Gran Fondo Ephrata 2021 Race Recap

Wave starts, Covid restrictions, and a big wind set the 2021 running of the Gran Fondo Ephrata apart from previous iterations. Adam and I were happy to be back on gravel and turning the pedals despite the atypical conditions.

With no gravel races taking place in 2020 we had a lot of time to train and prepare for this race. We discussed how the wave starts, separated by ten minutes and limited to 25 riders, would affect race dynamics. We discussed about how hard we could charge up the hills knowing that rest would come on the descents. We discussed the infamous Palisades headwind. And we discussed tire selection.

Grand Fondo Ephrata 2021 was re-organized to reduce Covid risk. Usually a mass start event, this year competitors were broken out into waves of no more than 25 riders. There were options to ride on Saturday or Sunday with each day being scored separately based on elapsed time. The promoter requested that we not congretate before or after the race. This did not feel the same as a typical gravel event yet our appreciation to be racing again was palpable.

My race day started at four a.m. We rolled out of Adam's neighborhood by ten minutes after five. Lots of driving was necessary to get to Ephrata in time for our nine a.m. start wave. Adam had read online that a rider cut a sidewall on his new 32mm wide Continental GP5000 tubeless tire. This was the exact tire we both had purchased and mounted specifically for Ephreta. I became nervous about our tire choice.

Last year we signed up to represent local bike shop Cascadia Wheel Company. Covid cancelled all 2020 gravel events so Ephreta 2021 became the first event at which we flew our new Cascadia Wheel Company kits.

As we lined up for our start wave we were surprised that our group of 23 would have a vehicle to lead us under neutral roll out. The neutral pace was gentle and we chatted a bit and sized up the other riders in our wave. At least half of them looked lean, fit, and serious. Getting out of town didn't take long and the road started a gentle gradient upward. Soon enough our neutral roll out vehicle pulled over. Out of the vehicle window rang a cowbell and we knew it was time to get to work.

About half of the group showed some intent and we quickly ingrained ourselves into the fold. A short while later we turned off onto a gravel road headed up Davis Canyon where the climbing became real. We knew the course profile and the first fifteen miles were dominated by two successive climbs. Two riders immediately showed interest in breaking away. Brian Atwood went off the front convincingly. He was being chased by Ryan Los. They were both out of sight before we completed the shorter of the two climbs.

Adam set the climbing pace of our chase group and it worried me. I often fret that I will let myself go too fast too early. Adam informed me he was watching his power meter. I knew I could trust him and gave my blessings for his pacemaking. Only after the race was over did I learn he had done his homework. His goal was to put us both at threshold for the twenty minutes of serious climbing.

Adam's pace proved to be too much for all but Conrad Kornmann. Conrad and I had competed elbow to elbow in previous cyclocross seasons and Conrad was at least our equal in climbing speed. Our trio continued at pace right over the top of the second climb at mile fifteen and into the gravel descent two miles later.

This first gravel descent on Baird Springs Road revealed just how important tire selection is at a gravel event. Conrad wheeled away on the steeper sections while Adam and I used 100% concentration and all our cyclocross skills to keep our bikes flying straight during the fastest sections of the descent. 'Sketchy' was the best adjective to describe the handling characteristics. I later apologized for recommending a 32mm road tire.

The lower half of Baird Springs Road brought a more gentle gradient and our reunion with Brian. Now four strong, we worked together as best we could. Pacelining on gravel roads can be challenging. That challenge was compounded by the increasingly strong side winds. Add in some 'sketch' from our tire choice and we were at the limit keeping our bikes in line.

Mile 33 brought some welcome relief. We turned North onto State Route 28. The shoulder was smooth and aiming our bikes North brought the wind to our backs. We did not taper our efforts. Brian took amazingly strong pulls. I skipped a few turns. We also rode past Ryan who had stopped, while leading our start wave, to repair a flat.

We arrived at the food and water stop in record time. Literally. Adam and Brian now share the Strava KOM for that eight mile section of State Route 28.

The food and water stop marked the turn off Highway 28. The sun had revealed itself and we indulged in an extra minute to remove base layers. Food and water was quickly stowed and we remounted. Conrad's stop delay equaled ours but Brian had escaped up the road. As a group of three well matched riders we were optimistic as we faced the next challenge.

Most years Palisades Road looms long and dark over GFE riders. Nineteen miles of false flat with geographically focused headwinds. Instead we were surprised to receive a gift. The warm wind was now blowing at our backs and we sailed toward the terminus of Palisades at an averaged speed of 24 mph.

Palisades Road is also where Conrad pulled the plug. I heard him comment "I'm completely worked" and watched as he dropped off our wheels. Adam and I missed him but continued on. Not long after Conrad's departure we caught sight of strongman Brian. We patiently reeled him in and rode together as we approached and prepared for the transition.

As the road changes name to 3 Devils Grade Road it also alters its personality. The climbing starts with a short and steep pitch where I chose to walk. This was a controversial decision. The walk lasted just 100 feet but by the time we remounted Brian had gapped us well. My choice to walk was premeditated but not fully proven.

The lower speeds of climbing allowed us to discuss our options for catching and passing Brian. We knew where he was strong and where we were strong. We knew the layout of the course including where the final climb would occur and when we would face another headwind. We discussed how we might work the finish if we were competing against a lone competitor. And I asserted that, if necessary, I would work the lead out position to allow Adam the sprint win. Adam was not convinced of this decision.

From mile 61 to 71 we relentlessly worked our plan. These miles were half paved and mostly flat and allowed us to share the work. Taking steady turns at the front we slowly erased the gap between ourselves and Brian. At mile 71 we passed Brian and he did not seem eager to follow our wheels.

Mile 72 marked a 90 degree turn where the course turned due South. The winds had been revving up all morning and we were now taking them nearly head on. The landscape was mostly flat and treeless. The gravel was chunky enough to warrant caution. Drafting in the echelon formation meant the following rider was sometimes forced into the deeper chunks. We anticipated the headwind and figured correctly that Brian, working alone, would not be able to fight his way back to us. We did not anticipate the destruction of the field that would unfold before us. This five mile stretch was littered with exhausted riders from earlier waves that were at their ends.

Adam and I felt our darkest moments over those five miles and 22 minutes. The level of suffer convinced me it was twice as long. Our watts remained intact but our spirits were visibly bent. Strava says we maintained a 14 mph average but we were hurting in every possible way.

In the emotional darkness brought on by the headwinds we each made an internal decision which we did not share with the other. Earlier in the day we anticipated that being ahead of all competitors in our wave going into the headwind would allow us to stay ahead. We knew we could ease the pace and maintain that lead position. Silently, however, we made the same calculation. Continuing to push at 100% to the finish would maximize our race against an unseen competitor. The clock.

Mile 77 brought a turn to the left, a smoother road, and a change in geography. We were starting our last climb and the undulating terrain provided a buffer from the strongest gusts. We were given some relief from the relentless bouncing of the previous five miles. The communication of our silent decisions to push relentlessly to the finish was non verbal. Adam went quiet yet his consistent pedal stroke spoke volumes. I repeatedly threw curse words at the wind while maintaining my solid climbing pace.

At mile 79 Sheep Canyon Road transitioned to pavement and we sighed in relief. From previous GFE events we knew the remaining course well and how that translated into the finish game plan. We simply needed to execute. Some gentle climbing was completed before a fun and restorative descent off the plateau. When the road flattened we turned right onto Road B and starting taking turns into the wind. We emptied the last of the tank for four miles which put us within sight of the Ephrata High School and the Vicious Cycles finish trailer.

We had stayed away from strongman Brian. We had burned every match. We approached the finish alone in side wind echelon formation with me just off Adam's hip. Our Cascadia Wheel Company jerseys were properly zipped for the finish line photographers. Adam might have been contemplating the timing for a proper sprint. He might have been anticipating that I would start the show and he would respond. I left no doubt of my intention. I reached over, shoved him ahead, and commanded "Go". Out of the saddle he went as I worked to follow his wheel. We had clinched first and second finishers of our start wave.

The following numbers verify the magnitude of our effort. 88 miles. Elapsed time of four hours and 51 minutes. Eighteen mile per hour average. Five thousand feet of climbing. Twenty mile per hour winds. Adam's power meter reported a normalized average power of 235 watts. We were utterly spent.

After all waves had finished and times were tabulated we learned that a second Sunday team from Tenspeed Hero had put in a serious effort. Leigh Thurgood and Mike Robson worked together to finish one and two in their wave in four hours 55 minutes.

With all Sunday waves finished we realized our first ride representing Cascadia Wheel Company, postponed for one full year, resulted in first and second place. Over a year of preparation had come to fruition.

Over the long drive home we unpacked what we did right at Ephreta this year.

It started last year. We began training with a common goal. Adam guided me to refine my training model. I challenged him to longer and tougher gravel training rides. We each put in enough time training on Zwift to wear out our indoor training equipment. Preparation for Gran Fondo Ephrata 2021 was not haphazard. We've discussed training loads, equipment, strategy, and tactics for months. Last Sunday was our opportunity to share the product of the work we've put in over the last fourteen months.

Teamwork and communication might be our strongest weapon. Neither Adam nor I have the leg strength to solo our way to a GFE victory. We've refined how we train and race to compliment the other. Adam is correct when he summarizes us as a cycling team: "Dwaine is conservative and I am aggressive." We've learned when to 'race to finish' and when to 'race to win'. We've learned to trust. On Sunday we didn't stop talking out the tactics and options until the finish trailer was behind us.

Once home Adam analyzed some data to calculate where we gained time and where we lost it compared to Leigh Thurgood and Mike Robson. His data sources were imperfect but they gave us a rough picture.

We gained one minute 45 seconds over the initial two climbs. Adams power meter reported he averaged 290 watts over the 14 minutes of most serious climbing. In retrospect I'm even more thankful I trusted him to pace us properly.

We gained three minutes over fifteen miles flying down Baird Springs Road. This gain wasn't from pedal power. Our cyclocross experience and tens of hours training in Capitol Forest allowed us the comfort to fly over that gravel on sketchy tires in a side wind and know we could keep the bikes straight enough to come out the other side.

We lost time over the last ten miles of gravel. We managed about 13.5 mph. These miles were when we were at our worst including the killer headwind section and final 550 foot category 4 climb. Despite the time loss our conviction to maintain 100% effort to the finish likely minimized the magnitude of the loss.

We gained one minute over the final four miles to the finish. This effort lasted twelve minutes. Our decision to burn every match was evident in the power data file. Despite 85 miles of punishment we were still taking 300 watt pulls and averaging 17 mph into a serious headwind. I was amazed that we could still pull that well given how loudly our bodies were screaming for us to quit.

Adam and I had a spectacular finish at GFE this year. We are quite proud of this achievement. But we did not achieve it alone. I've helped Adam become a better cyclist and he's returned the favor. We've received support from our families. Our online training community, AKA 'Sweatfest', has encouraged us to train at new levels. Cascadia Wheel Company put the jerseys on our backs and kept our wheels rolling. This is my 'Thank You' to everyone that has helped us along the way.