Schedule and Goals

Races

• Chariot (heat/final)
• Win and Out (6 to go)
• Tempo (12 laps)
• Miss and Out (15 riders)

First Wednesday as a B.

Goals: learn, not get my ass totally kicked.

Chariot

1st heat – started low down toward the pole. Got a good throw but was cut off as riders did not stay in their lanes. Narrowly grabbed 4th with a throw at the line.

Final – got a better start up track, able to drop in third wheel after the finish line. Held it to the 200m mark when two riders jumped hard. The leader and I reacted fast and I narrowly missed 3rd against Morgan of Montano-Velo.

Lesson learned: start is super important, don’t save anything. A good throw can make a different (both from the holder and a sprint throw)

Win and Out

Fast from the start, a lot of jockeying for position in the first 5 laps. I was 2nd wheel going into the bell lap when everyone gunned it. I didn’t have the jump to follow or contest the first sprint, just burning the matches to stay with the pack cost me the rest of the race.

Lesson learned: need to figure out placing expectations and strategy then go for that. Sit in. Improvements will be week to week.

Tempo – 12 laps

Had trouble getting a good position in the pole at first. Got in 4th wheel at turn 3 then went up around to take the first sprint by about a wheel. Big mistake. The pack attacked and I narrowly caught on to the tail end of the second group of a split pack. We caught the three guys at the third sprint, but I was still recovering and couldn’t cover the surge well. Got dropped at the 4th sprint. Sat a lap out and hopped back into the chase group for the next 5 laps as three guys off the front scooped up the rest of the point.

Lesson learned: don’t go for the first sprint if it means burning a match.

Miss and Out

Despite the big group (16?) I decided to try the tested strategy of being greedy with the pole. Grabbed the pole halfway in to the first lap and kept it for another 5 laps until a Webcor guy came around. I let him have a little room so as to not be boxed in. Big attack at lap 6, managed to stay in but lost immediate access to the pole. Not enough time or gas to come up an around. Sat after at lap 8. No placing but a midpack finish.

Lesson learned: pick a spot, pole or rail and get to one or the other quickly if I lose my spot.

Reflection

Overall lesson: learned that being competitive in the Bs is going to be a minor fitness improvement and a major mental improvement. Certainly Bs are faster, but starting to place and then win on Wednesdays is just going to require smarter racing and being more aggressive. Tuesdays are another story.

Omnium result: 4-way tie for 6th with 2 points (placed at 8th, other races break ties), of 15 riders.