Tour Of Leelanau

My 2 cents:

Pre-Race:

I arrived in the parking lot at about 12:05pm, which meant the rest of the squad had been waiting for me for about a half hour because we all had to sign in together. Sorry guys. I think I started getting my stuff on at about 12:20. Luckily, my girlfriend (Raychel) was there to help. I changed into my uniform using her as a barrier between my nude rear end and some elderly female spectators who probably weren't expecting to see such an early attack. Raychel then pinned my numbers on for me.... it is now 12:40 (ask her). I had time to use the restroom and have a quick energy drink before the announcer called us to the start line at about 12:50. I rode through the parking lot and up the hill to join the other riders. I like to call this warm up part 1. The next ten minutes consisted of riders being called to the front, the national anthem, and the 5, 3, and 1 minute warnings. Most of the time I was thinking to myself, don't be "that guy" who throws up at the start line. Then we were off.


The Race:

The peleton hit about 32mph as soon as we turned onto M-22. I remember this because Tim said, "oh sh*t my computer isn't working." And I said, "we're going 32." It stayed around 30 mph until about a mile in when there was a big crash and I had to go off the road to avoid it. Then I had to chase at about 34mph for about 1/2 mile to catch back on. I like to call this warm up part 2. the race stayed fast for the next 40 miles or so as the pro's kept attacking off the front and the peleton tried to chase. At about 50 miles in there were only a few pros remaining in the peleton and I started thinking about Tower Road. It was around then when another break went with about 15 or so riders, some pro, some not (as I remember it). It was decision time; chase and risk blowing up on Tower or hang out and hope to catch them later. My legs chose the latter. Tower Rd (mile 60) seemed shorter but steeper than last year, but I had pretty good legs for it. I also got an extra boost from what seemed like a hundred fans gathered Tour de France style at the top. We passed through single file to the sound of ear-ringing cheers and clanging bells.That was fun. The next 50 miles or so was basically a group of about 15-20 riders occasional trading pulls against the wind at around 22mph. As the miles slowly wound down I was really just thinking about how cold I was and how much my body ached and how much I wanted to get off my bike. The "race" seemed to be too far up the road to think much about. As we made the turn onto the ramp that led up to the finish, Robert took off and I jumped to try and catch him. At first, I didn't see any fans on the hill and I thought, did they pack up and leave already? But they came into view and cheered as loud as ever as we rounded the last bend and crossed the line. I think about 3 riders passed me in the last 20 yards or so, including Tim. Raychel said she was counting and that I was about 38th. Much better than I would have guessed 20 miles prior.

Post-Race:

I spent the next half hour or so shivering and talking about the race with other riders and giving my dad the play-by-play over the phone. Then Tim's girlfriend Angela drove Robert, Tim, Raychel, and me back to my car. I said bye and thanks and changed my clothes and Raychel drove the 4.5 hours home. Should I have jumped on that break before Tower Road? I don't know.


Robert Dobbie


And the other Robert wrote:

My 2007 Tour De Leelanau race report...
Getting ready for the event and I see all kinds of pro teams I have only heard about before. I'm started to wonder if it's just silly of me to start. I'm starting to think this race is kind of a big deal. The bike feels a little strange for a mile or so, it's only my 3rd time on a road bike since last year's Tour de Leelanau. Wow, just rolling out of town and things are already scary fast and furious. A multi rider crash right in front of me at mile one and I'm wondering, what have I gotten myself into. The first quarter of the race was pretty painful. I was on the rivet most of the time and I was concerned that I could survive to the end. Finally with a strong group of about 20 guys up the road by mile 35 things started to settle down a little. Whew! So now we are in what I figure is the main field, maybe 50 guys. That group rolls along for the next 20 miles trying to keep the gap to the break manageable. At mile 55 on the Hlavka road KOM a little gap formed in the middle of the field. I wasn't too worried cause all the KOMs seem to create little gaps and we all seem to come back together on the other side, but unfortunately not this time. We loose another 15 guys. That group is in site for quite a while but everyone is getting tired and motivation to work is low so looks like this bunch may be racing for about 35th place, AKA nothing. The rest of the way was a bit like a 110 mile, fairly hard, training ride, with feed zones, support crews, a rolling enclosure, and cheering fans all along the way. Near the end I started asking the other guys if they were gona race to the line when we got there. I wanted to, but I didn't want to look like a dork if everyone else was just going to soft pedal in. I didn't get a clear indication from anyone that they want to contest 35th position.. Oh well, I was gona go hard at the end anyway. Approaching the last turn I was about 3rd wheel trying to keep an eye out over my shoulder for anyone making a jump. I learned on my first TDL that there's not a lot of position changes after that turn so I wanted to be first right there. Made my jump into the turn and went for it. Looked back and was happy to see the other guys wrestling their bikes up the hill. Dang, suddenly that short little hill seemed a lot longer than I remember and my legs were getting angry with me, but I stayed on the gas and rolled across best of our group in front of a huge crowd of people that lined the finish chute area. I'm so glad I was allowed the opportunity to race. Turned out to be another awesome Tour De Leelanau.

Robert Herriman

2007 Priority Health Tour de Leelanau Men's Results
1 PELTONEN Garrett Priority Health 4:21:03
2 ROTH Ryan Kelly Benefit Strategies 18
3 ZWZANSKI Scott Priority Health 1:28
4 KING Ted Priority Health 2:36
5 PERRAS Dominique Kelly Benefit Strategies 2:38
6 BOWMAN Daniel Kelly Benefit Strategies 2:59
7 ENGLAND Rich Priority Health same time
8 ALBERS Kirk Saurn of Toledo 3:05
9 HENRY Timothy Jittery Joe's 3:08
10 ZIRBEL Tom Priority Health 3:14
.........
34 Robert Herriman
37 Tim Finkle
38 Robert Dobbie

Thanks to Aldo and Robert H. for the pictures, and the 2 Roberts for the stories.