Windsor, MA

With the length and the profile of an almost-Alpine-stage, the Tour of the Hilltowns transcends the usual local bragging rights that come with success in a regional race. It embodies a test of who can best grovel, of who can grit their teeth and turn the pedals in spite of the pitch of the road or of the dissuading headwind or of the relentless heat of the midday sun.

The race begins and ends at Notchview Reservation, a natural reserve of tremendous beauty nestled in the heart of the Hoosac Range, a Massachusetts extension of the Green Mountains of Vermont. At over 2,000 feet, this is practically Himalayan ground in the context of New England, and the topographic profile of the 96-mile race looks like John McCain’s EKG.

Jasons Baer and Beerman, Colin, Sean, Adam, and Eric were at the start for Kenda/Raleigh in a medium-sized field. The pace off the line was urgent, especially given the length of the race, and a larger than usual horde of skinny climber dudes was evident.

The early volley went off at mile 15, when a small group containing Adam and Beerman rolled ahead of the field for a few clicks. It came back and the field began to splinter on a long highway-grade slog. The decisive move went at this point, containing the brothers King (Ted and Robbie); a lot of horsepower was now up the road, but there was still a long way to ride.

The decisive climb in the race comes near mile 60. It snakes up East Hawley Road for about 3 miles at an average gradient of 6%. The hope was to get over it in the front group and ride hard to the end, picking up stragglers along the way, and hopefully catching the remnants of the break before the finish. Baer wisely got a head start on the long descent into the climb so he could climb at his own pace ahead of the field. Adam and Eric matched the pace over the top, where Baer latched on, and it was every man for himself to the finish.

The final 10km seem never ending, as the road features a long ascent into a headwind at 3%, which is just enough to make you suffer. Adam, Baer, and Eric rode well, with Adam displaying his burgeoning form for a 10th place finish.

Full results are here.