Category: 4
Result: Mid-pack

I got there with 50 mins to race time.

Went to reg and found out that I left my license at home. Damn it. They want me to buy a one day license for 10 bucks. I say-no, no. Let me talk to one of the officials. Good thing-this woman was at Leesville. She asked me what my race nnumber was at Leesville. I shot back "113" and mighty impressed she was and she said that I was good to go. Great. I hop on the trainer for about 15 mins. Chris is right across from me and we are the two in the 4's for the race.

I get off the trainer with almost no warm up and have to go to the restroom. Seems I don't feel good again ugh.

I get to the start and line up behind Chris. I haven't seen this course before but quickly find out that its super techincal. 5 left turns and 1 right turn. There were 67 of us. My parents, aunt, wife and kids all come out and are sitting in chairs after turn 1 on the right curb. Great!

First few laps, its fast. I'm in the back 1/3rd on the outside. I hate the inside with that many turns in quick succession. I stay put behind a team city rider for the next 10 laps. All hell breaks soon after. On turn one a huge pile up right in the corner sends me even further tto the outside, skidding and I hit the hay bale up on the pole. I fall and get back up, oh damn, the chain is off. I get the chain back on and chase like a mad man. I chase for a lap and then relaize that I'm not getting anywhere.

I stroll over to where the crash was and check it out. 2 guys are lying down with emt's all around them. I speak to one of them who says "you get a free lap". Hmmm I've never taken one in a crit. So I wheel over to the official andd he says,yup, just get right in. At this point it was neutralized while the medical people cart them out. My family was sitting right on the curb where the crash happened. I don't think they were happy I re joined the race. We started again from the finish line. Off we go and its 7 laps to go. I know I have to get to the front soon and hold it.

I make my way up on the outside and its goodso far. With 5 laps to go, hell breaks lose-again! Same place same spot and same idiots who can't hold their damn line! I am lucky, I squeak past two fallen riders on the ground and surge up to get back to the bunch. Now, I'm thinking its too hairy. I play it conservatively for the last few laps. Last lap I move up and nowhere near the front but sprinted for a 24th place finish.

To me, they either need to have 1. Less turns in sucession. (Turns were every block, maybe 200 meters)2. Field limits-67 people wanting the same line on this course-maybe 50 or less for the cat 4's. I observed many sketch riders. My parents later said they have never seen so many bikes flying and carnage. My parents even over heard one of the EMT's asking the rider with the broken collarbone "what hospital do you usually go to?" as if it happened to him before. Geez.

I was happy to get out of there unscathed and a pretty good weekend of racing.

Back to top