Summary

Excellent first half of the race, but lost my edge when the race slowed down and the cornerswarm from the back of the pack became unmanageable.

Course

Same as last year.

Goals

Control the race, top ten.

Approximate minute by minute

0-20: Sat on the front, pulling through for about 10-20 seconds once per lap (short enough to stay fresh), usually timing it to pull through on the backside out of the headwinds. Helped control the race with three or four other riders who were willing to work, worked hard enough to keep it strung out, stayed top 5-10

20-27: Three back to back primes I decide to let others duke it out for, still on the front as a few riders sprint for Belgium Budder. Mike sets a good pace chasing down a prime flyer, however the few early workers and the mid-race Metromint contingent died quickly as I tried to stay up front.

27-32: Lap cards come out, initial surge and I get back up on the front. Lots of tentative pulls and people not pulling through, race slows WAAAY down. I try pulling through faster to set the pace, but very few people willing to work. I find myself getting swallowed as the cornerswarm really ramps up. Starting to mentally check out – lots of crashes, I’m far up enough to avoid them but still starting to lose my nerve.

32-38: Looking for good wheels to ride back up to the front as the pace picks up again. Latched onto Robert Orcutt twice, but both times we fell victim to failing drafts and cornerswarm from both sides. Paul takes a massive pull up front at two to go, tough feat to endure though and eventually the pack blobs up again. My last ditch effort to move up after the penultimate corner came too late and didn’t bother contesting the sprint.

For next time

Never give up the front. Watching several races throughout the day showed that this could be a tailgunners race. Even though it can be a fast course the laps are long enough that riders can come from the back to place well if it slows down at any point. However this race, like most, is still won from the front.

Disappointed with my result, but raced fairly well. My late race attempts to re-establish my position just didn’t quite pan out.

Ashley got 4th in her race though!