The
weather was nice and warm for the race and they started us about
70 minutes later than scheduled which was uncool. The race started
out with just a few of us, so I was happy. Since I am just doing
this race to get points to move up, I was not to interested
in putting out a big effort. Vineman is the next weekend and
that is a lot more important than this crit. I was figuring
it was going to be a long drive to this race in Nevade, but
it turns out it was less than two hours. The race starts and
we roll out and go. Mild pace around 37kph and just cruising,
after a lap or so the pace picked up to around 40kph. About
a 15 minutes into the race they ring the prime bell and people
start to look at each other. Half way into the lap I felt like
having fun, so I attacked an got a good gap, but one of the
other guys managed to come with me. I had already known that
this guy was a strong rider, so I was not happy to see him behind
me. We come around the final turn and I basically sit up and
let him have it. He gets up the road about 5 seconds from me
as I cross the line and I look back for the rest of the pack.
They still have not come around the final corner. I pick up
the pace and go up to the guy in front. We stayed away for about
10 minutes and then we both just sat up and let them catch us.
I was not to found of working to hard in this race, so being
in a break was not really what I want to have happen. It comes
back together and we cruise for a few laps until the next prime.
With about .2k to go a guy attacks and the guy that went with
me the first time goes with him. They get a good gap and the
others are working, although they are not exactly working hard
enough to bring them back, just enough so they maintain there
gap. They stay away for about 5 laps and then it comes back
together again. Everyone pretty much relaxes since there are
about 6 laps to go until the finish. With 3 laps to go a guy
attacks and gets a good 12 second gap. The three of us stronger
guys chase and the other guys pretty much get dropped. His gap
gets smaller on the second to last lap, but is still up by ~7
seconds. Half way through the final lap we catch him and pass
him. After that everyone pretty much spreads out and begins
there final sprint. I just stand up and turn the pedals over,
but not really sprinting (maybe 47kph). About 20m from the finish
the tall guy comes past me sprinting. I tried to pick up the
pace, but he had to much speed and just settled for fourth.
Great
race, small, lots of action, good mix of riders. I would not
have been a contender for a win at the race even if I was not
saving myself. The guy that won just had to much horsepower.