A Few More Races

7-22-2008: Golden CSP Race (1-2-3) - picked up Jeff and Jeremy (new cat4s) at REI and rode out to Golden. Warmed up on the back of the 4s race, and lined up for the 1-2-3 race. Don't remember much about the race, don't know how I did, so it must not have been anything too impressive. 1:00:41 race time, average 26.2.

7-24-2008: Golden CSP Race (30+) - Drove out to this one, after attending a UVA club happy hour downtown (in full-kit, no less!). Kari and Kat came with me to spectate. This was the last race of the 30+ series this summer, and I was sitting in 3rd place overall, by a scant 5 points over 4th. Points are awarded on finish placings, with the top-10 each week getting points descending from 10 down to 1 (so a win gets you 10 points, etc.). Problem was, the guy in 4th place was Micheal Gibson, a recent national criterium champion. He can ride. He had also accumulated his points in fewer races, by placing highly. His higher placings meant that in the event of a points tie, he would walk away with the 3rd place.

So I had to place no farther back than 4 behind him if we both finished in the points.

Given that my legs weren't that good, and the overall meant more to me than the result of this particular race, I made it my job to mark him the whole time. It was windy, and the group split multiple times, but every time he accelerated, I went with him. Every time he attacked, I went with him.

A break of 5 got away after one of the points laps, and neither of us was in it. Ordinarily, I would have fought to get in it or to bridge, but with Gibson in the pack with me, I sat in - 5 people away meant 5 points placings that were out of reach for us, which dramatically increased my odds of keeping my 3rd. On one lap I was leading the pack up the hill to the line when Gibson literally shot off the front like a cannon-ball, trying to bridge to the break.

Race lost - if he makes it, he'll win, and that puts me at best in 7th place, out of 3rd. Luckily, the break had too much leash already, and we caught him a lap later. For the rest of the race I stayed off the front and on his wheel.

Field sprint approached, and I glued myself to him. I stayed with him all the way until his final kick, which I simply couldn't hold. He finished 6th, me 7th. Mission accomplished, although I imagine it was pretty boring for Kari & Kat.

To give you an idea of his sprint, remember that on his wheel, I have to produce between 30-40% less power than he does in the wind to stay with him. When he jumped at the end, I was cross-eyed and just watched him ride off. Amazing.