They combined the 3/4/5 and women and reduced the miles from 40 to 32 making this a sprint contest, rather than a survival of the fittest contest. Well enough for me as 4 times up the half-mile climb was plenty. Actually, I was pleased with my climbing for a change - must be that week in the Pyrenees - and was able to stay with the lead pack every time up. As was the case last year, lots of guys tried to get a break going, but nothing stayed off the front for more than a minute or two, setting up a likely sprint finish as we headed into the hill for the last time. However, on the climb, some little sprite from the middle of the pack zipped past the peleton like a scooter at full throttle. One or two gave chase but he was several seconds ahead and on his own at the top of the hill. I stayed with the pack, though I had drifted back to the middle by the top of the hill. Over the rollers toward the finish a few guys launched off the front but were swallowed up quickly by the group, hungry for a sprint finish. I positioned myself in what I thought was a perfect position, snaking my way up the right side into 5th or 6th place with less than a mile to go. But on one of the last strength sapping rises before the finish, the back half of the peleton swept across the center line on the blind hill and around the leaders - including myself. I was caught behind a couple of riders who had hit the wall and it was all catch-up from there. I came around several guys in the final sprint but could only manage 13th in the end. After the race I complained to the official about what I considered extremely unsafe tactics by the several riders that passed left of center on the blind uphill. I had no intention of influencing the final results, but hope that by speaking up I might give them some incentive to post someone at the hill next time to discourage unsafe tactics. Overall, it was a good day of racing for me and gave me some confidence that I may be able to get some climbing legs developed for next spring's classics.
