#23: Memphis Grand Prix Crit.
This crit started out like most of them (for me lately). I did get a first row start spot this time. Nevertheless, as usual the first 2-3 laps are usually an exercise in hanging on, getting gapped, and then time trialing back to the field. By the 3rd or 4th lap, I was settled into the field and generally was able to move up in the field (although not completely at will like I would like). Generally, the field stayed together, we couldn’t have lost more than a couple riders during the race.
Aaron: 
Ryan (me): 
Bryan: 
This crit played out like a lot of flat and open courses: field sprint. Teammates Bryan, Aaron, and myself were scattered about in the field going into the final corner. Bryan was up ahead and Aaron was right in front of me going into the last corner. About mid-way through the last corner, Aaron must have hit a manhole cover and washed out going down hard in front of me. He was in my arc and I just managed to avoid running into him. By then (I had to brake to avoid), the sprint was over and I just rode in to finish. After finishing, I rode back to see how he was. It wasn’t clear immediately, but it looks like he fractured his clavicle after going down hard on his right shoulder. He also got some road rash on the same plus the hip.
I don’t have much in the way of results for the crit or for the ominum. For me, I was well back in all events (31st RR, 23rd TT, 30?th Crit) and generally need a break. I will probably try to run some and do some lighter duty riding (or at least try to). My next race is 3 weeks out (Huntsville), so I can afford to take a rest week or two to allow me to finish the season strong. If I keep going, I will continue to get worse.
Andrea did well (she thought) to win the women’s Cat 4 road race, time trial, and then the crit. In a strange reversal, the officials recombined the Womens 123 with the Women 4 race. For the TT and Crit it was somewhat plausible, but in the RR they had the Cat 4 women run 4 laps instead of 5 for the 123 women. For what was winning her RR, she was put to 4th in the combined field (who didn’t really race the same race). Obviously she was less than happy at first, but the stack of prize envelopes might have distracted her from it.
David: 
Andrea: 
I will have to update when I find out more about the final results.
Photos:
