Race: 11th Annual Chris Hinds Fuji Criterium Cat 4 0800 start
Location: Charlestown RI (Ninigrit)
Weather: 40 Degress Sunny with 20mph winds
Type: Very Flat Crit with turns running ounter clockwise in pic below.
Results: http://www.road-results.com/race/2591
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This course was one a navy Aux aifield and has been used for bike
racing for quite some tim now, I can recall racing on it over 20 years
and 35lbs ago. |
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| $20 Prime |
The Race: I had arrived early enough to get my number pinned on and take a few laps. I've done this course probably clost to fifty times as there is a training race there every Wednesday that NBX runs. We lined up in the usual fashion and received our normal run of the mill pre race briefing from the race official. Looking around at the HUGE field (16 in all) there were at least 6 guys from other teams who I am on a first name basis with. That's one of the things I love about cycling, showing up at the beginning of the season and linking up with guys you haven't seen in months and jumping off like it was yesterday. To note as Aaron McCormack (Cyclelodge) said the who's who of Cat 4 New England sprinters were there. (Dannny Saccoccio; Bikeworks, Nick Tham Ming Qiang; MIT, and Nick Sousa; Cyclelodge). This is good as typically there are no breakaways in this race as the headwind on the long straight section usually keeps riders in check. The start of the race was routine for the pack as we usually just chill out on the first lap which we did. There was a rider without a team jersey who decided that the first lap was the time for a solo break, the pack decided it was time to let him go also, he would accomplish nothing but burning his matches. We decided to catch this guy after around 4 laps myself, Danny, James (COX) and Aaron put in a little power in the front and caught him with no great effort. This was important as primes would start to come up and we could miss out on some cash or prizes. We're not talking big bucks here but some gas & lunch money. As we crossed the start/finish line the bell rings and a $20 prime is announced. I was in about 5th position in the pack (Stayed there too when not chasing) right behing Danny, I asked him if he was going to go for it. I did not want to waste energy early in the race, he said he was not and I wasn't going to either but I was in a good position so I dicided to give it a go. I sometimes don't go for primes early as this lets other racers know you can sprint but with everyone knowing me anyway what did I have to lose. (My other rule is only spritn for beer and cash). I came around the last corner and started my sprint about 200m out with good results ($20 in the pocket). After the prime comes a little recovery time in the mid field, just for a few laps. Barry Eyre from Bonk decided it was a good time to go solo, the pack again let him go for a few laps until myself and Smith Anderson from Greenline decided to orgainze a good chase just taking 10 second pulls and rotating his break went from 35 seconds to being caught within 1.5 laps. Organization works, it is rarely seen in cat 4 races or when we are basically riding solo with no team mates. This was Aaron decided to give it a go and attack, a good move to counter attack after catching a break. Barry attacked again and caught Aaron, looked they were going to work together but Barry attacked Aaron when he caught him, man was he going to wear himself out. We let Barry stew again out there there was only about 10 laps left in the race, I was pretty confident we would catch him without difficulty which we did. What we didn't see was the rider from Ride Studio attack with 8 laps to go, nobody responded, this proved to be our mistake. We tried to get something organized but it wasn't happening, everyone starts thinking about the finish and how they are going to conserve energy for the sprint. I hate sprinting for second but with 4 laps to go nobody wanted to work. The same 6 guys did all the work fo rthe race, Wes and James from Cox, Barry from Bonk, Aaron and Nick from Cyclelodge, Smith from Green Line, and me. With 2 laps to go it looked like we we're going to be sprinting ofr 2nd, things speed up, the last lap avg was 29mph. Coming around the last turn I decided to take Nick(MIT) wheel, he is a decent sprinter and with the headwind I wanted to come up and out only in hte last 100m but plans change. James from Cox had surged ahead with another guy in the filed and Wes (Cox) was in front of Nick slowley letting a gap open with a half lap to go, I saw this and told Nick to go around, he didn't so I had to. I quickly closed they gap but found myself with 200m to go. I had to start my sprint or I thought I would get enveloped by the field. I was feeling good but once I was in the headwind I had chosen the wrong gear, I like to srint at aroung 115rpm but man was I dragging and I felt like I couldn't move the bike forward. I noticed Nick (MIT) and Danny on my left (Both good Sprinters), they both got me so I ended up 4th. (BALLS). Props to the Ride Studio rider who stayed away!
Oh well 4th place = $16 + $20 Prime = $36 Racing = Priceless
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