PCG Athlete, Raj Nair competed in the Morgantown
Road Race on Saturday, March 22 and finished the race 2nd. Here is
Raj’s recap of the race, “After living away in the tropics for 3 years,
probably this winter was not the best time to come back to North America.
The Morgantown road race in WV was my second road race for 2014. I was
placed 4th at the William& Mary Tidewater Winter Classic in Williamsburg,
VA. Add a couple of other top 5 finishes in Crits; I was determined to do a
podium heading into this race. This was the longest road race for the year yet
and even tougher considering bulk of the training this winter has been endless
hours on indoors trainer. I was surely nervous leading up to it but also a little
confident that I had worked hard.
The
45 miles Morgantown race in West Virginia is a hilly race with 4 short climbs
and a slightly bigger one in the middle of the race. Right from the
set go I stayed within the leading bunch. I have been doing this for all the
races so far mostly to stay out of trouble since I am starting within the Cat 5
here in the US and there is always some nervousness in the pack behind. The
group stayed together on the first short climb, but the second climb had
already weakened the group and selected a group of riders with 2 even getting
away. By the time we approached the third climb of the day, the biggest of
them all, we had reeled back the 2 men breakaway. I rode a good tempo pace on
the bigger climb and worked with 3 other cyclists to drop everyone else. I was
feeling good, could have gotten away but with more than third of the course
left I was sure they would have caught me. I am not the best descenders in the
game. So I stayed patient and worked with other 3 riders. By the time we were
over the 4th climb it was just Nate and me left. We had dropped the other 2
riders leading up to the 4th climb who were the initial 2 men breakaway. With
just a km or 2 left, Nate was sharper between the two of us for the day and got
away. Now reflecting back I feel I had the legs. Maybe I was slower to react
and it was the winter rustiness and then the "self-combustion" by
dressing up way too warmly for the day. But full points to Nate who rode a very
good race. I lost the race by just 8 seconds and finished 2nd. 
Just as Cancellera said after Milano San Remo, I
guess the most disappointed rider of the day is the always the one
finishes second. But I am feeling positive considering
how difficult this winter has been. 2 road races and 2 top 5
finishes are acceptable to me at this stage as we are still preparing for the
main goals later in the season. BJ has been an excellent coach to me, always
available and these are still early days in the season. He sends me a very
inspirational email just the day before the race and he believed I could
win. I came real close and I am thankful he believes in me.”
Great job, Raj!
PCG Coach: BJ Basham
