2008 Masters National Road Race Champ John Korioth took a few minutes to let us know how his preparation to defend his crown at the Tour de Gruene with fellow Durata athlete Kevin Kremke is going into the final week before the race. John rode the 2008 race with Lance Armstrong and has spent a good amount of this fall riding with his long time friend. Let’s find out how things are going with College-
David Wenger: Going into the State Road Race, what was your training volume?
John Korioth: My volume was pretty high. Probably around 17 or 18 hours due to both my coach (Dave Wenger) and Lance being back in town. Its good to train with Lance and its not so good sometimes. He always goes a little longer than you have planned. The one real good thing about training with Lance is you never have to stop. He has a follow car most of the time and you can always go back to the car and refuel with water and food. I think this gives a better race simulation and at the same time staying true to pure ride time.
Lance & John in 2008
DW: Since the State RR, what have you been doing to prepare for the Tour de Gruene?
JK: First of all is spend more time on the TT bike. The more saddle time you spend on it the more comfortable you become. For me it takes longer to get stretched out on it and settle in than I think most guys.
DW: Kevin Kremke or Lance Armstrong, who has a better rear panel on their skinsuit 50min into an effort?
JK: Both of them are tough to get a draft behind. The chicken answer is to chose Kevin. He is more human and I feel will fatigue a little bit at 50 min. The real Answer is Lance. He can make you suffer like no one else and at the end of the day that’s what’s going to make the difference in a win. He makes you better.
Kevin Kremke, state team time trial champion
DW: How often do you pre-ride a race course? More often for TTs than RRs?
JK: I usually know most of the Road Race courses I do because of I have been racing for 10 years. Not sure if pre riding a long (20 mile plus) circuit really helps that much. In a race you will have 80 other guys rolling down the road with you so it makes the terrain totally different than riding it by yourself. In a road race it is much more important to me to pay attention to conditions and the competition.
You have to pre ride TT courses if you want to win or at least place. Knowing where the race can be won is just as important as where it can be loss. Hills, wind, and road surface or all important factors. The bike is made to be an equalizer so you have to figure out where you can make it unequal.
DW: For team time trials, how important is it to pre-ride with your partner?
JK: Two weak guys working together can beat two very strong guys not working together every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Its wasy to let your ego think you don’t have to ride together much because you are strong but all it takes is a mishap or miscommunication and the duo can lose 5 minutes in less than one minute.
DW: Any specific strategy for a two person TT that you’ve learned over the years?
JK: Communication is everything. A lot of jokes about me yelling at Lance to slow down but its what kept us together and smoother for the 25 miles. It’s a two man TT not a one man TT.
DW: Any special equipment for team or two person TT that you run versus a solo time trial?
JK: I don’t plan on it. I know Dave Wenger and Steve Wheeler had a bell on their bike to signal each other when to come around and I thought that was stupid but later I figured out it was a genius idea. It eliminated them having to yell at each other.
DW: What do you want out of your 2009 Tour de Gruene performance?
JK: Basically for Kevin and I to stick together tight and roll a smooth fun ride. Its going to hurt but it should be fun to go that fast.
DW: What do you want out of your 2010 season?
JK: To win at Nationals again and maybe be able to win a stage at gila against those small climber guys. I will have to lose weight and a lot of it to make that happen.
