Notes
This was the final leg of the 2016 Tour du Canton, and I was pleased with the result. It was a mixed course - the first 2k or so were straight up the Rampe de Cologny - followed a long steady downhill back to the lake, and then the second half of the race was entirely flat along the lakeside. I had planned to tuck in and take the hill easy, but one guy made an early move and tried to stick with the leader (the usual No. 2 wasn't there this week). After seeing that he was sticking with it I decided to follow, but he had already gapped us and I didn't want to make up the difference on the hill so I relaxed a bit and reeled him in slowly, while also comfortably gapping the pack behind me. It was tough to make up much ground on the downhill - I felt like I was flying and he wasn't getting any closer! - but as soon as we hit the lakeside I got him easily and latched onto his shoulder. It didn't feel like we were going very fast, but because of the heavy headwind I made no effort to push the pace or pass him until we got to Geneve Plage. There, I finally surged and went around him, and that was the race. For the last 2.5k I ran solo while keeping one eye over my shoulder, and ended up taking 2nd by a comfortable 20 seconds.
I was surprised to see the pace for this race was as fast as it was - between the long hill and the seemingly easy pace along the lake I presumed it was going to be a slower race, but apparently not so. That was a surprise, and i wonder what I could have done on a flatter course and without the wind....