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July 8, 2007
Hopkins Crit
OK, So I did my first race since my crash in St. Cloud back in early May. I have always wanted to race the Hopkins Crit because it is close to home, is flat, and has four 90 degree turns. I figured there would be some Loons out there, but since I have not been riding much I was not sure who would be there. I decided to line up on the front line as I figured I would try and stay at the front of the race until I popped. I had decided to take the inside line on the turns thinking that I could hold better speed coming into and out of the turns. I was completely wrong and quickly found myself losing position. I switched to the outside line and started to slowly move up in the field. About 15 minutes into the race the first Prime bell rang and the field got a bit of a buzz in it. I was moving up well on the outside and saw that I would be at the front of the race after the next corner. Then the whole peloton slowed. I don't know if someone was trying to force a move or keep everyone together until the Start/Finish line was in sight trying to force a mass sprint. But either way I was accelerating and felt o.k. and decided to go for it. I jumped on my pedals and darted into the first corner nice and tight. I quickly switched to the inside line for the next corner and took it as tight as possible. I figured if anyone was on my wheel they would not be able to hold such a tight line and they would drift to the outside. I stood up and pushed hard to the last corner and took that in the same manner. It was just before the Start/Finish line that I looked back and saw a rider about 20 yards behind and the field just starting to take the final turn. I was about 1/4 lap up on the field and figured I would coast until the field caught back up so I could jump back on. I figured wrong. My body screamed in revolt and decided to make me suffer. My mind started to drift and I was simply spent. I let the peloton pass and tried to get back on, but could not hold a wheel. Then I was in no-man's-land and quickly started losing time. I sat up and switched my mindset to simply wanting to finish.
Before the race began...
Giving it my all for the first prime... $10 bucks in my pocket :-)
Totally spent after the prime and got caught by the pack.
Posted by kermisch at July 8, 2007 3:34 PM