Strava: http://www.strava.com/activities/144497016
Arriving at the crit, it looked like the conditions were pretty ideal with cool temps based on some cloud cover and what appeared to be a little wind only. It was actually even a little nippy when changing to get ready where I couldn't wait to get on the bike to warm up. The first lap was definitely cool, but what was surprising was how windy it was on the back side of the track. We were expecting more headwind on the bottom of the track, but that actually ended up not being the case. While it's been worse, it definitely was not "ideal."
Now Shannon and I had discussed some strategies before today's race, but we had discussed some last minute changes based on what we thought was going to be a rather small group. When we were called to line up to race, however, it was a lot bigger than we thought and with even some new faces here and there. There were some of the usual riders there too and seemingly with more team mates with them, so Shannon and I ended up having to figure things out as we went. Then again, isn't that always the case.
Due to the size of the group, it didn't seem like anyone would try any breakaways, but on the 2nd lap, last year's point leader up until the last race broke away and ended up being joined by another younger rider. No one seemed to do much, so I decided to sneak up and then break off to join them. We had a pretty sizable gap where we kept away for a good lap and a half or so. However, no one wanted to join and eventually the peleton opted to chase us down as a whole instead.
There were a couple other attempts for breakaways, but none that really stuck. It seems like the races have been more about no one wanting to really work to weed out the slower guys from the faster ones. It's going to be an interesting series if this way of racing continues given that it becomes a big sprint session at the end where almost anything goes.
Shannon and I had gotten together on the last lap as we had hoped and we were definitely going to give the final sprint a go. At first I thought I was going to lead him out, but when I called out to him on the opposite side of the peleton, he crossed over and got in front of me where I figured I'd go ahead and give the sprint a shot from his slipstream. We definitely made progress before the 2nd to the last turn as we made our way closer to the front. This was even after some people were rolling out just in front of us where it took some negotiating just to be able to keep momentum.
When we got on the stretch before the final turn, Shannon was definitely moving and I was just hoping we could keep his momentum through the turn to contest the sprint to the finish. We didn't get close enough to the front, however, to be able to take control of the corner where this guy (I won't mention team names or describe him since others read this) cut the corner from the outside (something he seemed to be doing the whole race) and ended up pinching us out of the turn. The whole race was like this as I had to cut through the weeds in one corner a couple times. Anyhow, once we had to check up for that turn, we lost a lot of momentum and was no longer able to contend for the final sprint. I tried to whip around Shannon just after coming out of the turn but those who had an outside line had better luck and ended up finishing ahead of us.
Of course neither of us were happy with the results, but that's only because we're competitive. There's always the possibility that we could have tried something else, but that would be more of a case of woulda, shoulda, coulda. I know I wish I did some things differently toward the finish of the race, but that's like crying over spilled milk, right? In the end, at least we managed to apply one of our planned strategies (which hardly ever happens), but it just didn't work out to our advantage this evening. Oh well, live and learn. We'll be back.... Great racing with you nonetheless, Shannon!
Arriving at the crit, it looked like the conditions were pretty ideal with cool temps based on some cloud cover and what appeared to be a little wind only. It was actually even a little nippy when changing to get ready where I couldn't wait to get on the bike to warm up. The first lap was definitely cool, but what was surprising was how windy it was on the back side of the track. We were expecting more headwind on the bottom of the track, but that actually ended up not being the case. While it's been worse, it definitely was not "ideal."
Now Shannon and I had discussed some strategies before today's race, but we had discussed some last minute changes based on what we thought was going to be a rather small group. When we were called to line up to race, however, it was a lot bigger than we thought and with even some new faces here and there. There were some of the usual riders there too and seemingly with more team mates with them, so Shannon and I ended up having to figure things out as we went. Then again, isn't that always the case.
Due to the size of the group, it didn't seem like anyone would try any breakaways, but on the 2nd lap, last year's point leader up until the last race broke away and ended up being joined by another younger rider. No one seemed to do much, so I decided to sneak up and then break off to join them. We had a pretty sizable gap where we kept away for a good lap and a half or so. However, no one wanted to join and eventually the peleton opted to chase us down as a whole instead.
There were a couple other attempts for breakaways, but none that really stuck. It seems like the races have been more about no one wanting to really work to weed out the slower guys from the faster ones. It's going to be an interesting series if this way of racing continues given that it becomes a big sprint session at the end where almost anything goes.
Shannon and I had gotten together on the last lap as we had hoped and we were definitely going to give the final sprint a go. At first I thought I was going to lead him out, but when I called out to him on the opposite side of the peleton, he crossed over and got in front of me where I figured I'd go ahead and give the sprint a shot from his slipstream. We definitely made progress before the 2nd to the last turn as we made our way closer to the front. This was even after some people were rolling out just in front of us where it took some negotiating just to be able to keep momentum.
When we got on the stretch before the final turn, Shannon was definitely moving and I was just hoping we could keep his momentum through the turn to contest the sprint to the finish. We didn't get close enough to the front, however, to be able to take control of the corner where this guy (I won't mention team names or describe him since others read this) cut the corner from the outside (something he seemed to be doing the whole race) and ended up pinching us out of the turn. The whole race was like this as I had to cut through the weeds in one corner a couple times. Anyhow, once we had to check up for that turn, we lost a lot of momentum and was no longer able to contend for the final sprint. I tried to whip around Shannon just after coming out of the turn but those who had an outside line had better luck and ended up finishing ahead of us.
Of course neither of us were happy with the results, but that's only because we're competitive. There's always the possibility that we could have tried something else, but that would be more of a case of woulda, shoulda, coulda. I know I wish I did some things differently toward the finish of the race, but that's like crying over spilled milk, right? In the end, at least we managed to apply one of our planned strategies (which hardly ever happens), but it just didn't work out to our advantage this evening. Oh well, live and learn. We'll be back.... Great racing with you nonetheless, Shannon!
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