Fuji 200 challenge
Presented by Funrace (hmmm)














Fuji speedway, an F1 course is opened up once a year for bikes. The challenge is to clear 200 k in under seven hours. However for the racers there are prizes for top times. So the most unique thing about the challenge was that everyone is out
on the course together, a mass start time trial. As for the course description I was told over and over again that it was flat
However, it is an up and down thing that really does it to the legs after a while. The pavement surface was fantastic, with one hairpin downhill that you just cant get enough of. There was room for everyone, however things got hairy more than
a few times. Slower riders were supposed to stick further to the left but that didn't always happen. With the free format of riding you are welcome to join in with any group that suits you, so it's kind of a blast. If you get pinched on the climb or cut off by a slower rider there was most likely an equally fast group behind tearing it up so the tempos stayed high. I was getting reports of finishing times close to 40kph average, for the amature racers. You are offered a pit stop area so you dont have to carry all your stuff on board. It took 44 laps to complete 200k. I have had good form all year with strength a speed. But my legs were tired but I figured the event sounded really cool and I should just go and see what happens. In my group I was matched up with Conneko San a strong "A" devision (Sort of a cat 2 thing) rider, who I generally had no problem with in training rides. I knew he is a more experienced racer with lots of technique and saavy so I worked hard to stick with him
and work together. As we waited for the start I made the first in a series of mistakes by standing around in the chill with no covering on the legs and a light jacket. Though I drank tons of water on the days preceding I was afraid of drinking in the moment so I wouldn't have to pee during the race. Finally it started, the first 70k was a total blast, we hooked up with some strong amatures and held close to 40kph. Conneko San got pinched on the speed a few times only to reappear slipstreaming and even faster group. Then the pros lapped us for the first time. Conneko suprised me with a fantastic small ring bridge on the hill to catch the pro paceline, then a 50kph tail wind sprint to stick with an attack when the hill leveled off, I just sat on his wheel in awe. I didn't really
know he could do something like that and it occured to me that for all my speed I just didn't have the same conditioning. Dragged along at the back of the paceline I felt like a dog who got his leash accidentally caught in the door of the car as it speeds off down the highway. The sound system was blaring Bon Jovi, it truly seemed the odds were against me. After some more laps at really high speed being led by some super strong maniac on a mountain bike; a couple of neo pro types stared to get pinched on the hill, Conneko San turned himself inside out to stay with the pro group, I decided to to a couple slow laps to re-fuel and get back up to speed. This was my next mistake as the weather had turned colder and so would my body. This resulted in my legs started to seriously cramp. I actually had to pull over to shake them out. No eating and drinking helped, my legs were toast. I was frustrated because I still wanted to play the speed game but my legs said no. Now I just had to crawl along and manage cramps. I thought about quitting, but I did finish with a time of 5.51. I got like 153 place or something like that. I took solace that there were a thousand riders in my event and only 43% can finish.
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