Test of Metal - late start and avoid all the schmucks?

Riding the test for the 4th time. I typically finish in the 4:30 range but am frustrated by all the slow riders holding me up on the downhills as I'm super rad ya know.

Had an idea today…. what if I don't start the race until say 1 or 1.5 hours after the start gun. As long as I make the cut offs I can still ride the race while hopefully the masses are nowhere near me.

Or will I catch up with the slowest shmucks and things get even worse?

If you really were super rad…wouldn't you be ahead of all those "schmucks"?

The schmucks are just on his downhills Tom.

Funny story - the wife and a few friends rode the 24 Hours of Adrenaline in Silver Star. Guys like Tinker Juarez competing on a course that went up to the top and then down to the village.

Well, my ladies were sure they had the advantage, coming from NV, because they were"downhillers". Needless to say….

Riding the test for the 4th time. I typically finish in the 4:30 range but am frustrated by all the slow riders holding me up on the downhills as I'm super rad ya know.

this is your solution for the schmucks

I'm just an average climber but on the DH is where I'm quicker than most. So ya traffic can be frustrating.

Think it will work?

Get better at climbing. It's an xc race, you know?

Swim. Bike. Cheat!
Start whenever.
But make sure you finish first.

Just looking to have a little more of a fun day than stare at the guy in front of me.

So anyone think this might work?

Save some money and do it alone?

I don't understand the point. If you don't want to do an xc race (if you're not a good climber you will be at the back), why would you pay all that money to just ride it? You can do that anytime. (Including your suggested hour and a half after the start time.

It's not like there is a timed descent section, is there?

So anyone think this might work?

nope.

I feel like waiting 1.5 hours after the gun will put you under the same amount of pressure to keep up to the cutoffs as just riding with the lead pack would.

I don't get this. My understanding is the test of metal is a gravel road and questionable single track race for roadies. If powerhouse plunge is a sampling of the "downhills", well meh. So, one should expect it is going to be a pedal fest and that you will be bottlenecked on any descents by people who are potentially walking their bikes downhill.

Granted, there are always people who excel at the entire race but unless you can get behind those people and stay with them, you likely won't have a clear shot on any of the descents.

My 2cents (coming from someone who has never actually done the race but only heard countless horror stories from dh friends.)