30+ Race
Antonio, Bruce, Joe, and Hunter lined up for the 20 mile 30+ race. The field was on the smaller side and the plan was to not miss any breaks. On lap 2 Hunter rode solo off the front and quickly was allowed a 12 second lead that he kept up for a couple of laps. He turned off the gas when it was apparent that no one was willing to follow suit so early on in the race. Joe got into a move shortly after that but that too came back. With about 12 to go a group of 3 were up the road and the team did a good job of staying near the front. Joe did some tempo chasing work and the gap was under control. A subsequent reshuffling of the front a prime lap came up and Hunter took the 2nd place prize for it. Then shortly after, a couple of dangerous riders got into a group up the road and it was time to get to work. Antonio did some great last minute chasing work, burning the last of his matches with 3 to go, getting the break close. Hunter put in a long pull with one and a half to go, getting Joe right onto the back of the bunch, which after the chase, was down to about 10 riders. For the bell lap everyone sat up, giving Hunter and other riders a chance to latch back on for the final lap. Joe got into great position before the speed went up and went up the hill in 3 rd place. Hunter used to the hill to sneak into the top 5. Joe went thru the last corner in first place and started the sprint from a long way out. Too far to sprint alone off the front and he was passed by a few riders by the line. He finished 7th place but 3rd out of CT residents, good for the bronze. Hunter was right there in 8th.
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| A Sleeping Giant Podium... The 30+ race |
Cat 3
Race started and the pace was pretty tame, no one really wanted to take over the pacemaking. I had talked briefly with some people about organizing a break, but as the first sprint prime (tires) came up, two of the dudes I talked to went for it.
Since we were all at the front, I counterattacked it, and got free with a group of 6 or 7. I rolled through a few times, but it was really disorganized, and with ~18 miles to go, no one really seemed like they wanted to commit. We were caught about two laps later, and I drifted back into the pack to rest up. Things weren't too sketchy, but personally, I prefer my crits with actual hard corners to line the bunch out. I think while I was sitting up Green Line Velo took a prime.
Around 10 to go, I felt pretty rested and so moved up through the field. They rang a prime bell for a pretty hefty prize ($100, maybe?) and as the field lined out, I heard Bryan McGill from CLR shouting about taking off. 9 laps was a little longer than I wanted to try for, but the opportunity was there, so I counterattacked again.
We got clear pretty easily and worked well together, but never got a huge gap. Donny Green from Cambridge Cycles bridged up to us around six to go and really started driving it. Looking at the KSR TT results, Bryan was 1st, Donny was 3rd, 3" back (on a road bike) and I was 27th, 1:30+ down. No points for finding the weak link in that trio. I think I started missing pulls at 3 to go, mostly because I couldn't accelerate past the other two guys. Still, I managed to come around when i could.
We were out to 20" and hovered at 14" for a while, but the course is just so tepid and non-selective (like I said, no corners, little rises that you don't feel in the pack, but that slow you down solo) that it was just not quite enough. Plus, I think Green Line had a bunch of riders in hte race (5, 6?) and I'm guessing they chased us. We got caught between the last two corners on the bell lap, and adding insult to injury, some dude sprinting for 40th place crashed Bryan McGill out in front of me. I managed to dodge the carnage, but seriously—downhill finish with a tailwind? If you aren't top 15 around the final corner, show some brains and pull the plug.
35+ Race
Tim Ratta's schedule only allowed his participation in the 35+ race. Here's how it went: "I went right from the gun hoping to get a good gap and bring along one or two strong guys. Well I brought along one cvc guy who just wanted a free ride. I stayed away for a lap maybe two and then let myself get absorbed by the pack. While in the pack a small break went up the road and I sprinted up to try and bridge. I got up there but there were too many strong guys left that weren't gonna let that one get away. The middle of the race was pretty much a lot of that on repeat. Get a good gap and then get reeled in. I went for one of the primes and got it. NICE! However, not substantial because it was a two place prime and the winner was up the road. With about 4 to go I was looking for Eric Merril because I thought him and I together could make a good go at a break. But to no avail, and a two man break went with 3 left. They eventually got sucked up w a half lap to go. Then chaos ensued as it always does on the last turn before the finish. Everybody dancing on their pedals, banging elbows, the smell of carbon brake pads, etc. Anyway a couple of heros that wernt seen all day go to the front and either crashed or rode off into the grass. Which always makes for an interesting sprint there. Not sure how I finished but was happy w my race." Tim ended up 11th place on the day. Not too shabby.
Cat4
Reports coming soon
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