ToNB 2010. Prediction? PAIN!!

Innocuous enough looking course map.

Not so threatening looking course profile.

Got a chance to knock out 2 laps of this Saturday's ToNB RR course. Dickerson, Foxy, Park and I took an easy first lap with the Schleck bros, Turk and Moe. 2nd lap was anything but docile.

The race will play out a bit differently than today's ride - there probably won't be a steady 25mph wind out of the West!!

Some notes from the course.

16 miles with lots of turns, narrow roads and enough rollers. Near 1000 feet of climbing per lap. It will be interesting to see 50-100 man groups getting it on in the first road race of the season.

Turn #3 (Right off of St. Hedwig onto Zigmont) Watch out. Downhill approach, narrow road, >90 degree off camber turn will catch the unawares off guard and there will be a wreck in some of the races. Don't be in it. Ease up and treat this turn with respect.

Turn #5. 200m after this turn onto Stuart there is a 10' section of road under repair. Loose dirt. Leave a little extra room going into this and watch for sudden moves and a touch of wheels going in front of you. Don't be involved in a pileup here.

Do not go off the road on this course. There is barbed wire a'plenty lining this course.

When you make your last left turn onto Real Rd, there is 1.5 miles to go. It is a looong 1.5 miles. Expect people to jump to soon for the finish and blow here. There is a leftward sweeper with 1 mile to go which starts about a 1/3 mile uphill section. This is where it gets really tough with continued false flat to the finish.

Our "Hot Lap" today took 45 minutes. Expect lap times in the neighborhood of 40 minutes on saturday.

Kudos to Rob for a brilliant course. Should be a barn burner.

If you haven't yet volunteered, please do. Contact Rob directly (email.rob.kane@gmail.com)

Hope to see you out there.