BOY, YOU’VE GOT TO CLEAN THAT UP!!!!!

I know I’m sounding like a broken record – but today was another tough day of riding. The route took us from Santa Clarita to San Dimas and included major climbs through the Little Tujunga Canyon and eventually onto the Glendora Mountain range, providing a leg snapping 8000 feet of climbing.

Like yesterday, the plan included a gentlemanly rollout for the first five or six miles. I say planned, since Tom and Marc thought it would be funny to sprint off the front and see if anyone would react. Unfortunately, no one told Andrew that is was only supposed to be in fun!

But first the Day Two black jersey winner, you’ll remember from yesterday’s report that the rides caboose was egged on by Mike Witt – much to the dismay of his riding cohorts. Now this, in and of itself is nearly worthy of receiving the jersey - this is, after all, the Train of Pain. Yet when asked why, he simply hung his head and said that it was better than listening to his brother Rich’s disappointment if he’d quit. The power of the brotherhood, the pain of the climb – it’s really pretty much the same.

For today, the tough early climbing broke the riders into several smaller groups. Off the front Andrew, Tom and Marc had committed to a long, hard day; meanwhile, the chase took off in earnest with Mike Armbruster leading the splintered remains up the early pitches. Behind them, two main groups formed – misery loving the company it brings.

It would largely remain this way throughout the day; with the jersey hunt beginning to solidify. Andrew attacked throughout, eventually managing to uncork Tom and Marc to take the day – this moves him into the lead for the yellow. Steve Quinn still holds a grip on the sprinter’s jersey. The red remains hotly contested – with Torrey Pines on the final day likely to decide it.

For last year’s Red Jersey winner, Scott Duncan, this should have been a stage tailor made. With three long climbs and good recovery in between – repeating his climbing dominance was in the bag. That is until he began what would amount to four flat tires, leave him an hour behind the leaders and forced to make the final near 20-mile climb all alone.

If you’ve been keeping up with the blogs leading up to this year’s ride, you’ll remember reports of the demands on Scott’s time following his unprecedented win last year – the starlets, the parties, the Wheaties box photo shoots – its a wonder he was able to show up at all. Still, with youth on his side, he may be able to claw his way back into the fight.

So what of the rest; well it wouldn’t be the Train of Pain if someone doesn’t throw up somewhere on the road. This is a tradition that Carter began on day three of our first year’s ride. It scared a poor family from ever taking a vacation again, but established another competition all of its own.

This year’s newest inductee into the “I gave my all for this darn ride and now I have scrape it off my bike” club is Tyler. After digging deep to get himself over the first two climbs he finally rolled up to the van stop. It was here that he made his tactical mistake – it seems that eating everything that he could get his hands on while downing it with lukewarm Pepsi may not be the best “Eat to Win” dietary choice.

After about 20 miles of gurgling, all while rolling through one of the nicest neighborhoods of today’s route the cork finally came loose. Have you ever shaken a soda, pointed it at a friend and pulled the stopper? If you have, you’ll know what poor Mike Witt felt like. There he was in his prize jersey, riding along and minding his own business when suddenly he got to know a little too much about Tyler’s eating habits – last word was that he was still in the shower, scrub brush in hand and mumbling something about finding his happy place.

So there you go, three days down, just two remaining; so far the ride is living up to the hype.

ToP IV 2010 Day 3
93 miles
8000 feet of climbing