August 13, 2017
Tokeneke Classic 2017 Edition
Rob Cosgriff reports from East Hartland, CT
I ventured down to the Tokeneke Classic road race for the second year in a row to join a Cat4/40+ field of 53 racers on a two lap 22-mile course around the Barkhamsted Reservoir with 2,100 feet of elevation change per lap. The longest climb finishing each lap is 2 miles at a 4% grade with steeper climbs at around the ten mile point.
How the race unfolded
One soul took a flier from the end of the neutral and we chased for about 18 miles and caught him at the top of the finishing climb on the first of two laps. So with everyone together for the second lap it was clear that the hills would be attacked.
Sure enough the first climb had several attacks that left a reduced field of about 30 heading into the final climb at 3 miles to go. Once we hit that last climb, the fireworks lit up and I tried to anticpate the moves but couldn't quite hang onto the lead group of six. I found myself leading a chase of four riders at about ten seconds back which then slipped to 20 seconds when the road pitched up a bit. Finally, when the road leveled out wtih 1k to go, my compatriots pulled through. This gave me a quick breather which I used to jump on the wheel of the first guy who sprinted (too early) and then went around him at 200m which then stuck as the best finish of the chasers and 7th overall.
Great race and a great day of bike riding.