My Team Works
The Gentle Lovers are clicking. The Cat 1/2 squad is now 7 men deep and everyone is racing as one team for one goal. The Cirque du Cycling crit was last Saturday evening on Mississippi Ave. I arrived at the race right at the beginning of the Cat 3/4 race and was blown away by the number of spectators watching the race. The restaurants had course side dining tables and the sidewalks were packed.
The course itself was interesting like two lollypops. It doubled back on itself along Mississippi and then circled around a block on each end. This made for a very fast course because of the length of the straights. The crash marred Cat 3/4 race had the officials very concerned about the safety of the course. I heard a few of the incidences were caused by spectators that may have thrown back a few too many. I was a little surprised to see that a break got away and actually stayed away to win the race.
It is always a great feeling to pull up the start line at a race and look back to see that the six best looking guys in the pack are all wearing the same jersey as I am. Markwelder, Hulick, T-Bear, Watts, Danimal, and Cabana Boy were there to make it a night to remember.
The race started off quick, with Rubicon and the Lovers throwing themselves off the front and the field became single file from beginning to end. Eventually a break of about seven went off, with Watts and Hulick represented in it, but no Rubicon riders up there. Mark and I stayed near the front to cover attacks until it was close to being caught. I launched one more time and a lap or so later it was Hulick, Joe King, Carson Miller and I off the front. Aaron Coker soon bridged up to make it five and we sat between 7 and 10 seconds off the front of the field for a long time. Hulick and I swept up the primes as they came along. The rest of the lovers were at the head of the field playing great teammates and tried to cover everything that went off the front. When Zach Winters and our sudo teammate Pete Groblewski (Garage Cycling) eventually bridged up later in the race, that sealed the deal for the break and we started pulling away from the field.
With five laps to go, I was going around a left hand corner after a little rise and all of a sudden my bike was trying to shoot forward from under me. I looked back real quick to see Zach laying on the ground, then I heard that terrible sound that no bike racer ever wants to hear; spokes hitting carbon fiber. Tow spokes on my rear wheel were busted and slapping my frame as I rolled along. I rode for about a second contemplating if I could finish the race on this wheel and quickly decided no. There was a pit around the corner, but I had no wheels in. I still tried and luckily there was a charitable soul who had a complete bike hanging in the pit tent. I got a quick wheel change and Zach and I waited for the break to come around again. One more lap and the free lap rule would not have been in effect.
The last few laps seemed to ease up as we knew that we were going to stay off and people started to think about the finish. Carson tried a few desperate moves to get away, but Kevin was always there to shut it down. Joe lead it out around the last corner and it was a slight downhill sprint for 300 meters. About halfway through the first of three blocks, I took off, not wanting to wait for anything to happen. Zach was behind me with Pete and Aaron on his wheel. I rolled in for the win with Pete and Aaron following behind. Kevin came in 6th and Tony placed 3rd in the field sprint for 10th place. What a great race it was. It is so much fun racing on a selfless team with guys that will throw it down for the greater good.
I am off to catch a flight to San Jose. Hopefully I will have some pictures and some good race reports tomorrow or Saturday.
The course itself was interesting like two lollypops. It doubled back on itself along Mississippi and then circled around a block on each end. This made for a very fast course because of the length of the straights. The crash marred Cat 3/4 race had the officials very concerned about the safety of the course. I heard a few of the incidences were caused by spectators that may have thrown back a few too many. I was a little surprised to see that a break got away and actually stayed away to win the race.
It is always a great feeling to pull up the start line at a race and look back to see that the six best looking guys in the pack are all wearing the same jersey as I am. Markwelder, Hulick, T-Bear, Watts, Danimal, and Cabana Boy were there to make it a night to remember.
The race started off quick, with Rubicon and the Lovers throwing themselves off the front and the field became single file from beginning to end. Eventually a break of about seven went off, with Watts and Hulick represented in it, but no Rubicon riders up there. Mark and I stayed near the front to cover attacks until it was close to being caught. I launched one more time and a lap or so later it was Hulick, Joe King, Carson Miller and I off the front. Aaron Coker soon bridged up to make it five and we sat between 7 and 10 seconds off the front of the field for a long time. Hulick and I swept up the primes as they came along. The rest of the lovers were at the head of the field playing great teammates and tried to cover everything that went off the front. When Zach Winters and our sudo teammate Pete Groblewski (Garage Cycling) eventually bridged up later in the race, that sealed the deal for the break and we started pulling away from the field.
With five laps to go, I was going around a left hand corner after a little rise and all of a sudden my bike was trying to shoot forward from under me. I looked back real quick to see Zach laying on the ground, then I heard that terrible sound that no bike racer ever wants to hear; spokes hitting carbon fiber. Tow spokes on my rear wheel were busted and slapping my frame as I rolled along. I rode for about a second contemplating if I could finish the race on this wheel and quickly decided no. There was a pit around the corner, but I had no wheels in. I still tried and luckily there was a charitable soul who had a complete bike hanging in the pit tent. I got a quick wheel change and Zach and I waited for the break to come around again. One more lap and the free lap rule would not have been in effect.
The last few laps seemed to ease up as we knew that we were going to stay off and people started to think about the finish. Carson tried a few desperate moves to get away, but Kevin was always there to shut it down. Joe lead it out around the last corner and it was a slight downhill sprint for 300 meters. About halfway through the first of three blocks, I took off, not wanting to wait for anything to happen. Zach was behind me with Pete and Aaron on his wheel. I rolled in for the win with Pete and Aaron following behind. Kevin came in 6th and Tony placed 3rd in the field sprint for 10th place. What a great race it was. It is so much fun racing on a selfless team with guys that will throw it down for the greater good.
I am off to catch a flight to San Jose. Hopefully I will have some pictures and some good race reports tomorrow or Saturday.
posted by Super Steve-o at
3:14 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home