Winfield Twilight Criterium Well the Saturday race was my first experience racing the Twilight Criterium. I had been there before as an observer. Last time I was there, I never saw the whole course. The hill on the back side of the course was a long, gradual climb, but this is where I figured the attacks would come and the field would crack. I started on the front, the whistle blew and I was off. A Team Pegasus rider and I were off the front on the first lap. Up the hill we had opened a gap. I let my opponent know this and asked if he wanted to ride it out. "NO!" was his response and so we fell back into the field. I stayed on the front, unfortunately, and I burned myself out really quickly. About 15 minutes into the 30 min +3 laps race, I developed a nasty cramp in my side. I held mid-pack for the next two laps and then I was dropped from the field going up the hill. I had good position going into the hill, but half way up, I waved good bye to the field as they passed me. I spent the next lap trying to catch back up, but it was to no avail. I never saw the pack again. They eventually had about a half lap lead on me and a few other riders. Going up the hill for the last time, I was with 3 other riders. Heading into the downhill, I was leading the 4 of us. We make the final left turn and it is 200m from the turn to the line. I get out of the saddle and sprint. I take the sprint between the 4 of us for 35th. The day was disappointing for the most part. The course was pretty nice. I just didn't prepare myself well enough for this day. I definitely wasn't hydrated for the conditions. The first hot day of the year took its toll on me. I told myself that you can't be on your best everyday and that tomorrow is another day. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winfield ABR National Criterium Championships <font class="Apple-style-span" face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#009900">Cat 4 race </font></span></font> Today I made sure I was hydrated for the race. I did the course last year so I knew what to expect. The weather was great for the start, not too much wind, and sunny. A four corner rectangle with long straights on the front and back side, a downhill after turn 2, into an uphill that crested after turn 3, then downhill into turn 4, which is always hairy, and then uphill to the finish. The final straight is very long. Start your sprint too early and you will be passed by at least 10 riders. Again I started on the front. xXx had Jacques and Peter present, Chris from Team Pegasus, Nate from Spidermonkey and Matt from St Louis were present from the riders I knew. Race started and Jacques and another rider went off the front for about 3 or 4 laps about 2 laps in. Peter did a great job blocking, and I was sitting about 2 back from him. Then I think Peter might have gotten bored sitting on the front of the field and he bridged up to the break. I immediately jumped on his wheel and after the hill, we had a 4 man break. This lasted for maybe a lap, 2 at the most with each of us taking turns pulling. Coming up the hill, we slowed a bit and then we were caught. We fell back into the field and sat in for a few laps. I settled back into the field in the top 10 and decided to rest up for a while. There were a attacks on the hill, which was expected, but they were quickly covered. There were also riders trying to move up in turn 4, which was also expected. It was nice to be up at the front as you didn't have to worry about the yo-yo effect near the back with slowing down in the turns. The middle of the race was kind of a blur. With 3 laps to go, I was about 5 back. With 2 to go, I was sitting 2nd, and didn't want to be there. I dropped a couple of spots on the hill. Coming into the bell lap, I was sitting about 4th. The pace picked up and coming into turn 3, a rider (who eventually went on to win) attacked on the hill. He was first into turn 4 and a group of about 5 opened a gap on the rest of us. I was not in that lead group and I sprinted for a respectable 10th. Nate finished 5th, Peter got a top 3, Chris finished just ahead of me. Great job by everyone. <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; ">Cat 3 Race</span></font> After I finished the 4s race, I was convinced to do the Cat 3 race. It really didn't take much to convince me to do that. I convinced Nate and Chris to join me in the fun as well. For me, the race was pretty uneventful, except for all the braking going into turn 4 and then having to sprint to catch up with the field. From the back of the field, I noticed Eric Goodwin go off the front with another rider for a few laps. This break was caught and then I stopped paying attention to what was going on off the front. I stayed mid pack for most of the race. With 2 to go, I got bored and was feeling pretty good. A C-U rider opened up a gap on the finishing straight. I decided I would try to close the gap and hopefully drag a teammate up with me, as there were 2 or 3 on the front. I moved up to about 10th, and then at the 200m mark, I jumped. I caught the C-U rider, but looked back and saw I had Ben from ABD on my wheel. He attacked on the hill, I tried to get his wheel, but I was spent. I settled back into the field and finished the race. Matt and Andreas finished in the top 15. Good job guys. Looking back, I think I should have said something to my mates and I could have dragged them up with me and made myself useful. Overall I thought the atmosphere was great. To have the residents camped in their front lawns with lemonade stands and grilling and cheering you on, even if you are way off the back, was awesome. Hats off to ABD for putting on a great weekend of racing. Looking forward to next year.
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