The five or so TTs I've done in my short racing career have been dead flat, or nearly so. This weekend's stage race included one too, until this morning when I opened the email from the race organizer saying that both the road race and TT courses have been changed due to road closure.
The TT course is
here. The first mile and a half has about 185 feet of descent, and the last two miles have about the same ascent. In Louisiana, that's a bunch. I'll be using my road bike with a compact crank and an 11-25 cassette, and I'll be using a power meter.
In the other TTs I've done, I started at or just above my FTP and increased power as the TT progressed. All but one were 5-6kms in length; this one is 8kms. I'm wondering whether I should push harder at the start, or save myself for the finishing climb, or just follow the same recipe as on flat TTs.
Suggestions, laughter, and snide remarks about what constitutes "climbing" in Louisiana are all welcome. Thanks!