Strade Bianche (VeloNews)
“Filthy, unbelievably hot. Just baking hot!”
Those were the first words that came to mind after Brent Bookwalter finished Strade Bianche Saturday. Little matter that the 36-year-old had just had his best performance ever in a classic, with an inspired seventh-place ride. But then there was a lot of information to take in after another epic day at this epic bike race.
Understanding the significance of such a result would take time.
“It was madness on the gravel sectors,” Bookwalter told VeloNews. “They were so dusty, so dry, so loose and really bumpy. And then we saw some traditional early-season jitters if you will. Lots of over-braking. Lots of ramming into the back of each other. It made for a real chaotic start.”
The Mitchelton-Scott rider admitted that he was in survival mode for much of the race.
“I cannot describe all of the crazy moments early on,” he said. “Through all of that, I felt I was really pegged, like I couldn’t go any harder. It was just one sector at a time, metering my efforts and drinking as much as possible. And then all of a sudden you realize the selection has been made and you are in it. It’s a moment of beauty. But also very painful and challenging. But there was still much racing to happen before the finish.”
Luck, of course, is an integral part of bike racing, especially in a race like Strade Bianche. But you have to be prepared for it. You have to be in position. And for countless kilometers mid-way through the race, Bookwalter just did his best to hold a position, dependant at times on the circumstances of the race, and the constant reshuffling that the white roads of Tuscany can produce. With 40 kilometers remaining, Bookwalter found himself just behind the six-man lead group including eventual winner Wout Van Aert. Chasing stubbornly with 2015 winner Zdenek Stybar, Bookwalter and the Czech actually closed the gap at one point. “That’s when I realized that I could be in the top ten,” he said.
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