First off, I must send a huge congrats to Matt Smith of vwT on his huge win in the Cat 3 race.  So CONGRATS!!!  I was screaming my head off when he passed the line for the W.

So I have been thinking about how I wanted to approach this race for a while now.  The night before the State Championship Criterium in Peoria, IL was no different.  I had a dream that I had finished 4th in this race, which is very respectable considering the competition that has been showing up in the Cat 4 fields lately.  But that is not where I wanted to finish.  I wanted to win (along with everyone else who showed up).  

We were forced to take a warm-up lap prior to the race.  I didn't want to do this as I wanted to be on the line at the start, but I did and took a half lap.  I got to the line and there were a few riders there so I got my start position.  The usual guys were in attendance and some who weren't.   Talking with Nate from Spidermonkey's prior to the race, we knew who needed to be watched and did a fairly good job at marking them.  

The race started off pretty swiftly.  A Mack guy and a junior from Smart Cycling were off the front immediately and opened up a few second gap.  They stayed out there for half a lap or so, before the field brought them back in.  Then we hit a wall of wind on the back stretch and that slowed the field down.  From the warm-up lap I did prior to the Cat 3 race, I knew this would be the place for attacks to come and maybe breaks to form.  

I tried to stay in the top ten for most of the race, trying not to kill myself in the head wind sections.  A few attacks went off right after the start line as right after turn 1 we faced a decent head wind.  I attempted to cover them along with a few other riders and we were successful.  

This is where the time warp comes in.  I looked up at one point in the race and saw 16 on the lap card.  Then I heard "16 laps to go riders!"  Ok still plenty of time left.  Then, it seemed like 2 laps later, there was 9 on the lap card.  What happened?  I thought to myself.  At this point the field was all together, the front 15-20 riders were strung out, I was about 10 back, and then it happened.  

Chris from Pegasus and a rider from Proctor were off the front opening up a gap.   I could have sworn Chris was behind me, I never saw him come up to the front.  Eventually, the Proctor rider was dropped, and Chris began to time trial himself to what appeared to be certain victory as he seemed to only appear on the long back straight and the finishing straight, but then disappear on the shorter straights.  He always seemed to be a turn ahead of the field in the upper part of the figure 8 course.  

The field seemed content to let him ride off.  I think most of the field didn't realize his capabilities of pulling this off.  However, Nate, the xXxers in attendance, and I, were well aware of what he can do.  Nate, a few CCC riders and I were up front trying to organize people in helping get Chris back to the field.  I was at the front pulling for about 3/4 of a lap.  I did the wag of the elbow for the guy behind me to pull through, but he stayed on my wheel.  I finished a full lap and then a little more, wagged the elbow again, nothing.  Getting frustrated at this point, I pulled a little more and finally a replacement and I fell back to recover.  

Then coming through the start line again, I see 4 to go.  I was thinking that we have plenty of time to get him.  Nate and I were in the top 10 and I felt we had very good position, however, the field was still content with the gap not closing much.  

Then, I hit the time warp again as the next lap was the bell lap.  Suddenly, the field grew antsy.  The pace picked up and a group of riders passed me.  At this point, I was about 10-12 riders back.  The dream I had the night before, still running through my head.  I was feeling very good about my position coming into turn 5.  I don't believe in fate, and was determined to not let that dream become reality.  

We come into turn 6.  A small gap opens up between the front 5 riders and the next 5.  I unfortunately was in the next 5, but made the bridge to get up in the front 5.  Then I see it.  Chris is coming back.  We are gaining slowly.  It seemed like we might catch him at turn 8 or on the finishing straight.  Coming through turn 7, I hear a loud explosion and then grinding.  The guys ahead of me had to have heard this as well as the pace picked up a little more.  

Still about 6 back from the lead chaser, I saw my mark for where I wanted my sprint to begin.   I hit the mark and off I go.  I pass 4 guys on my way to the finish.  Stan from Cuttin Crew, was next.  I was gaining slowly and about 10m from the finish, I reach his rear wheel.  Slowly moving up to his shoulders, we bump shoulders.  "Whoa whoa" I yelled.  I kept pedaling and threw at the line.  I got 2nd and Stan 3rd.  Satisfied with my result in more ways that one.  Much improved from last year where it was a pack finish for me.

After the race, waiting at the registration table for the final results to be posted, I was talking with a few riders and had mentioned the gaps in the lap counter.  One of the riders stated, "Dude you must have hit a time warp or something."  I must have, because I don't remember where that time went.   Congrats Chris on another impressive win.

After the race, I caught up with some friends of mine from college, who came out to see the end of the race.  Thanks Neal and Lauryl for coming out.