if you want to win, the race is won or lost at the climb in the middle. It's tough!! No two ways about it. If you are in a reasonable shape, you should be able to average minimum of 18MPH. The gentle climb for the last 5 miles or so is so slight you can ignore it. There are couple of "whoopdy doo" hills" along the course. If you have good speed, you can power over them without losing too much speed. Those "hill" climbs are short and steep but not even 100 feet of climb. Don't worry about them.

The one you should be concerned is the one in the middle. Don't attack unless you are competent climber. Too many riders blow up on it. 15-20minutes of pain to climb the 500feet.

You have to be careful of the downhill for that 500 feet climb. It will be fast.

And no you will not come in last to be embarassed. There will be lots of weekend warriors and wanna-be-racers (mostly men). There are those who can not finish the 26 mile course in 2-1/2 hour time limit.

GO AND HAVE FUN. Draft the fast women till the hill climb.