The Great Escape

The first edition of the Joop Zoetemelk Classic (the tourist version of the
Ronde van het Groene Hart, which will make its debut on the UCIⁱ
Calendar tomorrow) was a very worthwile excursion into our local
polders. It offered hardly any discoveries in terms of terrain, and no
sunshine whatsoever (but, as opposed to La Primavera, quite favourable
conditions). But hammering on our home turf, and leading the peloton
throughout the ride, was good for Morale.

At 08:00 sharp, Joop Zoetemelk himself fired the starting shot.
His rather clumsy handling of the gun suggests that he's less
successful as a hunter (his way of retiring from the sport and avoiding
people) than he used to be as a professional cyclist.

Henkarello and some other Swiftⁱ mates, Daniel 'from Venosc', Il Boiaⁱ
and yours truly immediately claimed the front. The plan, originally,
was that we would go for some 90 km or so of 'neutralised' duck
watching, after which there was to be a free for all Finale.

The plan, however, proved to be as watertight as the administrative
command economy of the former Soviet bloc. With so many eager Joops on
our tail, the wind in our back, and the 'hurry' of the
devil-called-testosteron, the pace soon developed into something
reminding of a D3 block training. Il Boia and a GIOS Carbonio at some
point even rode away. Behind them, cooperation was quite good (even
though the usual suspects were shying away from towing duty). So near
Waddinxveen, it was grupetto compattoⁱ again.

A slightly downsized grupetto, that is. One by one, the Oppositionaries capitulated. That was the theme of this JZC.

So we kept on cranking, making the polders, which can be endless on a
solo training ride, look small and easy. Slowly, but unmistakably, the
pace got nastier. Teasers, démarrages, echelons, D3 efforts, and the
like. Near the 80 km mark, it was an outright throat-cutter, with a
race-like 'seriousness' and no prisoners being taken.

Henkarelo and the Swifties (all but one), opted for a coffee stop, this
being a 'tourtocht' and all. Daniel, Jo (with whom I regularly rode the
Saturday Souplesses), Il Boia and yours truly decided to just continue.

The four of us opted for a slightly more constant effort. In practice,
that meant Jo dictating most of the pace. I was glad he wasn't on his
bike with tractor tyres and mudguards, because he made me suffer big
time. Daniel and Boia, both riding strongly throughout the morning,
seemed more comfortable (or less conservative); my legs started to go
'sour' and Jo's surges were incompatible with my aim of saving some
juice for tomorrow's race. So with 15 km or so to go, after yet another
massive takeover by Jo, I threw the towel and hit D2.

In the
club house, I rejoined JZC runners-up Daniel and Boia (Jo was already
on his way to work...) and had a quick Coke and a big smile. This had
been a good ride!

Afvalrace

De eerste Joop Zoetemelk Classic, daadwerkelijk weggeschoten door de naamgever hemzelf, is inmiddels een feit.

Het
parkoers had voor mij weinig geheimen (op twee polderstrookjes na,
misschien), maar de opkomst was in de vroege ochtend al heel
behoorlijk. Weinig zon, maar geen regen en ook niet overdreven veel
wind.

Erg lekker gereden, met o.m. enkele Swift mènne en
Daniel1975 (ook nog een klein stukje met MEG, die het toch niet kon
laten zich even van voren te laten zien). De 'neutralisatie' was ietsje
intensiever dan gedacht, want veel goesting. Lekker doorkachelen,
redelijk samenwerken en--wie zal het zeggen--niet voor elkaar onder
willen doen. Dan gaat het tempo meestal rap omhoog.

Ergens
halverwege begon de uitputtingsslag. Links en rechts werd er een
behoorlijke snokⁱ aan gegeven en onze kopgroep dunde steeds verder uit.
Met z'n vieren (Daniel, Jo, Il Boia en Bruco) de koffiestop ('het is
wèl een toertocht') gelaten voor wat 'ie was en doorgestoempd.

Mijn
metgezellen leken onvermoeibaar. Vooral Jo (die op tijd thuis moest
zijn voor zijn middagdienst) gaf nauwelijks af. Daniel--chapeau!--en Il
Boia--klasse--(die op een rustig schema waren vertrokken) konden het
nog wel bijbenen, maar ik moest steeds vaker het omslagpunt opzoeken.
En daar had ik nou net even geen trek in, gezien het wedstrijdje van
morgen. Dus liet ik los en ben ik de laatste 15 km ofzo naar het
clubhuis gesoleerd. Tijd zat om (binnen de 4:30 gefinished) daar nog
even een colaatje te drinken...