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Another race in the bag. Our race criterium is basically flat with three non-technical corners (the other “corner” is a bend in the road). The race started out reasonably fast, with a few early attacks…all were brought back.

I wanted to try to jump and I managed to find a chance about 25 minutes in. I shot to the left and accelerated around the wide-laned backside of the course. Stealing glances back, I could see only one with me, in red. As we turned the corner to the finishing stretch, I pulled aside to let him pull through. It turned out to be an OKC rider. We had a pretty good jump and traded pulls for two laps (photo below is from after one lap).

By the point where I made the jump, looking back I could see M&B riders at the front pulling back only 30-40 feet back…so we sat up for the closure which was iminent. Back in the field, I continued the never ending process of moving up as the field would surge all over the road, slow down, and then repeat. With 3 to go, they put up a good prime (Rudy Project glasses) and two guys up the road looked catchable, so I jumped again on the back side of the course. I had pretty much the field with me (albeit strung out) as we turned the corner… the “catchable” guys ahead we obviously thinking about the glasses, so they were still to far out.. reabsorbed.

The next couple of laps we sped up quite a bit (as is usual). As we did, the skill of various riders in the corners become painfully apparent (I was too far back as well after losing ground on a surge). Anyway, the field lined out and I ended up strung out going into the last corner into the headwind sprint. There was easily 20 ahead, so I didn’t sprint all the way… I was done.

I am still not where I need to be in terms of criteriums, but I am getting better.  I am really happy with the jumps I was able to do.  I still have a ways to go…and I haven’t really done anything specific on this yet.

This weekend turned out alright, but I am glad to take a few weeks off from racing. I probably will return to Huntsville (one of my favorite crits) in the later part of July, but other wise it is back to a bit of endurance riding and then transitioning to some intensity in 2 weeks. I want to recuperate a bit before tackling the last half of the season (and subsequent ‘cross season).

As for photos, Andrea shot the photos above and the rest of the Cat 3 photos. I shot some of the Womens race, the Cat 4, and few other photos from other races.

[Women] [Cat 4] [Cat 3] [Jrs / Cat5 / M50-60]