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What Tim saw:
Category: M45+
Result: Mid-pack
I felt pretty lousy this morning and decided to blow off the race, so Robin and I decided to go for a tandem ride instead. Well, I got half way down the street, changed my mind and off we went. Averaging 75mph, I got there in like 40 mins.
Field was larger although Larry was missing some other hot shots showed up. It seemed faster than our crit as the speed seemed less jerky and more constant. With three to go, some guy took off and so did I and four others, didn't go anywhere, but it took a little out of me. On the last lap, on the long straight between turns three and four, I was back a bit more than I wanted, I moved up, kept my flank open, but then got trapped a bit on my outside, I hit turn four back more than I wanted to be, and just couldn't make it up.
I think I was about 10 then I believe two guys snuck buy on my inside. Carl thought I got 12th. Darn! It the first time I didn't make the top 10 in a 45+ crit since I can remember! Every year some new hot 35's become 45 and I get a year older. Oh well, I definitely should've moved up more sooner. It was fun anyway. It was great seeing Richard, Ziggy, Carl and Bob there too! I know Ziggy has a great story, hopefully Bob will too!
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What Ziggy saw:
Category: 4
Result: 1st
My morning started out well. I met Richard and he managed to save the parking spot in front of his so I could put my wagon in it. Carl was two car lengths ahead, so we all had a nice 30+ minute warm-up together. We all managed to get a good spot at the front of the 60+ field for the start. With the announcement that no primes had been arranged yet, we were off at the whistle.
The race started off at a fairly brisk pace and really made me doubt my abilities for the day as the legs felt like lead. I didn't ride the day before, so maybe that's why I felt like such rubbish. I managed to stick at the front and chase attacks, follow wheels, and even bring the pack back to breaks a couple of times. I got in a break once or twice, but the participants didn't want to work and the course was a bit too windy to support a solo effort, so we were caught within a lap each time. Once, I was bridging up a break and gave an elbow twitch for the next rider in line to come through and as I looked back at him, he just said, "...they're gonna get caught anyway," and sat up. Lazy!
The promoters managed to scrounge together a bank busting sum of $20 to award in four different primes. This was kinda funny because the primes were fought for harder than just about any other primes I've ever seen. Aside from this, the race progressed nicely with my legs finally coming around with about six laps to go. At this point I really started to pay attention to my position, getting swarmed only once and finding my way out within a quarter lap. Richard also rode up beside me at about this time, so I had some nice company in the closing laps.
With one to go, I saw Richard hammering up the right side, so I gave it some gas, let a couple of guys come between us, and held on tight for the speedy ride 'round the fast tailwind back side. I think it was near or after turn two that Richard blew after his huge effort, which totally and beautifully strung out the pack. Two California Road Club guys took up the pace making, with one being the lead-out man and the other the sprinter. I think the sprinter expected his man to lead him out for about half the course, which of course didn't happen. I was just behind him and as he was screaming for his man to go faster, I could see the writing on the wall and moved to his outside in anticipation of the move that was sure to come due to the slight deceleration of my leadout companions.
The move up the outside came, but not as fast as I had expected, so with my nose in the wind, I knew the final turn was coming up and so did the guy to my left. He started to give it some gas, but I think I had better legs at that time and I turned it on full gas about 25 meters before the turn. I think this acceleration was a bit too much for the others to match as I came around the turn with a bit of a gap and hit it even harder to the finish, taking the solo victory by a large margin!
I couldn't believe it had happened even after I crossed the line. The relief of having ditched the second place plague was great. Even greater though was the fact that it was a team effort that pulled it off. Without Richard monster pull, things wouldn't have lined up as well as they did, and I don't think I would have gotten the great position I did. Cristabel was also on hand to witness the event, so that was pretty cool as well.
An interesting thing has happened to me this season. My wheel has become quite popular in the Sr. 4's. Several riders come up to me after many of my races to tell me that they tried to get my wheel because they know where I'm going, but can't ever manage to stick with it. A little bit of fame in the Sr. 4's. Too bad it's time to upgrade to 3's now.
And finally, San Jose BC has oficially tied with Velo Promo for quality of prize lists. I'm sometimes at odds with myself on this point as I really should be happy we get anything at all, but after seeing what a club can give away and still make some cash as in our situation, I've decided I have some room to rant. For first place, I walked away with $20, an old rear tire (the price tag says $45), and a t-shirt. This on top of the $5 primes made for a pretty sad prize list on behalf of SJBC. The real prize for me today was a victory with friends and teammates around to celebrate with.
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What Richard saw:
Category: 4
Result: Last
After some well-needed rest and recuperation yesterday, I gave myself a
stern talking-to about how to ride a criterium. Here I am, a cat 3
trackie who can hang with Lar Nolan (except when he really turns on the
style) and I am allowing myself to get swamped in a cat 4 criterium - I
should at the business end of things and putting on the hurt! With that
said, and I said as much to Ziggy prior to the race today, I resolved to
do better.
And do better I did. I kept myself near the front the whole race and
what do you know? It seems easier up there and it is far nicer going
into the corners 2, rather than 8-abreast.
During the warm-up, we discussed the best strategy for the sprint, and
agreed that, given the short distance to the finish from the final turn,
the person through the turn first was likely to win. My original plan
was to shelter in the bunch until half-way, but when I found out the
field size, I changed it, planning to be near the front and try to cover
the moves when they came to give Ziggy some protection and then help to
position him for the final turn.
A couple of times I covered an inside move and then let Ziggy in front
of me when he moved across. Early on, people were not really wanting to
race, so I rode tempo for almost a lap. Next time down the back
straight, we were going 8mph faster!
With about 5 laps to go, things were becoming interesting with riders
appearing at the front I hadn't seen before. There was a group of 3 BBC
riders who looked like they were setting something up for their
sprinter. Fine I thought, I'll work in and keep the pace high for Ziggy.
I offered my services to help them out and let Ziggy know that they were
planning a leadout. The BBC riders then promptly disappeared from the
front, never to be seen again!
Coming down the back straight towards one lap to go, I got a little
swamped, but after turn 1 on the final lap, everyone slowed. Not good as
the potential for Ziggy to get swamped was rather high at that point.
The only thing for it was to get the pace up and string things out,
counting on Ziggy's ability to set himself up in a favourable position.
What I had to give gave out at turn 2 and I shouted encouragement to
Ziggy as he went by looking well-placed behind two CRC riders.
I went out the back in a matter of seconds, hoping that Ziggy would be
able to do the business. I rolled round the warm-down lap wondering what
had happened and found Ziggy near the finish and I was deliriously happy
that Zig had managed to win it. What a great result and thoroughly deserved!
Even though I finished last, I had a good race. I was able to ride
aggressively and generally able to hold position. A much better
performance than Saturday and I am finally beginning to understand
criterium racing a little.
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