Almost old news by now

The GMSR road race was nothing short of spectacular. Even though this year, it was short.
The traditional professional loop sends us up and over Bethel Mt. Rd and then back towards Middlebury Gap. Turns out there was some construction on Bethel Mt. road and we wouldn't be headed that way. Then, as fate would have it, a couple of weeks before the scheduled start, a rain storm, literally washed away Middlebury Gap. Well, I guess not the gap per se, but certainly a good chunk of Route 125 that would lead us over Middlebury Gap.
Anyway... the race was rerouted to Brandon Gap a few miles further South and about 7 miles long. It's 7 miles of shallower climbing, which for a training ride is great, it's easier. In a race, it's a double edged sword. You can probably make it over, but it's going to be fast as hell.

So the race starts, and with all the time gaps within seconds of each other, everyone wants a chance to win. There are relentless attacks. We're covering everything insight because Eneas is 3rd overall and only a handful of seconds out of the jersey. Suddenly, a break goes, containing 4 guys. I don't really know who's in it, but I know I need to cover it, at this point I"m gassed from working so hard already. It's been a whopping 5 miles of the impeding 75.
I jump out, 1 rider comes with me and we're cruising. I'm killing myself to get across what seems like a small gap and it's taking forever. We get there. It was like walking into the back room of a restaraunt where you're not supposed to be. Or overhearing someone telling a secret.
The shit had just hit the fan. The break contained:
The leader's jersey
2 riders from Team Race (1 of which was in the top 5)
The sprinters jersey (briefly)
The KOM jersey
Eric from Fiore Di Fruitta
And another super strong Canadian and they are on a mission. I mean, everyone wound out in the 53x11. Holy hell it was fast. I wasn't supposed to work, but the only way to stay tacked onto this move was to roll through. And I knew I needed to out sprint the yellow jersey at the bonus sprint to take away the bonus seconds on the road.
Boom, we hit the sprint, 200m to go and the Fruitty gasses it, I jump a little late and grab 2nd. The jersey apparently hung on for 3rd. I can only block so many places right.

Miles and miles later. In the ball park of 20 miles from when the breakaway started. The calvalry arrives. I look over my should to see Karl Menzies (Health Net), Dominique Perisian (canadian fastman), Eneas (teammate!!), Will (teammate!!) and a couple of other real deal super men.

Hold your breath because someone just poured gasoline on the fire...