race strategy question

Take it as EASY as you can going up the hill. Easiest gear and just slow and steady.  Then you can have enough energy left over to pedal DOWN the hill and fly past all the athletes who trashed themselves on the way up!

Have fun! Hills are a blast once you get the hang of them. 

Start the hill in an easier gear than you think you'll need.  Go easy first 2/3rds of that hill, then if you feel good power over the top.  Save something for the run for sure, but you can loose a lot of time with the wrong strategy on hills.

I usually go at about 70% effort on the big hills. Be sure to change the gear to an easier one before you need it (sounds impossible to physically do something before you think about it, I know) to increase smoothness in shifting, pedaling, etc.

Lance loves high cadence up hills. So just go to an easier gear, and pedal quickly. Like said above, there is nothing greater (on the bike) than getting to the top of the hill, then blowing by 10-15 bikers in a stretch of a 1/4 mile on the down hill. The easiest part of the bike course, but people tend to be slowing down here because many just stop pedaling.

And remind yourself you've got a run afterwards.

Perfect, exactly what i was looking for, thanks for the help!

It's amazing how many people sit up at the top of a hill.  Pedal through the top and down the other side.

Is there a downhill before the climb?  If so, try to get as much momentum from the downhill to help carry you up the climb.