Wente Criterium
The Course
Start on a long, exposed straightaway – no wind though. Long sweeping right into a wide right. Long shaded straightaway. Right turn, sweeping left then right chicane. Right turn back to the long finish.
The Race
Stayed midpack, or top 30 until the second prime. Attacked to keep the race strung out a little and avoid some cornerswarm – and to put some hurt on the Third Pillar guys who tried for every prime. Dragged the pack around for a lap and then sat back in fifth wheel for a while. Lost some ground when the lap cards went up and spent a lap midpack to rest a bit. Started moving up and looked for Seth. He jumped up the inside of the first corner with three to go and I followed.
Photo courtesy of pmalaiyandi on Flickr
Sat top 15 until the bell when three guys went off the front. Two gave chase. I jumped up inside corner one with Seth and the rest of the pack in tow. I caught the break and passed two of them before the final corner, coming around fourth wheel, totally gassed. Seth and the pack started passing me at 200-300m to go. So, not much of a leadout for Seth but definitely a factor in the outcome. I like to think my effort at the end contributed a little to his 6th place finish.
The Goals
- Strong pack finish, check
- Contribute to the team effort, check
- Spent a lap or two up front, check
- Dictate the outcome of the race to some extent, check
The Result
Got 36th out of 81, not a good personal result but a good teamwork for not really having a plan going in.
Wente Road Race
The Course, The Heat
Loved the course, especially last week during the pre-ride when it was at least ten degrees cooler. We started just after 11:45 and it was at least 80-85 degrees and getting hotter. The heat was pretty rough, especially without much wind to speak of and absolutely no shade.
The Race
Felt okay until the very top of Altamont Pass Road, then I started running out of pack to drift back through after starting near the front with DP. Hung on until just before the top of S. Flynn. Got gapped. Spent the lap in no man’s land. Caught up to some stragglers on lap two and spent that lap in a five-man paceline. Coming up on next lap three of them pulled out and one flatted leaving me all alone for the final lap. Finished next to last.
Goal: finish, check
Tacos
I was crunchy like my tacos. That is all.
Weekly Training Report
Summary
April 21st through April 27th, 2008. Coming off a hard weekend. Two races at the end of the week (Wente weekend), but I’ve got homework and a midterm in between.
Monday
Day off, commute.
Tuesday
Commute. No park ride, studied after getting home from work.
Wednesday
Commute. Took a break from studying to do Sprints. Good turnout: Ben, Ryan, Seth, Daniela, Sam. Did three spinups and some free-for-all sprints into the wind and with a tailwind. I took a few of them, felt good.
Thursday
No commute – had to drive to get to my midterm on time. Presidio ride.
Friday
Commute.
