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Defending
the yellow jersey was Team Rock Racing who seems to be coming apart
in the final stages of the road race the day before, so hitting them
hard with numerous attacks in the crit could mean a chance for Team
Type 1 to create a breakaway and a chance to move up on general
classification and also a podium on the stage would be like an added
attraction…. ;)
Approximately 40 riders not making the time cut from the road race
would mean that a smaller group of 99 riders will face the starter’s
orders in the final stage a 90 minute downtown criterium. Even
though we had overcast skies and chilly weather a fairly decent
crowd came out the watch what would prove to be an exciting event.
From the gun guys would attack like a “bat out a hell” after
drinking numerous cups of coffee to keep warm before the start so
this did not make the situation any better for Team Rock Racing as
their work was cut out for them. Breaks would go and come until
about 40 min into the race that a break of three would look
promising which included Team Type 1’s and best place overall rider
Chris Jones, what would be a better scenario for us? We were happy
and contented as now we wait for Rack racing to do the chasing but
the gap would keep increasing to over a minute which in a crit could
be a lifetime…. About 15min left in the race Chris was dropped out
of the break as the two riders with him (Symmetrics and Colavita)
attack him with a low blow in an effort to go it solo. Chris was on
the edge in the break which is quite understandable as the speeds
were incredibly fast with windy conditions but held his own in the
break. Being the last placed in GC (general Classification) on the
break would mean that he is not really a treat for the yellow jersey
unless he can go solo which all three riders new that he was not
going to do that. Third overall and a place on the podium would work
out just fine for us but this uncalled for attack brought Chris back
to the raging peloton. Our next best option would be to win the
field sprint for third on the stage, and justify our strength in the
peloton. 10mins left in the race Shawn comes up to me and says “how
are you feeling” I said “great we can do this.” As the race drawers
closer to the end all teams would have their trains lined up to help
their sprinters stay near the front and out of trouble. Shawn and
Ben would be the one’s to step up to the plate for me.
Five laps to go Ben and I lost Shawn somewhere in the shuffle but
Ben would do it all alone keeping me in striking distance just
behind the train of power house Toyota United. As we took the bell
in the final lap there was a crash on turn two which caused a pile
up but I made it through on the inside line and was now in third
behind Tony Cruz of BMC. As two sprinters we waited for someone else
to do the lead out because there is now way we can hold a sprint for
that long. Kelly Benefits came flying by with Shawn on their trail
and I hopped right on. This was working out good with great
positioning coming into the final two turns. As we approached the
final corner Shawn jump with everything he had to avoid any teams
from coming over the top going passed Kelly Benefits as we made it
into the last turn first and second. I knew once we hit the head
wind on the home straight I would have to go with all I have knowing
I can’t let me team mates down after all their hard efforts and
perfect positioning. I saw the finish in my sights and what felt
like a lifetime I hell off the peloton of sprinters winning the
field sprint putting Team Type 1 on the podium in front of a crown
that must have been satisfied with such an exciting race. The two
riders in the break stayed away with about a 20sec gap with the
Symmetric’s rider winning the stage race by a mare 1 second over
Rock Racing rider Oscar Servilla.
For more and regular updates you can visit our
team’s website at
www.teamtype1.org
Thanks for reading,
Emile Abraham
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