrow. Now it is time for me to have some quality recovery and reading time.
