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Today was a circuit race
on a 12kms course and 12 laps with a couple rolling hills and about
a 1km climb just before entering into the final home stretch. The
finish is a sprinter haven with a wide open road and about 800m to
1km finishing straight. It was an overcast day with a slight chill
to the air maybe about 65 degrees, prefect weather if you ask me…
As the race started it
was like a mad rush with the 140 starters in the race trying to stay
up front to avoid all crashes and maybe having a chance to make the
breakaway. Just as we were crossing the finish to end the first lap,
team founder and rider Phil Sunderland had his first spill putting
him out of the race. We were now down to 6 riders with most teams
have 8 riders. T
he plan was to be
aggressive and force a breakaway trying to put one of the five
riders (Chris, Ian, Moises, Shawn and Ben) on the team who were
within 1min 3secs of the lead to gain time putting them in striking
distance or even the yellow jersey. Team Rock Racing who had the
leader’s jersey controlled the peloton which prevented any breakaway
from gaining a sizable lead.
There were many attacks
mainly on the 1km climb before the finish and it was all about
position going into the climb to reduce the difficulty level because
there were a couple of tight turns going into the climb that could
bring you almost to a stop which is never good especially if you’re
not a climber. I felt pretty good today making the front group over
the climb with the rest of the team also looking good. With 3 laps
to go Toyota United, Jittery Joe’s and a few other teams began to
force the pace up the climb to possibly split the group. Ian, Chris,
Moises and Shawn were also going with the moves while I was just
trying to survive.
On the final lap, it was
do or die because I know if I can make it over the climb on the last
lap there was a good chance I can do well. 48 riders made the final
split that would dictate the sprint. Every rider on Team type 1 made
the split including myself who was one of the last riders of the
group to ride over the top, as the peloton exploded into bits. On
the decent I remained calm to recover as much as possible for the
sprint. I was alone at this point as all team mates were further up
the group.
As we entered the final
straight for the finish still being near the back, I began to move
up the left side as the wind was coming from the right. By the time
we entered the final 300m I was already at full gas blowing by the
group using the draft to my advantage. I had to wiggle my way
through the group in order to keep momentum. I saw a path that look
good as I approach the front with two riders Toyota’s Henk Vogels
and Jittery Joe’s Jonathan Cantwell having a nice distance between
them but as I began to go pass them Cantwell moved right closing the
space causing me to hit the breaks or crash, so of course I hit the
breaks and finished in fourth place. Not a bad result and seeing the
podium in my sights….. Oh well there would be more, it’s still early
in the season.
Shawn finished in 10th
while Ian, Chris, moises and Ben finished in 22, 25, 45 and 46
respectively. Phil after not being able to make it back to the
peloton after his crash went for a 3hr training ride….Now that’s
dedication. Tomorrow’s third and final stage is a criterium on the
streets of downtown San Dimas. |
