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What Chris saw:
Category: 5
Result: 3rd
The EB Crit today went well. I did not see many there today except
Luis and Fernando. I was pretty tired after yesterday so i did not
know how I was going to do today. Because the mentors were not
setting the pace like the other weeks the leaders did not know how
fast they should be going. Fast, slow, slower, fast. They were
confused.
So I decided to push the pace. I told the front five or
six guys they we were riding to slow and to follow me to set the
pace. We started to get in a rythym. Much better. There was a
prime for $25 Velo Girls. I decided to go for it. As the bell
rang I was about 10th with all 10 of us in one line. Over that lap
I just cruised. I decided to take the 4th wide turn at the curb and
moved up to 4th on the turn without even trying. As we started the
straight away I took off and wasn't caught. Bling, Bling.
As the
race progressed, I had to take a few turns at the front because
people were too scared. I had planned to just chill for the rest of
the race but that did not work. With three to go I started resting
my legs without losing place. Two to go I stayed left stuck in
about 10th. Right before the last lap Stanford tried to break away.
People brought them back really quick and I stayed tucked in about
10th, staying left. I let someone pull me to about 7th, when he sat
up I went around him to finish 3rd again. I successful day after
learning what the P stand for in HOP.
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What Robin saw:
Category: M35+ 4/5
Result: Back of pack
I woke up and took a quick look at the outside. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was and was looking forward to racing already. Since I was starting the 35+ Masters at 12:05, I decided I’d miss the Mentoring session and just warm up around the Coyote Hills area.
I didn’t want to wear my HR monitor but I knew I’d be sky high at the start line and I was really nervous at this point. Nervous about what? I have no idea, I guess I’m thinking maybe there’s another Larry Nolan in the pack that will destroy us all to pieces.
We went off to a steady and nice pace that lasted for a while, there were couple of sprints that didn’t go that super fast but I didn’t want to contest them knowing that I wanted to stay within my limits and let it come to me.
With about 3 laps to go, there was a crash that took down several riders (between 3-7) and that split the pack so quickly and I stayed in the 2nd pack hoping that we’d work together trying to catch the first pack, we never did. I think nobody wanted to work to chase down some of the strong guys and they were content sprinting for the 9th place.
With about one lap, I decided I’d break away from the 2nd pack with hopes that 2 or 3 would go with me and chase down the first pack, If I’d continue that way and never catch the first pack, I’d finish in the 9th to 12th place at least. Eventually I started to realize I was going way above my max and all the winter riding (base miles, etc) was going to hurt me with this strategy a bit. I tried to go as far as I could but I exploded and the 2nd pack went by me. I’d finish in 36th place out of about 45 riders.
Looking back, I should’ve stayed in the pack but at the same time, I knew if I had better legs and steadier HR, I would’ve done this again.
Oh well, I’ll be doing the Cherry Pie Criterium, see you guys there!
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What Fernando saw:
Category: M35+ 4/5
3 FFBC race members showed up: Chris, Luis and myself. Chris
competed in the Cat5 race. In this race Chris did
really well again, he won the bonus points (gift
certificate) by sprinting ahead of the pack and passing
the line in first place, I could see during this race
that he was always looking the way to place himself
better in the pack,at the end it was a mad sprint
towards the finish line and he finished 3rd, way to go
Chris!!!.
Luis and I participated in the Masters 35+Cat5, but
before we joined in the mentoring ride session, again
the mentors were very helpfull in pointing ways to
improve safety, we did some pace lines and also
chasing the breakaway.Then we entered the 35+
Cat5 - there were about 60 riders altogether.
Right at
the start the pace was pretty fast,with some guys
taking the lead and never letting go of it. I felt much
better than the Sunday before, and felt confident that
I had it in me to finish the race, there were a couple
of crashes, but I dont think serious.
I drafted the
biggest guy I could find in the pack I must of
followed him for about 3 laps,at the bell the pace
increased a bit and the sprint for the prize. I
finished in the main peloton about the middle.
It was a
very rewarding experience since I tried to apply what
I had learned from the Sunday before, I did not use all
my energy at the beginning trying to chase other guys,
I drafted to save my energy and in the turns when it
was safe I kept pedaling so I would not be left trying
to chase the pack,at the end I even had some"juice"
left for the final sprint. Very happy with my
performance. I took some pictures of Chris' race, they
are to follow in a day or so. Fernando
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