Modesto Criterium

If there is one advantage to racing in the Central Valley its the weather. Sunny, warm and less than 2 hrs drive time. Oh and Vanilla Ice was playing there later in the week...YEAH!!!! ICE ICE BABY!!!

The race was in downtown Modesto and very similar course to Santa Rosa. A 6 turn crit but lots of bot dots and some crappy pavement. We are off and though the first lap was controlled it was going to be a fast race. As the only Mouse out there, I knew it would be tough with teams launching attacks but there was always someone willing to drive the pace to pull it all back.

As the race went on, I found the guy who won Burlingame last year (this kid is 16...UGH! I hate him) and knew he and his team would be good to follow. With about 8 laps to go a group of 12 went off the front and looked promising and with no
one willing to pull it back, I make my jump to try and bridge but just as I got to them, they all sat up....damn!

Now everyone was setting up for the sprint and the Easton team looked good. With 3 to go they were all together and I was on them tight. With 2 to go, the usual exceleration came and things got strung out. As we hit the bell lap Easton had a great set up. 3 guys and their sprinter as the fourth and it was my wheel!

As we came down the back I slipped off the wheel but fought my way back on in great position. As we hit turn 5 I made my mistake. Coming in a bit too hot on the turn, hit some dots and I was forced to go wide. As soon as I did I lost the wheel and 4 guys slipped into my space...DAMN!

I quickly recoved to get back in line but it was too late as we hit the last turn with 100 meters to go. Final finish 9th.

A good race but to have that mistake back...oh well. I'll have to wait to get my first CAT 3 points.

Now its off to Panoche Pass RR...don't ask. It didn't go well for me. To be honest....it sucked. I hate climbers road races!

Golden State Criterium

Last Sunday...ahh it seems so long ago.

I have never been to Rancho Cordova before...uh, yeah nice place. Whatever, Its ALL ABOUT RACING!

Darren and I are the only Mice on hand this day. We make our way out to do this crit and what a fine crit it was. Complete with 5 turns, finely paved roads and great weather.

We sign up and get on the line and then we are off for 50 min of racing. After last weeks brain fart I was looking for some redemption Right off the bat, I notice that Team Spine is here in force and throughout the race they showed it. I also noticed a few other guys who I know are fast and strong. 1 guy in particular (Team Clover) won the first 2 preems and I think that really affected how some of us raced. Basically after the 2nd preem, he was marked. I for one never let him get too far off the front without responding.

During all this, Team Spine was launching attack after attack and the pace stayed pretty high. Meanwhile Darren and I exchanged pleasantries and made sure to find each other with 5 laps to go. With about 6 laps to go, a break of about 10 guys got up the road and it looked dangerous. After I chased (and brought the field with me..dope) the break kind of sat up with no one willing to put in the effort. Then I found Darren and we were good.

Again, a few Spine led attacks kept happening that kept the field on thier toes but nothing too dangerous. Then with 1 to go I found Darrens wheel and we hit the 2nd and 3rd turns. Needing to let him know I was there but without announcing it to the field, I let out a "hold your line" and D Leva knew I was on him. He pulled me up near the top ten when out for the left I saw an attack and moved to cover with a few others. As we hit the last 2 turns, the pace was hot and we screamed thru the last few turns before the sprint for the line. As I came around the last turn in about 10th I found myself blocked in and shot to
the right. Then motored to the finish catching 3 other guys and we hit the line. 5th thru 8th all hit the line at the same time but I ended up getting the short end of the call finishing 8th.

But I will take it...my first single digit finish in a CAT 3 race but sadly no points and payout was only for top 6. Oh well...better luck next week. It was also the first race D Leva and I did together as 3's and it was awesome having a teammate to race with. Thanks for the help!

btw...a Team Spine rider won the race....a great display of team work and I hate them.

The I'M AN IDIOT Race Report!

I raced so stupidly even a CAVEMAN could have beaten me.

Santa Rosa Cloiterium. 60 minutes of racing in downtown Santa Rosa...not your normal 4 corner crit and I did well here last year so I was looking forward to this race.

Nearly full field and we are off. Right away I saw a bunch of guys I have been beaten by and I have beaten so I know where I am but this is a big fast field. This usual happens for the first half of the race. Preems et. Break attempts, pulled back...you get the idea.

Then they announce 10 to go. I'm feeling good...not great but good. The pace has been fast the whole race and it continues. We get to 7 to go and the field is 8 wide on the start/finish stretch and just like that a crash to the right...no problem though... not even near me.

5 laps to go and i find my markers and we are all where we should be in the top 20 as everyone is jockeying for and to keep their position. This is where it all starts to go bad. Coming around the s/f line i get squeezed against the cone and haybales...no problem...get thru it but this is where I lost this race. Coming around again and the pace is humming and I
want to make sure i don't get squeezed again and I don't...cool. But now as we come around again...I don't see any lap cards and by my count its 3 to go.

As we come off the final turn to the s/f line the bunch goes but I don't respond. Why? Because its now 2 to go...right? I get out of the saddle just to get some speed and now it is really fast. Figuring it will slow as usual on the back and we set up to come to 1 to go...there is no slow down.

OH F*#K!!!!! It was at this precise moment that I realize my race is over. Yep...I missed the acceleration, got caught in the back and that was it. How could I be sooooo stoooopid! (it not a question, thats why no question mark...it was a statement of
fact)

What compounded my mistake was no bell and no lap card that I could see but to be honest, I think if i would have seen the lap card it still would have been too late because as i know too well, there is ALWAYS an acceleration coming out of the last turn in the s/f line for position. AND I MISSED IT!

So take a lesson from me kids....eat your veggies, get your rest and don't be an IDIOT!