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April 20, 2005
First Race of the Season
Last night was the first bike race of the season. It was a criterium in the OPUS office park. The loop was about .85 miles and the first race was 9 laps.
I ran into a few acquaintances (Jason & Jeff) and we decided to try and work together for the first race. We lined up on the start line in the firt row and were ready to throw it down from the starting whistle.
Jeff went off the fastest with Jason and I and a few others following. By the second lap, we had caught up to Jeff and by the third lap all hell was about to break loose.
I passed Jeff and Jason on the left and was heading into the downhill portion of the race when I heard a tire blow and then a large crunching sound. I tried to look behind me, but I was moving too fast to see anything. It was not until after the race that I found out someone crashed into Jeff sending him to the pavement. He ended up with some good road rash across his legs and hands, but his bike was o.k. Jason was just behind Jeff and saw the whole thing happen. He was split from the main group and ended up riding by himself to the finish.
The rest of the race unfolded pretty well for me. The course starts off with a quick downhill that leads to a short flat section. It then turns upwards and just before the finish, the hill turns up slightly providing an extra burn to the legs. Coming into the downhill we hit speeds of 35 mph and quickly slowed to 22 mph in the uphill.
Every third lap was a sprint for points. The pace really picks up for that lap and then slows for the two subsequent laps. I was able to ride in the top 10 - 20 spots the whole race. I mainly rode the inside track to ensure that I would not get crashed into. The first sprint, I did not go for it as my position was not ideal. In the second sprint. I was able to move towards the front of the peloton on the flat section and was trying to squeeze into the 3rd or 5th position. Instead I ended up first coming into the last part of the hill. At that point. I just put all I could into it and led the sprint out for the group. I ended up around 8th across the line and my lungs were screaming.
On the final lap. I was positioned well being in the top 5 - 8 guys coming into the last push up the hill. I got boxed in a bit, but to be frank my legs were spent and I gave it my all up the hill for a top 20 finish.
Overall I was excited. I rode a pretty tactical race and the legs felt good. I definitely realized that my sprint needs some work. I did not crash and that is very important.
Jason, Jeff, and I lined up for the open race which was 10 laps and included all the men categories (1/2/3/4/5) so the pace was going to be even higher than the first race. We started in the back as none us had the energy to try and fight it out at the front. We ended up forming a group of about 10 guys who worked together through the race and left it for a bunch sprint coming up the hill to the finish. I started in the 5th position and took the wheel of a guy gearing up for the spring. I jumped about 500 yards from the line and was not able to catch the lead of the group, but came in second. The whole time I was closing the gap, but just not fast enough.
You can see more picture of me here and more pictures of the whole race here.
Posted by kermisch at April 20, 2005 8:53 AM