Greenville was legit...1st race weekend of the year couldn't have gone better. Good weather, old faces, and one sweet whip to ride--17.3 lbs (don't laugh--it really is lighter).
The Donaldson Center CAT 4 Road Race had over 60 riders start and only about 7 who actually wanted to race. It was your typical race where everyone waited until the field sprint. One break could have gone but we couldn't get our act together. The field decided to pull a track stand at 40 meters out and then race for 7 seconds--No bueno!!!
Sunday's CAT 4 Crit was tight--25 mph average--massive carnage along the back straight-away with 2 laps to go. Guys wanted to race today and coming into the final 400 meters it was cookin. At 250 I was sitting around 20 deep and dove to the inside out of the saddle through the final turn...gased myself a bit, but it was worth it...I had a shot and took it--scored a 7th place finish, not as high as I wanted but I was there.
For the second year in a row Albany threw everything at me and won again.
The back story:
One year ago in the Albany Crit, I was hit by a car in turn two. My teammateat at the time, Timbo Slice, and I were up the road by over a minute and this red, beast called a Dodge Magnum--aka the 5.0's patty wagon/K-9 unit--pulled through the barries and t-boned me...I kept it up right, bounced off into a parking lot, shook my head and kept going. El officiale moto, pushed me back up to Timbo and we continued. He wanted a heads up sprint, but I told him I was done. Turns out I drug my back tire for the final 3 laps of the race. I gave him the win...so close, but no cigar.
The next day we had the road race...to save the back story this time--close, but no cigar again...3rd place. You'd think I'd be stoked about Albany 2010, but 2 months later I was suffering from that brutal weekend.
Fast forward a year:
I get in a break of 7--we lap the field and with one lap to go I make my move in turn two. I gapped the field; kept the heat on and through turn 5 I was approaching lapped riders...el official moto moved the riders to the right of the course, but stopped short and I almost t-boned the #$%^ out of him. I went sideways and like last year kept it upright, but my gap had been closed and everyone was looking for the next move. With my adreniline on overload I finally expired...5th place...so close, but no cigar again.
The next day--the redeemer hopefully--turned out to be much in the same, but with a few, new twists. I learned more in that race than any other race. I felt like a marked man from the word go...everyone watched and waited and everytime I went no one wanted any of it. The final 3k came down to a sprint finish and the protaginist named Albany reared it's ugly head...I finished 8th, but teased by the initial results of a top 7 position...no money, overworked, and little glory to take back to my new team and teammates.
I know what's up from here on out...keep the rubber-side down and the sly/cut, grin with a glint in your eye over your right shoulder...you never know who's watching.
So since my last post I have catted up and am now a 3...I've learned a few things this season--"I likA the Crits." The weekend of Twilight I raced in 4 races and finished 3 out of the 4 with superficial road rash and a couple of busted ribs. Even though I came in at the tail end of the pack in the 2/3 race I finished my first 2/3 race and it was the real deal.
Racing has been great this year...I still need to make improvements, but the summer is going to be long with even longer days...cyclism @ its best...
Greenville was legit...1st race weekend of the year couldn't have gone better. Good weather, old faces, and one sweet whip to ride--17.3 lbs (don't laugh--it really is lighter).
ReplyDeleteThe Donaldson Center CAT 4 Road Race had over 60 riders start and only about 7 who actually wanted to race. It was your typical race where everyone waited until the field sprint. One break could have gone but we couldn't get our act together. The field decided to pull a track stand at 40 meters out and then race for 7 seconds--No bueno!!!
Sunday's CAT 4 Crit was tight--25 mph average--massive carnage along the back straight-away with 2 laps to go. Guys wanted to race today and coming into the final 400 meters it was cookin. At 250 I was sitting around 20 deep and dove to the inside out of the saddle through the final turn...gased myself a bit, but it was worth it...I had a shot and took it--scored a 7th place finish, not as high as I wanted but I was there.
Tailwinds,
Delmas Louise
Albany--MY NEMESIS...The Cynical Race Report
ReplyDeleteFor the second year in a row Albany threw everything at me and won again.
The back story:
One year ago in the Albany Crit, I was hit by a car in turn two. My teammateat at the time, Timbo Slice, and I were up the road by over a minute and this red, beast called a Dodge Magnum--aka the 5.0's patty wagon/K-9 unit--pulled through the barries and t-boned me...I kept it up right, bounced off into a parking lot, shook my head and kept going. El officiale moto, pushed me back up to Timbo and we continued. He wanted a heads up sprint, but I told him I was done. Turns out I drug my back tire for the final 3 laps of the race. I gave him the win...so close, but no cigar.
The next day we had the road race...to save the back story this time--close, but no cigar again...3rd place. You'd think I'd be stoked about Albany 2010, but 2 months later I was suffering from that brutal weekend.
Fast forward a year:
I get in a break of 7--we lap the field and with one lap to go I make my move in turn two. I gapped the field; kept the heat on and through turn 5 I was approaching lapped riders...el official moto moved the riders to the right of the course, but stopped short and I almost t-boned the #$%^ out of him. I went sideways and like last year kept it upright, but my gap had been closed and everyone was looking for the next move. With my adreniline on overload I finally expired...5th place...so close, but no cigar again.
The next day--the redeemer hopefully--turned out to be much in the same, but with a few, new twists. I learned more in that race than any other race. I felt like a marked man from the word go...everyone watched and waited and everytime I went no one wanted any of it. The final 3k came down to a sprint finish and the protaginist named Albany reared it's ugly head...I finished 8th, but teased by the initial results of a top 7 position...no money, overworked, and little glory to take back to my new team and teammates.
I know what's up from here on out...keep the rubber-side down and the sly/cut, grin with a glint in your eye over your right shoulder...you never know who's watching.
tailwinds,
deLvus louIse--my new, alter ego
So since my last post I have catted up and am now a 3...I've learned a few things this season--"I likA the Crits." The weekend of Twilight I raced in 4 races and finished 3 out of the 4 with superficial road rash and a couple of busted ribs. Even though I came in at the tail end of the pack in the 2/3 race I finished my first 2/3 race and it was the real deal.
ReplyDeleteRacing has been great this year...I still need to make improvements, but the summer is going to be long with even longer days...cyclism @ its best...
tailwinds,
t