Boston Beanpot Crit - Cat 4/5

[Bradford]

Sunday, March 29, 2015 - Tufts University

After having registered for Marblehead, then Rhodekill, and the subsequent cancellations, I lined up for the Men's 4/5 at the Boston Beanpot Classic Crit. It was sunny and 45 degrees - I thought I was in Florida.

This was my first departure from the 4 corner crit (nascar style), to a course with left AND right hand turns (6 total). It featured a relatively steep decent into a 90 degree turn at corner two, and a climb out of turn five, before rounding turn six with a false flat into the finish. Racing around the Tufts University campus, the course also included three cobblestone crosswalks. This was also the first crit I've raced that actually had more than a handful of spectators. People were lined around the course, and they had music and a race announcer at the start/finish. This was exciting for me.

For better or worse - I don't normally worry about getting on the front right out of the gate, instead opting to pick my moments to head up the side in the first few laps. This was a mistake. The steep decent into turn two really amplified the gaps with people braking hard into the corner and hammering on the way out. The field of 44 pretty much strung out immediately and I was much closer to the back than the front.

I found a nice wheel from a guy from NYC's Foundation, and we worked together to move up for a few laps. We caught up to the main chase group of probably 6 or so riders and I ended up on the front. I pulled for about two laps before shouting to the guy behind me to do some work. He was from Greenline Velo and told me his boys were up the road and he wasn't going to do anything - fair enough - don't chase down your teammates. So I now knew Greenline was up ahead, but I didn't know how many - as we wheeled around for another lap, we heard that the gap was 35 seconds or so.

Fortunately, a guy decided to attack off the front of our chase group. He looked strong with big track legs so I went with him. It didn't take long for us to shed the chase group - so now the two of us were trying to bridge. We rode for probably about 6 or 8 laps together, taking turns pulling - but he started to fade. I asked him to take another pull and he said 'I'm on the edge, not sure how much more I can do, but I will try.' Nice guy. He wheeled around me but we started going slower than we were before, so I went back on the front.

Spectators updated us that the gap was now 30 seconds or so, with only two guys up the road - both Greenline. Now knowing that there was a podium spot on the line, I decided to punch it on the back side climb and drop my new friend who was still on my wheel. With 10 laps to go, a 20 second gap, and being completely stranded between the leaders and the chase, I put my head down and worked, trying to pick the best lines through the turns (I'm not very efficient at this).

I finished the race on my own, coming across the line 26 seconds behind the two leaders, for a 3/44 finish.

Probably not the best Battenkill prep - but a lot of fun - and always great to fly the MRC flag in Boston!

[NCgaron]

You raced well and followed just like I had talked about with you before the race. Same thing happened in my race earlier but I was to far back and missed the field split. Congrats a well deserved 3rd place!

[swawersik]

Congrats. I'm pleased, but not surprised, you did so well. That's a stinking' hard race.

[rusto]

Excellent job, holding off the pack for 10 laps and preserving your podium spot!

[BTurner]

Great race Brad!

[cbusick]

Damn Brad, you are a beast. Nice job.

[Bradford]

Thanks guys - and thanks for the race insights Nolan, very helpful.

[Fintan]

Great work Brad.

[calebfrost]

Good work, Brad. I'm actually good friends the guy you were racing with at the end. His name is Dek and he's from Harvard, MA. I've been working on him to join MRC... well see.

[Bradford]

Awesome - we chatted afterwards, he would be a great addition - quads for days!

[pace21]

I could make some snide comment about sandbagging as a 5, but since you podiumed a 4/5 race you took all the fun out of it. I'll just say NICE!!!! I too am pleased but not surprised. Now lets hit some 3/4 crits!

[ahamilton]

Bradzilla!!!

[Mkidd3]

Well done man!!