Lake Auburn RR & Great Falls Crit
Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 4:25 pm
I made the long drive to Maine for 2 days of racing. No other MRC kits to be seen. Saturday it was pouring rain all morning, and I was dreading the start of the road race. It tapered to a drizzle though and stopped by the time we started. Cat 5's did three 11+ mile laps. A really nice course with a couple of punchy climbs, particularly one about 3 miles from the finish that would prove to be decisive. Final 2 miles is a false flat drag race. About 40 guys rolled out and the first lap was tame. A guy in plain black Craft gear put the hammer down on the hill that's 3 miles from the start/finish and shreaded the pack. I was on his wheel, though, and told him that we should keep the pressure up to make a select group of about 10. He apparently thought that was a great idea, cuz he drilled it and I was hanging on for dear life. As we crossed the finish line after 1 lap, mission accomplished: only 8 riders in our lead group. And, I now knew who's wheel to watch. Our group of 8 worked well together and we did the next two laps at a really good clip. Approaching the final hill on the last lap, black Craft-guy started moving up the right side...so of course I followed. He drilled it on the hill and again shreaded the group. I gave everything I could to stay on his wheel, but he got away. I was now completely red-lined, 2+ miles from the finish and pulling 3 other riders, so I pulled off and yelled (nicely, kinda) for the next guy to pull through. He did, but the pace dropped. The four of us were all toast; black Craft-guy was gone. At the 1km sign, everyone started sprinting...way too early. By the 200m sign, I was just getting back in tight on the last wheel and was thinking "well...at least I'll get 5th". We'll all sprinting balls out and I realized, not soon enough, that I was accelerating and they were all slowing down, or so it seemed. I gave everything and was flying up the left side when I crossed the line...for 3rd. Had the line been 20 feet further away, I would have been second. Bad timing and poor judgement on my part. I was totally cooked, but they went to early and were more cooked. That's racing. Cat 5 prizes went 3 deep: fresh-made pies. I picked apple.
Today was the Great Falls crit. Same organizers (MCC), but not a stage race. ?? Anyway, raining medium to hard. 20 laps, 4-left turns, downtown Auburn, passing in front of Gritty's brewpub. Finish-line is a slight uphill, followed by a left-hand turn and a short 10+ percent hill about 1/2 city block long...that would prove to be decisive. 20+ guys on the line, soaked to the bone already. From the gun, some guy goes flying up the hill and sets a hard pace. Not wanting to ride with a bunch of Cat 5's in the rain, I went after him and sat on his wheel. I set a really hard pace on the second lap and by the time we settled into the third lap, we had a lead group of 4. 13 to go, down to 3 riders, black-Craft guy, Bikeman kit, and me. 12 to go, pie prime. I still have half an apple from yesterday, so it basically went uncontested to Bikeman. Working together well. 8 to go, another pie prime. It's my turn to work, so I put in a good dig and held a hard pace all the way around. Down in the drops for the prime sprint, going hard, but no one tries to come around. Score. Blueberry! 5 to go, my turn to work. I take the lead, but I'm wondering when black Craft guy is going to attack. Turns out, he attacked as we crossed with 4 to go, just as I was finishing my pull. Saw him go, tried to follow up the hill, but it was futile. At the top of hill I looked at Bikeman and said "race ya for second". He agreed. Not that it mattered. We weren't getting black Craft guy back. 3 to go, I pull. 2 to go, he pulls. (perfect!) I attack as we get the bell, up the hill and I've got a gap. Lot's of lap traffic. I'm drilling it all out for the final lap and solo in for second, 10 seconds behind black Craft guy. The rain continued to fall throughout and I was eating spray the whole time, but strangely, I didn't mind. It was actually a really fun race.
I haven't raced all that much, but these 2 races were definitely really cool. Great courses, and totally cool vibe. Recommended for next year. Thanks for reading...
Today was the Great Falls crit. Same organizers (MCC), but not a stage race. ?? Anyway, raining medium to hard. 20 laps, 4-left turns, downtown Auburn, passing in front of Gritty's brewpub. Finish-line is a slight uphill, followed by a left-hand turn and a short 10+ percent hill about 1/2 city block long...that would prove to be decisive. 20+ guys on the line, soaked to the bone already. From the gun, some guy goes flying up the hill and sets a hard pace. Not wanting to ride with a bunch of Cat 5's in the rain, I went after him and sat on his wheel. I set a really hard pace on the second lap and by the time we settled into the third lap, we had a lead group of 4. 13 to go, down to 3 riders, black-Craft guy, Bikeman kit, and me. 12 to go, pie prime. I still have half an apple from yesterday, so it basically went uncontested to Bikeman. Working together well. 8 to go, another pie prime. It's my turn to work, so I put in a good dig and held a hard pace all the way around. Down in the drops for the prime sprint, going hard, but no one tries to come around. Score. Blueberry! 5 to go, my turn to work. I take the lead, but I'm wondering when black Craft guy is going to attack. Turns out, he attacked as we crossed with 4 to go, just as I was finishing my pull. Saw him go, tried to follow up the hill, but it was futile. At the top of hill I looked at Bikeman and said "race ya for second". He agreed. Not that it mattered. We weren't getting black Craft guy back. 3 to go, I pull. 2 to go, he pulls. (perfect!) I attack as we get the bell, up the hill and I've got a gap. Lot's of lap traffic. I'm drilling it all out for the final lap and solo in for second, 10 seconds behind black Craft guy. The rain continued to fall throughout and I was eating spray the whole time, but strangely, I didn't mind. It was actually a really fun race.
I haven't raced all that much, but these 2 races were definitely really cool. Great courses, and totally cool vibe. Recommended for next year. Thanks for reading...