July 14 - Mount Diablo Hill Climb
Race info

Results

Reports: Elite 5 *and* 45+ race by Jens Kurt Heycke

Mount Diablo E5 and 45+
Report by Jens Kurt Heycke

This was a near perfect race. The organization was flawless; the prizes great; the marshals numerous and enthusiastic; and the results were online by the time I got home. All of that with a huge field of 300. What an amazing job these guys did!

I liked the looks of the course so much, I entered in both Cat 5 and Masters 45+.

The course is just over 6.2 miles with 1700 feet of climbing. It presents a few pacing challenges. If you're used to steady steep climbs like Old La Honda, this is quite different. The first two miles are undulating, but have relatively little net elevation gain. If you're prone to starting hard, it's real easy to overshoot here and suffer abjectly when you hit the steeper pitches further up. The final four miles feature some moderately steep sections, punctuated by quite steep switchbacks and the occasional flat, or downhill respite. I decided optimal pacing was to hit the moderate sections just over threshold power, the steep switchbacks at 1.3X threshold, and then recharge on the flatter parts. My original plan was go easy in the Cat 5 run and then really lay it down for the Masters 45+. However, when I hit the 2nd extended steep pitch (around 16 minutes), it was clear that the course was not going to permit any halfhearted attempts. So, I picked up the pace at that point. I had more than enough left in the tank to hammer the last 1km (which is pretty steep and steady). I still crossed the line feeling way too comfortable -- in lieu of the complete and utter depletion you should feel at the end of a TT.

My time was 26:05, with average power of 331 watts (with the 2nd half being considerably higher than the first). This was only good for 2nd place, with Nathaniel English zooming in to first, with one of the day's fastest times.

Without stopping, I turned and hurried back downhill (I didn't have any water with me). I had just enough time to get back to the car, slap on the Masters 45+ number and head back to the start. Feeling a bit dehydrated, I thought I would just make a token run up the 2nd time. I held only a a little over 300 watts for the first 10 minutes or so. But once again, something about the course convinced me I couldn't go easy. So I picked it up. Passing a few minutemen emboldened me to go a little faster.

I finished the 2nd half around 10 watts higher than the first. Average power was 322 for a time of 26:41 and second place. Jon Ornstil, who started a minute behind me, chased madly after me and gained enough to take First.

Jared BARRILLEAUX posted the fastest time of the day at 24:42. Perennial peleton powerhouse, Rob Anderson, and Harlan Chapman were very close --both under 25 minutes. I don't know if these guys are riding smarter in their 4th and 5th decades or what, but they sure aren't riding slower!

Even with a modest 5.2% average grade, weight does matter on this climb. I'm a little under 150lbs. To post a 26-minute time, a 170-pounder needs over 370 watts. So when you see someone of Kevin Metcalfe's or Justin Lucke's stature, you know they have to post near 400-watt numbers to go as fast as they do. That's over threshold level for plenty of TdF riders.

Jens Heycke

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