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What Tim saw:
Category: E 4/5
Result: 2nd of 80
So I finally got my lazy butt up in time to actually race.
Most of us know this course, so I'll just say that it is flat and hot
dog shaped with 4 corners. There was only a slight wind for the race.
I started the race near the back, maybe not all the way, but pretty
far back. This was a terrible decision because people at the front
started drilling it and riders in the back (but in front of me) kept
getting gapped. I had to work my way around them to maintain contact
with the pack. So much for margaritas...
Eventually the pace calmed down a bit and I found the outside line
good way to make up a couple spots per lap. At some point I was
sitting top 20 and there was a crash just in front of me in the first
corner. I squeaked between a couple of fallen bikes, but had to slow
significantly. It took me about a lap to catch up to the main pack.
Going into the last 2 laps, I was siting 5th wheel behind a three
person lead-out train from some white and orange team -- can't
remember their name. Anyway, they started to work with about 1.5 laps
to go, but on the back stretch of the last lap they lost control
after their first place rider pulled off and we started to get
swarmed. However, the next dude inline started to semi-sprint to set
up his man.
Going into the last corner, it was the two white and orange guys,
then me. After we made it around the corner, the guy in the lead
pulled off, and their next guy started to sprint. I waited about 25
meters before trying to pull around him. Unfortunately, I just didn't
have quite enough to pass him, and he beat me by about half-a-wheel.
So much for structured training. Long live the Valley, Spectrum, and
Great America noon rides.
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