Pete Stetina is back with another installment of his Race Roundups. In this series, he breaks down the latest event and provides a peak behind the scenes of pro racing. This one is all about his time at SBT GRVL and its teaser event, the HLL CLMB.
SBT GRVL is extremely nuanced. It’s one of the most prestigious gravel races in the world, and for a pro, it can make one’s season. However, unlike many of the LTGP races or many other marquee events for that matter, it’s completely self-supported and any aid stations on the course are neutral only.
The week leading in is full of fun activities and I couldn’t say no to the Friday HLL CLMB, I wouldn’t suggest Bud Light and a (candy) cigarette as performance fueling though! Seriously though, this is one of my 5-star races of the year and I had prepared the best I could. If a 1 mile hill climb 2 days before the start was going to sap my legs for race day I don’t think I can consider myself a professional athlete!
The firepower is high enough, the prize money big enough, and the result is important enough that for the pro men up front, it’s become a “win by any means necessary” race. So the tactic has become 6hrs of no-stop racing. If one stops to fill a bottle for even 30 seconds, it’s likely they won't see the front again. I won't lie it is a bit frustrating because it would actually be faster for the whole day to stop halfway through and quickly fill a few bottles than lug a 2L pack over the early climbs, but with tactics brought into the fray, one would need to have a decent gap to fill rather than stop and chase.
With that in mind, you may have seen my installment of “What’s in Pete’s Pocket”. I carried all I needed. I forewent lightweight climbing potential with the tactic that my natural climbing prowess could make up for the extra weight, and I hoped that by the time we hit the late climbs, I’d be lighter after a few hours of consuming calories and still have the energy to make the difference.
Fueling Details:
Victus 02 During + Electrolytes
The Gel + Chew Buffet
As with a lot of altitude racing, extra fluids and cramps are always an issue even for trained pros like myself. I focused on higher water concentrations with a bit more electrolytes in the bottles, and let the carbs come in the form of gels.
I am happy to report that it mostly worked. The rugged 1st half of the course proved very selective and I made the split along with race favorite Keegan Swenson, and The Feed HPT athletes Brendan Johnston and Alexey Vermeulen. Keegan and German Paul Voss had clipped off around mile 55 (of 120) on a particularly sandy climb and we had a cohesive group managing the gap at 1 minute back.
Approaching the smoother and longer climbs of the 2nd half, I sensed the others began to fade, but I couldn’t give chase until the roads really kicked up and were selective enough. Eventually, I got my moment and took off in pursuit. Up ahead, Keegan had dropped Paul and by the high point and the last 40 miles, I had overhauled him and was 2nd on the road with a healthy minute-plus gap.
The long, mostly downhill roads to the finish were to my disadvantage, however, and the guys behind mounted a successful chase and reeled me in. Knowing I was the worst sprinter in the group I had to use my experience to engineer the final a bit. On the final 2-mile climb with 15 miles to go, I went just hard enough to drop some but not all of our group; if I went too hard and soloed over the top they’d just bring me back, but by keeping a few of them barely clawing on over the summit, we were now all riding for 2nd to 5th place and assured a podium spot. We were all motivated to consolidate that and fight out the rest of the podium closer to home.
It came down to a predictable sprint with Norwegian Torbjorn Roed 2nd, Alexey 3rd, Brendan 4th, and yours truly 5th. I do wish that 2nd or 3rd were mine, but I played my cards and with the flatter finish I knew it was a tall ask to keep these guys at bay.
With that, the high-elevation summer races are sadly drawing to a close. I have one last chance in the thin air with The ‘Rad in late September before heading over to Spain for the Gravel Earth Series final: Ranxo and then closing the season with the LTGP final: Big Sugar.
