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Exclusive Ocho Interview – Capt Stephen "Pursuit" Pelletier at US Elite Track Nationals    

In an exclusive interview, the Ocho catches up with Captain Stephen “Pursuit” Pelletier on a flight from LA back to Boston following the US Elite Track nationals in Carson California. With the Comp Newsletter well into final production this was too late to enter, so we’re giving it to you live. And there is no time to catch his breath for Steve as he departs today (probably in the air right now) for the UCI Masters World Track Championships in Manchester England Oct 9^th-15^th !!!! Comp sends good luck wishes to Captain Pursuit.   Dig deep Captain Pursuit!   Have a few pints and some fish-n-chips for us Orange back across the pond.

  

And now for your reading pleasure, a great recount of the US Elite Nationals to get your heart rate up. Take it away Steve……………

2012 US Elite Track Cycling National Championships

I had been awake for 23 hours the day prior to my first US Elite Track Cycling National Championships in September 2012.  I'd flown to Los Angeles, driven down to Carson (CA), checked into the hotel, eaten lunch, set up my pursuit bike, and headed to the velodrome for a pre-event workout and sign-on.  A late dinner and shower followed, then to bed at midnight.  After a fitful 5 hours rest I was up again for breakfast, and back to the oval for Day 1 of competition.  To my surprise, I was feeling good, the prior night's workout having served as "openers" and allowing me to dial-in tire pressures (170 psi), practice ideal lap-splits (20 secs), and decide on final gearing (92").  I had adjusted my start to the steep banking of the wooden track so as to stay connected and upright when out of the saddle (less rock and roll, more dedicated forward thrust).

The velodrome was in full dress, adorned with banners, national flags, posters announcing the championships, USA Cycling displays, etc.  I headed to the infield to begin the routines of pinning on my race number, adjusting my pedals, pumping my tires, hydrating, stretching, etc.  The rider corrals were already claimed by teams with multiple racers, so I hung my bike on a velo-cache and grabbed a bench, content to be left alone to concentrate on my preparations.  Riders arrived with their coaches, photographers set up their equipment, EMTs prepared stretchers for the inevitable...all around were the familiar sounds of spinning rollers, clanging tools, and conversation.  I set my chain tension and headed onto the boards to warm-up.  "No big deal" I told myself, despite the world-class competitors filing in the door..."same routines...just another race day".  (I wasn't quite convinced.) At Elite Nats, there are no age-groups, license categories, handicaps, or any other subdivisions of competition; only the nation's fastest, and those crazy enough to challenge them.  Olympic team members, reigning national champions, up-and-coming young talent...they're all there.

Soon it was time for the National Anthem, then the start of the day's racing with Women's Pursuit, followed by my event...Men's 4000-Meter Individual Pursuit.  A quick check of the day's start list showed me in Heat 2, early on the schedule.  I was happy with that as it allowed me to take full advantage of my warmup rather than hanging around for hours getting stiff while waiting for my race.  My bike was weighed and measured by officials for adherence to strict UCI rules, then taken away to a guarded pen not to emerge again until I was called to the line for my race (no chances are taken on a rider's last minute alterations post-inspection).  I watched the riders before me as their bikes were clamped into the automated starting gate and the timer began its countdown from 50 seconds.  At 10 seconds to go an audible BLEEP, then bleeps every second at 5...4...3...2...1.  The rider is then released from the gates with a final BLEEP!  I committed the sequence to memory. 

Eventually I was on-deck, with my bike before me, seated trackside amongst USAC officials, pedal-positions set, concentrating on breathing and loading my lungs with oxygen.  BLEEP...50 seconds to go.  The officials clamped my bike in the starting gate.  I mounted and clipped in to my pedals....breathing deeply, exhaling forcefully.  Another BLEEP...10 seconds to go.  A final deep breath.  5...4...3...2...1...BLEEP!...I'm off. 

Turn 1 came quite a bit sooner than expected, due to the short 250-meter Olympic track (shorter than our local 333-meter), and a fast start.  I was out of the saddle and in the bullhorns through turn two, then settled into pursuit position, seated, arms in extensions exiting the back straight.  By lap 3 I had settled into a rhythm...a steady spin, in-control breathing, relaxed grip, looking through the turns.  I concentrated on my coach's words; "Breathing, Cadence, Focus, Form".  13 laps to go.  I tried to ride a smooth low line, staying off the sponges which mark the apron as out-of-bounds.  I could hear nothing over the rush of air through my TT helmet.  No announcer, no crowd, nothing.  The lap cards counted down, and at 1 km remaining (4 laps) I began to ramp-up my pace.  Finally the bell lap, the sound of it bending in my ear as I flew by.  A final kick, then it was over.  A glance at the timing display confirmed a good ride;  a "personal best".  Relief.

I struggled to dismount the bike, leaning heavily on the rail, then walked gingerly down the ramp to the infield with thighs in knots, eyes tearing profusely, chest heaving, hacking..."Pursuiter's Cough".  I watched as the remainder of participants completed their races, my name working it's way down the scoreboard from 3rd place, to 4th, and on down the list.  In the end I had posted the slowest time of the Elites, one rider having scratched...a 16th place finish, (just 1 second behind 15th).  I have strange mixed feelings of satisfaction at my effort (a new PR) and disappointment at the relative result (last). The event was won by Bobby Lea of the US Olympic Team, who is in excellent condition having recently returned from the Games in London.

3 days later I would return to the velodrome to race the Kilo, one of the final events on the Nats schedule.  My experience would be somewhat similar to the pursuit;  a fast start, a focused effort, a personal record, and a last place finish (20th).  There are some seriously fast guys here.  In the Kilo, defending national champion Giddeon Massie relinquished his title to Matthew Baranoski of Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA.

I consider this first experience at Elite Nationals a success in many ways.  I managed to beat back several personal demons, each trying to convince me that I was too old, too slow, or that I didn't belong in the competitive company of the nation's elites.  I conquered self-doubt and logistical difficulties in traveling and racing self-supported, My year-long training plan had me at peak for this event, despite midseason injuries.  I'm hopeful to return next year with a bit more speed and endurance to work my way up the results list (age be damned!).

Results:

4000-Meter Individual Pursuit:  5:29:777  16th place

1 Kilometer TT ("Kilo"):  1:18:014  20th place

Photos:

Brian Hodes for Cycling Illustrated