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The temperatures continued to drop overnight down into the 40′s, but had partially recovered by the time the Cat 3 race went off at ten past noon. Still arm / knee warmer weather (at least for me). We lined up 5 strong and had a rough game plan. The wind pretty much ended up dictating the terms, in the end.

Same course as past years, but the stronger wind seemed to pull back all the breaks. On lap one, with a loud report, Jarret flatted out of the race (it blew his tire off the rim and he managed to hold it upright somehow, but was now out of the race).

For the first few laps, David and Aaron worked on the front and I saw some wind time as well. David was off in a small group off the front, but like all the breaks, it was brought back even with me glass cranking at the front.

Towards the end of lap 2, in nearly the same spot where Jarret flatted out there was some commotion ahead and two riders were leaning into each other and swerving… it ended it with both on the ground in front of me. I slowed and picked my way around them sprawled out on the ground…. in the carnage, we didn’t lose anyone, but some Marx & Bensdorf riders fell in the aftermath which took out a at least a few riders. After the crash, there were calls to wait up for those that were put out, but there was a man up the road, so the field continued to chase. Not going to let a man get minutes up the road to wait on a few people that were delayed.

I tried a few times starting around the mid point of the race. A bridging effort to a guy dangling off the front on lap 3 was brought back, on the 1 mile 4-5% hill (3rd time up), I jumped at the base of the hill and stayed gone chasing a guy 30 seconds in the front until after the start / finish when the field was one me again (downhill section / rolling section to the fnish allowed the field to roll).

I laid up a bit on the fourth lap. On the forth time up the hill, I had a bit of drama with a rider that was coming over into me on the climb. As is normal, I put a hand to his side to let them know my space. A bit of overreaction ensued and then a repeated attempt to move to the left (and into me). On the second time trying to keep him away from my front wheel, he was standing, I ended up pushing on his saddle by accident… Accusations of trying to take him out where denied and I just proceeded to ride on. Thankfully it ended there (no place for that in racing) and we buried the hatchet on the next lap in a slack time.

On the final lap we all came back together for a while for the first time probably since the first lap or two. With about 5 miles to go, a rider attacked the sharp mid-lap hill and was out there solo with the field half-chasing… I ended up moving up towards the front and leading up most of the hill towards the finish. Everyone came along and I hoped that at least I could hold position / not lose too much in the downhill sprint. In the end, David and Aaron were right with me and we ended up finishing 9th (Aaron), 10th (David), and 11th (me).

For the race, I wish we could have placed a few places up, but I am pretty satified with my performance going up the moderate grades of this race. Combined with the criterium performance, things are falling into place. Need to get into top 5 land…. Next race is probably Ride to Live (Leeds, AL) in two weeks and then Mississippi Gran Prix (Brookhaven) the following week. Both are 1/2/3 races, so I will have to step up to get into the top spots. There is an outside chance that I might race Cat 3 next weekend at the Chattanooga Georgia Cup race, but if not that I my next Cat 3 will be in May.