RPI Stage 2 – Mountain Gravel Time Trial

Before the Race

Coming into Stage 2 at Rebecca’s Private Idaho, the fatigue from the 50-mile mountain stage the day prior was still in my legs, but I felt surprisingly decent. This stage was different — a short but demanding gravel time trial: 4.6 miles, 1,392 feet of climbing, topping out at 8,500ft.

Warm-up was tricky. The neutral rollout and staggered rider starts meant I was already cooled down by the time I reached the line. Legs felt good enough, though, and I made sure to gel up beforehand. I stuck with the same 700c Pathfinder Pro 42 tires from the previous day (switching off the 650B Sendero knobbies I’d used for the singletrack), not making any major gear changes.

Fueling was simple: topped off before the effort. My only real question was how the altitude would hit me — I didn’t want to burn too hot and blow halfway up.

Gear & Fuel

For this stage I kept things simple. I ran my Santa Cruz Stigmata with Roval CLX gravel wheels, swapping from the 650B WTB Sendero knobbies I’d used the day before to 700c Pathfinder Pro 42mm tires. The drivetrain was my usual Shimano Di2 12-speed setup with an 11–34 cassette and 50/34 crankset, paired with Garmin power meter pedals for pacing. Cockpit and contact points were Easton EC70 aero bar and seatpost, with MAAP kit, Specialized aero socks, and S-Works MTB shoes rounding out the setup.

Hydration wasn’t a big factor for such a short effort, but I made sure to be topped off before the start. Fuel-wise, I took a gel right before the rollout to keep glycogen levels topped off. For a sub-30-minute climb, it was more about carrying full energy into the line than refueling mid-effort.

Race Narrative

Neutral Rollout

The neutral rollout set a different tone than a normal TT. Honestly, it was kind of cool — I even got to ride alongside Payson McElveen for a bit. But the waiting around dulled the warm-up, and I had to reset mentally before my turn.

Early Climb

When the clock started, I went out hard but quickly found a strong, sustainable tempo. Pacing has always been a strength for me, and I leaned on feel rather than obsessing over the numbers.

Mid-Climb

The higher altitude was noticeable — not in a dramatic, gasping way, but in the subtle heaviness in my legs and lungs. Heat was less of an issue since the effort was short, and while smoke hung in the air, it didn’t noticeably drag on my performance. My focus stayed sharp on keeping momentum.

Key Moments

The gravel surface was cooperative: firm, predictable, and easy to hold a strong line. That meant I could focus entirely on watts-to-weight instead of traction or handling. Passing rider after rider gave me motivation to keep pressing. There wasn’t a single moment where I had to back off — instead, I steadily built pressure the whole way.

Finish

Crossing the line, I felt like I’d executed a clean ride. No big mistakes, no fading, no what-ifs. I slotted 26th out of 138, gaining back time on GC after losing some in Stage 1. The climb suited me, and it showed.

What Went Well

• Pacing by feel: Started strong but settled into an excellent tempo, never overreaching.
• Execution: Clean, focused effort with no tactical or technical missteps.
• Mental boost: Passing other riders gave momentum and confidence.
• Equipment: Tires and setup were dialed for this type of gravel climb.

Needs Improvement

• Warm-up logistics: The neutral rollout and staggered wait left me a bit cooled down; better strategies for staying warm could help.
• Altitude adaptation: Not a limiting factor here, but future high-altitude races may benefit from more acclimation.

Despite the short distance, this time trial carried a different kind of weight. The climb felt less like a race against others and more like a test against the mountain itself — steady grades, thin air, and the knowledge that every second mattered. Unlike a long gravel stage where strategy and group dynamics play out, this was stripped down to pure output: how much power I could sustain while the altitude and fatigue from Stage 1 pressed back. The scenery helped — big skies and Idaho ridgelines unfolding as I climbed — but I stayed locked in, measuring effort by feel and trusting my legs to carry me.