The
weather was nice and warm for the race and the course is a four
turn flat course with a slight bend down the back straightaway.
I got to the race late because I slept in to much. I got to
the race site around 7:25 or so. I need to use the restroom
really bad from the long drive to the race, so I grabbed my
bike and my helmet and road off to find the blue towers. Then
I went over and registered and got my race number. Kind of sounds
like the Freemont race (lol). After getting my number pinned
on my jersey and getting dressed I decided to just warm up a
bit on the course. Luckily us Cat 5s are the first ones of the
day to race, so the course is open for riding 30 minutes before
the race. I went out and road around the course just warming
up and spinning. Looking for sections of the road that have
problems and how breezy the course was. After a couple laps
it was time to get ready to race. I headed over to the start/finish
line to find out they were running 15 minutes behind. I just
rode up and down the course a bit waiting for them to get organized.
I noticed a guy waiting for the race to start that looked familiar.
I went up and introduced myself to him and it was the guy that
won the Land Park Criterium. His name is Henry and he is a really
nice guy and a ver strong rider. I chit chatted with him for
a bit about the race and what is going to happen. Finally the
race gets going and I am sticking close to Henry (I know he
is a strong rider). After the first turn he launches an attack
and I just shake my head. We go around the second turn and no
one is chasing so I decided to bridge up to him. I go off the
front and get about halfway to him and could not make up any
distance at all. I was sitting about 5 seconds off of Henry
and 5 seconds ahead of the group. Trying to decided what to
do, I sat up and eased my pace up to get caught. The only problem
with that was, Henry slowed up too, and so did the group. So
I was still sitting off the front not going anywhere. I spend
half a lap just cruising along and then decide I should try
and close that gap between Henry and I. The only problem was,
the group decided to chase and I looked back and noticed them
making up time. I still kept going and figured if I could get
up to Henry we could stay away for awhile, but the pack was
closing in to fast and I sat up before the first turn of the
next lap. I dropped back into the group sitting about second
in line and just cruised for a couple laps. I decided that I
would attack again since no one was doing anything (I was getting
bored). I went off the front and Henry easily bridged up to
me about a half lap later. We stayed off the front for about
a lap and then the prime bell rang. We were off the front so
I was happy, but now the group was seriously chasing. We managed
to stay away to win the prime, although the prime was only one
deep, so Henry won it without contest from me. We both just
sat up and fell back into the group. Over the next 4 laps I
would try to attack, but could not get to far, my legs were
not putting down the power anymore, so I went to the back of
the back to relax. I just sat back there as Henry continued
his constant attacks causing the pack to be like a slinky. Going
into turn 1 with three laps to go my right calf started to cramp
up, so I had to really pay attention to how I was riding to
prevent someething to bad from happening. I just took it easy
near the back until the final lap. Then I saw an unaatached
rider moving his way forward, so I followed hoping for a good
lead out from him. Naturally the unattached rider had nothing
in him once he go halfway up in the field. So I was stuck on
the back half for the final sprint. Not being near the front,
I did not sprint, but picked up the pace. Good race, congrats
to Henry for winning. Expect to see me off the front in more
races and putting pressure on the field.