Race Report
Dana Stryk
Evolution Cycling p/b Long and
Foster
Race
|
Ft. Ritchie
Criterium
|
Date
|
April 21, 2013
|
Field
|
15
|
Field
Demographics
|
Women’s Open
|
Course Data
|
45 minutes
|
Weather
|
Sunny and COLD
with some wind
|
Title
for this novella: “Evo me the Money”
Irony
“(1) : incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of
events and the normal or expected result (2) : an event
or result marked by such incongruity.”
Recent examples of irony with respect to racing: The author of this novella refused to ride
outside in winter when temperatures fell below 40 degrees F, despite the
requests and probably eye-rolling of teammates.
For 2013, 60% of races completed have started in temps below 40. Enough is enough!
The
Ft. Ritchie course is a flat crit with a chicane, chance to use some CX skills
over rough pavement and a sharp right-hand turn into the finish which
necessitates 1st or 2nd place into the turn to have a
chance to win the race. Our field was
small – 11 pre-registered, with Kenda and NCVC in the group as well as us.
As we
line up for the start, the official gave us his “cowboy” rules which
eliminating biting, crying, cursing and some other things which made us scrap
our race strategy, although he did not mention anything about wardrobe
malfunctions….right Kelley? We started a
few minutes early since everyone was at the line.
Road
results predicted Colleen, Alexis and Dori to be the top three, so we knew that
we needed to keep our eyes on them.
There were a couple of early attacks without success. Early in the race, Jen Chang from NCVC jumped
as we crossed the start/finish and I bridged up to catch her as we passed the
part with rough pavement. Either
stupidity or CX skills made this portion seem not so bad, so I took the turn tight
and ended up off the front on lap 3. I
know my power figures and that was a wee bit too early to think of a TT but I
wanted to provide a photo opp for CA so I put my head down and was caught about
3/4 lap later, photo opp provided.
Wendy
was riding well, toward but not on the front, with Kelley and me mid-pack. The preme bell rang (hot chocolate premes
would have been more enticing than the beer, but…) and the typical race thing
happened…someone sprinted for the preme, the group sat up and someone counter-attacked. Alexis was off the front and no one jumped on
her wheel. I am not sure of the time
gap, but about a lap later, Colleen jumped at the turn past the apron and had a
gap. I was, finally, in the right place
at the right time. Wendy yelled at me to
get on her wheel and I was able to bridge up.
I caught her wheel and assumed that the whole group was behind me.
As we
made the turn before the start/finish, I realized there were only two people
behind me. We had a break of four – and
we continued the chase. We were slowly
pulling time back (very very slowly) from Alexis. CA would shout out the splits as we went
by. I thought with some effort we could
catch her. Since Kenda and NCVC were
also in the break with me, I was pretty sure the main group would give up time
to us, which they did until Alexis caught them and started pulling them.
 |
| Evo in the Money!! |
 |
| Beer preme!! |
Lessons
learned:
- I was so surprised to be in the break, I stopped thinking strategically. I have a strong 20 minute effort. Once in the break, I should have treated this group as the “main group” from which I should try to break and tried a solo TT effort.
- If I did not think I could get away from the group, I should have let the break die.
- Be better prepared for the counter-attack.
Kudos and shout-outs:
- Joe Jefferson and all associated with the race – as always, excellent job! Joe – great music selection, although others may not appreciate my dancing.
- Wendy and Kelley – it is going to be a fun season (I tried to work the word balls into the sentence….but couldn’t)
- CA - wow. Your plan works.
- CA – wow. You practice what you preach. What a race you had!!
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