Mayors Cup crit 2014

[jraguin]

The most important thing of reading this is that you have to come out to watch this race next year. Great atmosphere. 4 corner criterium in downtown Boston. The course is around Government Center so you get all the passersby watching the race around Faneuil Hall and Old State House, let alone all the cycling enthusiasts who watch at various strategic places of the course. Announcer giving you insights to the riders and race the whole time, beer garden, kids race, etc. Really a great event.

Raced the Cat 2/3 race. First race I have ever done with Cat 2s (besides Masters races). There isn't much to say here but ridiculously fast and hard. We averaged 29 mph. Every lap I was crossing the finish line going 35-45 mph. That is just on the laps, not in the sprint. Len did the Masters race before us and told us that the one uphill, up Sudbury St., was relatively "easy" and that he moved up places there. Not me. That uphill section was where my field seemed to go all out every lap. I would hit the top of that basically feeling like I was at my utter limit. And I felt that way every single lap. I would move up on the false flat into the wind at the top and move around people coasting and braking on the down hill section on Court St. I finished with the main pack which I feel was a big accomplishment for me. Being not comfortable with crits, I was fighting the negativity demons in the days up to the race and that day, so it took every bit of mental energy to reverse those demons.

[PJ McQuade]

Nice job, John. Just getting on the results sheet is an accomplishment at Mayor's Cup. Those hard 'cross efforts are paying off.

[Len_E]

Yuck. End of road season goes out on a whimper. John's description captured the Masters 40+ 1-3 race. The speed was utter lunacy except when we were neutralized in the first five laps after the second crash put someone in an ambulance. The first laps had me struggling at the back of the pack where I'd pass a bunch of guys on the slight uphill and give it all back on the descent on the backside. Then I'd fall further behind on the longish flat section past the start/finish line despite going 40 mph. It was a very strong group but not uncommon. I raced most all of these guys earlier in the season and beat many of them. This time I was outclassed big-time. I got pulled with about 5 or 6 laps to go after being unable to make contact with the pack. Too much sprinting out of every corner. Too little recovery opportunities. Too much effin speed.