Levi's Gran Fondo

Here is a quick recap of my race at the Levi's GranFondo. We raced the "Growler" route, a demanding course covering 221km with over 4,200m of elevation gain.

Physical Update The main takeaway from this weekend is that my form is fully back. Following the recovery process, I no longer have any doubts about my physical condition.

Race Dynamics I spent most of the day at the front of the race. I joined an early breakaway of 13 riders. We worked reasonably well together, though we should have paced slightly faster to maintain a solid gap before the final valley. With a $25,000 prize for the win, the chase behind us was intense, forcing the main favorites, like Matt Beers and Keegan Swenson, to work hard all day to close the gap. I felt in control in the front group, even knowing the peloton would eventually catch us.

The Finale The race was decided on the final climb, The Geysers. Mike Woods attacked, and I was eventually dropped, but I managed to limit the time loss before the summit. The last two kilometers of the climb average 11%, which is right at the limit of my physical characteristics.

Despite this, I climbed much better than I anticipated. It felt good to go full gas and completely empty the tank, erasing the frustration I felt after the puncture at Sea Otter.

I crossed the line in 8th place. It was a solid day out and a great confirmation of my current shape.