2009 Radwelt and UCI Master Championship Races
St. Johann, Austria.

Michael Carter.

August 23, 2009 was the first day of the Radwelt Pokal Championships which doubled as the UCI Master Championship Races this year. The race organizers allowed riders to race in younger categories which is great fun, especially when you are 46! Race ages here start at 30+ and go in 5 year increments so you have a lot of opportunities to race here before the UCI takes over on Wednesday with the TT.

I rode the 35+ race on the 23rd, and the course is the same as it has been for 41 years—three laps on a 40K course with two climbs. The first climb comes after 4K where you ride from town and enter the circuit. As you enter the circuit, the climb starts immediately and even though it is only 4K it boasts a maximum pitch of 11%. Plus, it stair-steps so that makes it a bit more difficult to attack, get a gap and hold it. The second climb comes after about another 10K or so and is only about 2K. It includes a short, steep section that goes through Schwendt, which is your classic, small alpine town. After that climb, you hit a fast descent, two rollers then about 20K of flats finish up the circuit.

The race listed 175 participants. I’m not sure how many exactly started but it was a big group, probably about 165. On narrow roads, it is always a bit more of a thrill trying to work your way to the front. Lots of sketchy, nervous riders moved about the peloton so I rode the first two laps on the very back—which can be a risky proposition. Indeed, I may have even been a bit too cautious A group of twenty nine eventually separated from the pack and gained about a minute on the peloton as we hit the 4 K climb for the third and final time. I worked my way to the front of the peloton at the start of the climb and drilled it! A guy from Seramenti-Androgiacomoli—a continental pro team—tagged along. There was considerable head wind after the climb so we wanted to bridge across before the summit. We knew it was going to be tough, but went for it anyways.

Long story short—we made it across. We hit Schwendt and on the shorter climb I drilled it again. My goal was to thin the herd, but when I looked back I was pleasantly surprised to see that only two followed—both Italians. On the descent, Christian Endanger—a rider with a European pro team and four time winner of the Masters World Championships—bridged across to us on the descent!

I felt great and knew the remaining 28 chasers would be motivated. We ended with a 42 second gap at the end—doggone it I ended up 4th!

The Hill Climb Championship followed on the 24th. My nemesis for the last three years, Vitor—a Portuguese rider—was there, but he looked a bit pudgy this year. The course is a strange hill climb because it features a slight descent. But, the course ends with a brutal last 300 meters at a 20% grade! After 12K, only a pure climber can win it.

A Spanish rider drilled it early on the first 15% pitch, and Vitor and I followed. We hammered on the descent, and then on the last killer section, I attacked and won the event!

On the 25th, I competed in the Radwelt Pokal—45+ Road Race—the Masters World Cup Championship for the 45+ set It was the same course as the 23rd, but the participants were all 45+. An older peloton does not necessarily make for an easier race as us old guys tend to be a bit craftier, and even sometimes a bit more fit. Indeed, the 45+ race was more than 2 minutes faster than the 35+ race—I guess we can chalk up that blistering pace to a field that contained a lot of ex-pros.

The weather was HOT—33 to 34 degrees centigrade (nearly 100 Fahrenheit) with only a bit of a breeze to cool you down.

Lap one was one the most aggressive laps I have been through here—not one successful break got away. I rode easy in the very back, knowing that the heat would take its toll on anyone who would did too much too early. My plan was to wait until the 3rd lap and bridge to whatever break might be up the road.

In bike racing anything can happen—and things rarely go according to plan. A split of 21 riders went up the road and gained a sizable gap of about 50 seconds as we entered the 4K climb for the 2nd time. All the big names were in there so I had to make a move. I bridged on the climb. The problem with a group this size; too many riders will not rotate through. Some guys are motivated to keep the break established and some guys will open gaps hoping or wanting someone else to do the work necessary to keep the break alive.

When we hit the 20K flat the next time through, I ended up solo off the front. I rode about 13K and knew someone would bridge up to me. Two riders did—one Portuguese rider and one German rider. These two, while super strong, were not very good at working together. Indeed, I used more energy trying to get these guys to be smooth and get in a fluid pace line. With 20 riders now chasing, we needed to be as cohesive and efficient as possible.

Due to the inefficiency of our break we were caught on that flat section on the last lap, with about 15K to go. I was definitely "worked" from the break, but decided not to give up. The attacks started, and I found myself forced to close the gaps that were opening up as guys attacked and others let the gap open. Closing the gaps was painful. I decided with about 8K to go to ride in the top 10, cover moves and watch for the moment when I would counter an attack.

That moment came with about 4K to go. An attack went down, probably the 11th big move of the kilometers. It was followed by five of us and I could sense everyone was tired—including me. But, I knew that this was it—my chance to take the race. I shifted to a higher gear, attacked, got a gap, and then time-trialed in for the victory.

Finally, I got a 1st place finish in the Worlds. It took me 11 years, but I did it. To be the Masters 45+ World Cup Champion is a great accomplishment and a real honor. It might not be quite the same as the UCI World Champion on the world wide scene, but this race is regarded as the same level as the UCI among the Europeans.