Bariani Road Race, March 12, 2017

Result
13th of 39

Teammates
Mark Massey (12th), Gregg Marioni (29th)

The Race
This is my third race of the season and I'm realizing now that I didn't file a report on last weekend's Snelling Road Race. Well, I did a little better this weekend. 

My fourth time at this early season event, it’s usually a training race for me. This year, it wasn’t until Saturday night that I knew whether I’d get to race, due to a family health issue. Things improved at home, and I let teammates Mark Massey and Gregg Marioni know I’d be there.

With Larry Nolan (cat 1, NCCF/ Team Specialized Masters), Clark Natwick (cat 1, Pen Velo Racing/Summit Bicycles), and last weeks’s Snelling winner Joe Foster (cat 2 ThirstyBear p/b Akamai), I expected many breakaway attempts by guys who didn’t cherish the thought of letting these guys take the bunch sprint.

I couldn’t connect with Gregg for long before the race, other than to say "hi", and didn’t have time to discuss plans, but Mark and I conferred and decided to mostly stay sheltered as much as possible. We're just a tiny squad and can't execute a big plan.

The wind from the NW was stronger than NOAA billed, and I think it shifted to NNW by lap 2. Warm temps and lots of pale legs spinning.

As I get smarter about racing (I hope), I try to avoid doing too much work. But since there would be significant mid-race attempts to hurt the sprinters, I wanted to play a role in that. Also, this is a training race for me, so I wanted to get into at least one breakaway. During laps 1 and 2, I got into two short-lived breaks. One by bridging up from 6th wheel within seconds when I saw Jon Ornstil (cat 3 Hammer Nutrition) and a couple other guys go (that one came back after a mile or so), and again just as we came through to start lap 2. We had about 5 guys this time, but with a group that size, I think the pack reacted quickly to the threat and our organization in the break didn’t materialize in time before we were caught.

There weren’t any teams with numbers (except Sierra Nevada), so the collaborations were ad-hoc, and it was becoming apparent that this pack was going to stick together. I drifted back to the middle, looking for where Joe and Larry were hiding and started marking them. There were several more solo attacks, but riding the subsequent surges felt smoother farther back in the bunch. Though you do have a higher risk of a split happening–but Larry and Joe aren't going to let anyone get away.

Final Lap, up the ramp to swing west into the wind onto Rd. 19, John Marengo (cat2, Team City) attacked, probably hoping for company, for one last-ditch effort to avoid a bunch sprint, had a 25-second gap by the turn north onto 89A. My teammate Mark Massey joined an effort to bridge up along Rd. 88. They came back, then I saw Tim Davis go off–he never does that… usually stays sheltered and gambles that the break won’t stick, and competes with the best in the sprint.

Marengo got caught just after the turn east onto Rd. 14. On the rollers, Craig Lindberg (cat2 ol'Republic/SERT) attacked and managed to stay away until the pack drilled down the frontage road in the wind-up for the sprint. He still managed 8th.

At the turn south onto the home stretch, the pack was fanned out across the road and while I was near the back, I knew I could move up before things got speedy. Everyone was looking at each other to see who would start something. I was on Mark’s wheel on the left side of the road about mid-pack. Traffic started getting thick over here though. The pace picked up on the right half of the road but a slow blob of guys in the center blocked access to that attractive locale. I couldn’t find or get to my marked guys in the crowd (Larry, Tim, Joe and Clark), and would’ve had to go backwards to come around on the right. Making the decision early to stay in the lee of the crosswind sealed the deal that I’d be stuck in traffic. Mark (12th) and I (13th) came across in at least a bit better position than last week. Larry won, Stephen Gregorios from Torrance (cat 2, Corridor Recycling) and Joe Foster 3rd.

My takeaways from this race

• Balance–racing aggressively vs efficiently. The two approaches don’t often work together, but I do what I can. One thing I do after a race is look at my HR zones (again, no power meter). I was thrilled to see a real balance for the first time: about 40-odd minutes each in zones 2, 3 and 4. I often used to spend much more time in zones 3 and 4. One thing I retained from a clinic with Michael O’Ruorke (cat 2 Peet's Coffee Racing) was his evaluation of the power/HR data from the racers he coaches. He said he could tell they were racing smarter when there was either a balance of time in zones, or preferably less time in the higher zones.
• Threading–Threading through the pack as it shapes up for the sprint needs work. Got to mark the right guys and get on them early.
• Pokerface–The third thing I'm working on is coming along too–when there's a gap to close, I'm making someone else do it. Last season, too many times in breakaways or chase groups, I was the guy who made it too obvious that I was most dedicated to working my little heart out, and the other guys take advantage of that. I'm getting better at dropping the wheel, or at least not reacting as though I'm worried. It's a poker-face thing I guess.  

First Race of 2017: Red Kite Bump Circuit Race

Sorry, no photos yet.

Date
February 5, 2017

Field
Approximately 30, a mix of 45+ and 55+ cat 123s (45/55 race together but picked separately at the finish). 13 of us were registered as 55+.

Result
7th of 13

Course
3 laps on 7.3 mile loop, plus a couple of miles to reach the start/finish of the loop (about 24 miles total). Each lap has about a 350 ft ascent. Good roads, no technical turns.

Weather
52°, overcast. This was the one dry day between winter rain storms. Wind was gentle until after our race.

My Goals
This is my first “shakedown” race of the season. I know I’m not fit enough yet to attempt getting into a breakaway during this short race. I plan to resist fretting about the surges on the front, conserve energy, shadow 3 different guys that I know to be brilliant bunch finishers, and hope for a top-10 finish.

The Race
There was a separation off the front on lap 1. I couldn’t see who was in it but I could guess. I hear there were possibly as many as six riders off the front, but ultimately there were three: Dan Shore (Cat 1, Hammer Nutrition), Cameron Birky (cat 2, R4R-Make A Wish) and Tom Lyons (cat 2, ThirstyBear p/b Akamai). 

As lap 2 evolved, the gap to the break grew, but it seemed that no 55+ racers were in it. There was no real effort by 45s to catch.

Most of the final lap seemed slower. Everyone was watching and waiting for a move. Coming down the long backside of the “bump” on Cross Rd. I heard a familiar racer negotiating with a couple of different guys on a plan to go extra hard on the last time up the ascent of Patterson Pass Rd.

By the turn from Greenville onto Patterson, I realized I had allowed myself to drift back to the rear, well behind my marked guys. But expected attacks out of the turn onto Patterson didn’t happen and I was able to coast up into about 9th wheel, next to my marks again.

The last ascent of Patterson wasn’t very fast after all, but the pack was stretched just thin enough to allow a good alley along the shoulder of the road. I heard gears shift and a lunge behind to my right, and saw 2016 NCNCA road champ Robert Pasco (cat 1, SAFEWAY Cycling) fly past with only about 1 km to go. I was in perfect position and jumped on his wheel instantly. It was clear right away that I was too ambitious. Pasco was accelerating incredibly and I couldn’t truly settle into his draft. I was left on my own with about fifty meters ahead of the pack. They weren’t reacting to Pasco or me, so I cut off the power, then reinserted myself at 4th wheel. There wasn’t quite enough time to recover before the entry to the last turn, and I slid back to about 13th wheel.

The short uphill sprint comes right after a slight dip. I knew right away that my earlier surge cost me a shot at the top 5, but I found a line up the right side, through fading riders, hoping to pick of just enough for a top 10 in the mixed pack. The gear I chose would have been perfect, but the pavement turned bumpy for the final 20 meters and that sucked all of my power. I maintained my position but came across approximately 13th in our pack.

Luckily that was good enough for 7th place among the 55+ riders.

Takeaways
The two things I felt I did right in this early season run-through:

• I felt like I was smart to stay conservative. I prefer to help make races interesting for the pack by participating in bridging efforts, or joining attacks, but I need to focus on being smarter, and more efficient for a few more races.
• I also felt comfortable moving into slots through the pack. If there wasn’t an opening, I was able to make one without causing a problem.

The main thing I’m ambivalent about is that in hindsight, it's undeniable that attempting to catch Pasco’s wheel was the wrong move, and took me out of contention for the bunch sprint. Still this could have been exactly the right move to go with if I could have stayed with it. He was a 45+ and if I had enough power to stick with him a little longer, I might have won the 55+ race. So yes the attempt had a direct, negative effect on my result, but the circumstance was a good lesson in recognizing a good move and jumping on it quickly. I’d rather take a shot like that than just wish I had.

A slight revision of this has come to light after reviewing one of Greg Beleira's photos of the race. In it I see what I missed, is that Pasco was chased down and swallowed up by the front of the pack in the sprint. So I definitely made a mistake trying to join his attack.



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Some Good News For Once

Combine the constantly surprising national news, add a little rain over the past weekend, plus the approach of a major holiday this week, and even those of you who cycle in Marin regularly, might have missed some big news last Friday.

Bolinas Road is open!

A panorama of the repair from below.
photo: Glen Kinion

A chunk of the road slumped last March (2016) after accumulation of runoff from storms eroded and undermined the pavement just above the hairpin turn at the Cataract Falls trailhead.

According to a Marin County Public Works Department press release,

“The presence of northern spotted owl nests in the vicinity further complicated the project by delaying the commencement of repair work until after the end of the owl’s nesting season in September.”

The closure at Pine Mtn. last September.
photo: Glen Kinion

Many riders continued to use the road during the 8-month closure (I’ll admit to sneaking around the gate twice myself), but by the end of September, presumably once the owl nesting was over, construction repairs began in earnest. Word went out that some riders were issued $400-ish tickets.

Work in progress: Setting anchors and reinforcement for the new retaining wall.
photo: Marin County Department of Public Works

Last Friday morning I rode out to the locked gate at the top of Pine Mt. while doing hill repeats. I had no clue that by that afternoon, the gate would be open. I heard the news from my good friend, training buddy and fellow racer Henrik Schubert.

With rain most of the weekend, my first legal trip on the long-forbidden road had to wait, so instead I used the time to strip the bike down to the frame and give it a complete overhaul, replace all the cables and housings, and top off with new bar tape.

Another look at the repair from below.
photo: Glen Kinion

After breakfast today I rolled out to check out the work. On my way back, there must have been at least 25 cyclists on their way to do the same thing.

With creative wedging, hikers who park near the Cataract Trailhead might find one or two more spaces to park near the hairpin turn... but along the road above the new retaining wall, there's no room on the shoulder anymore. Well, you're here to hike in beautiful scenery, so walking a few hundred yards from a safer parking spot won't kill you.
photo: Glen Kinion

If you ride in Marin much, you already know this stretch of Bolinas Road is amazing. There’s very little auto traffic, and the scenery is beautiful. It’s got great descents, curves and climbs. I happen to love the rough pavement. The 2-mile 8% grind from Alpine Lake up to the junction at Ridgecrest is a staple in my workouts, and my fitness suffered over the past months without access to it. The road is also a perfect connector to larger cycling routes.

I’m planning to get out there several times each week, until another mudslide closes it again.

2016 Patterson Pass Road Race

Up Flynn Rd. on the first lap. Photo: Alex Chiu

Date
Saturday, August 6th, 2016

Group
Master 55 cat 123

Result
11th of 20

Conditions
Sunny, 65-79 degrees. West wind at 15 mph.

Course
Two laps on a 23-mile loop: Patterson Pass Rd. west. The lap begins with a tough climb–1100 feet in 4.8 miles. The grade starts gradually, 1-4%, increasing to 10%. The upper, steeper pitch is exposed to a strong head wind. A fast, non-technical descent follows, with a sharp right turn onto Flynn Rd. After the second significant climb on the course, another long but challenging descent (a sharp off-camber left turn, then more headwind). Crossing over I-580, continue descending down Carroll Rd. Then a smooth right onto Altamont Pass Road, east on Grant Line Rd. This 6.3 mile tailwind section is fast! Then right turn, south on Midway Rd. A strong crosswind makes the tough little hump on Midway hurt. back to start/finish area.

The Race
John Marengo (Cat2, Team City Racing), and Cal Erdman (Cat3, Team City Racing) set the pace up the first long climb. I stayed ready to go with attacks. Hunter Ziesing (Cat2, Hammer Nutrition/53x11) took off as the grade increased. No one chased, and I knew how strong the wind was near the top of this climb, so I didn’t feel the need to worry about him staying away. Marengo kept a solid pace going, so we all stayed in a group over the top.

Once onto the lower section of Flynn, I expected a regrouping. I knew there would be a tailwind, so I got on the front and set a faster pace to string things out and see if some guys would start thinking about attacking. We still stuck together, but at least the pace up the steeper section of this second climb seemed to be stringing out our small field.

The rest of the first lap was uneventful. The podium selection was made on the upper half of the second ascent of Patterson Pass. Dan Shore (Cat2, Hammer/53x11), Steve Archer (Cat2, Morgan Stanley /Specialized), and Robert Anderson (Cat2, Team Specialized Racing Masters) split off the front. I saw it happening and had to let them go. Several weeks ago in the Mount Hamilton road race I pushed too far into my red zone trying to stay connected with the three leaders and paid a price later in the race. This time I planned to work with a strong chase group.

Five of us topped the climb in pursuit of the leaders: Hunter Ziesing (Cat2, Hammer Nutrition/53x11), Jon Ornstil (Cat3, Hammer Nutrition/53x11), Joseph Foster (Cat2, R4R-Make A Wish), Quentin Sims (Cat2, Fig Mtn Brew Racing), and me. The lead group was long out of sight.

After the descent, and the right turn onto Flynn Rd, beginning its ascent, Jon gave me a good-natured, but corrective nudge, saying “Well, get up there with your buddies!” reminding me that the work of chasing was up to me, Quentin and Joseph. Jon and Hunter had a teammate in the breakaway.

As true as this was, it seemed like Hunter was really anxious to reduce the gap to the front group. He kept talking about wanting to help work to help with the chase. Jon kept trying to get him to calm down.

Hitting the fast tailwind stretch on Altamont Pass Rd., I tried to get Quentin interested in an efficient 3-man rotation with Joseph and I, so that even if we couldn’t catch the leaders, we’d at least stay well ahead of the guys we dropped on the climb. They were just way smarter than me–likely sensing that I was self-destructively willing to work hardest.

I should have been as smart. The remaining pursuers from our race caught up with us. Still no leaders in sight, we’re racing for 4th now, and I’m starting to cramp from the hard efforts. I’m also losing power. I lose contact with the group as they hammer over the last hill on Midway–only about 1.5k to go. On the left side of the road I see Jon Ornstil with his bike. Puncture? Mechanical? Whatever it was, it's the only reason I finished ahead of him today. 

Powering down the far side, I caught back up to Brian McAndrews (Cat2, ThirstyBear p/b Akamai) and Jan Elsbach (Cat1, Davis Bike Club Race Team) who appeared to be fading. They rallied and pulled easily ahead and I came across the line 11th. The lead group finished about 3 minutes earlier.

Takeaways
Like just wrote in the last paragraph, "I should have been as smart." I'm still picking up tips on how to read the other racers. Now I'll start working on keeping my cards closer to my chest as well. But aside from burning too many matches throughout the race, I felt fantastic.

Links to more photos
Leaders get away over top of climb
Our chase group
Our chase group again
Leaders finishing
Sprinting for 4th
Bringing up the rear

San Rafael Sunset Criterium

Jeff Kato being cool (left), and me looking exceptionally "dorky" (right)
photo: Craig Huffman

Teammates
Jeff Kato (45+ cat 3), Dan Rugani (35+ cat 4)

Field
35+/45+ cats 3/4, 42 starters (two age groups race together, picked separately for prizes five deep)
45+: 25 riders
35+: 17 riders

Result
17th of the 25 in my age group (though I was last of the remaining pack, so we lost quite a few guys during the race).

Conditions
78°-80° and sunny. 10mph breeze from the east.

Course
50 minutes (actual 38 laps) on a 0.6 mile (1K) clockwise loop in Downtown San Rafael. Start/Finish at 4th and C st. One block then right turn onto D st. for a tough little uphill grind. Right turn onto 5th st. for three blocks, slightly downhill but into the wind. Fast, wide right turn onto A st. for one block. Hard right onto 4th st., with two blocks to the line.

The Race
This was the first race of the day at 1:30pm. Registration wasn’t open until 12:30, so it was a little bit dicey getting our warmups, numbers and then some practice laps on course. But Jeff and I were able to line up in the front row, with Dan just behind us. I told Jeff before the race that I didn’t feel super strong, and might not be of much help to him. He said he’d assess himself late in the race and consider an attack if he felt good. Both of us planned to focus on staying sheltered and upright for the finish.

At the whistle we had a good start, but no one wanted to drive the pace, so on the backside of the course, the pack was bunched up. The pace picked up after turn three and I quickly found myself mid-pack for subsequent early laps.

I got up near the front by lap 20, so when the third prime was announced for the following lap, I attacked the hill on D st., getting a big gap. Keeping the power on down 5th, I glanced under my arm to see how aggressively to take the last two corners. 

Coming through for a prime on lap 21
photo: Alex Chiu

The pack must have been uninterested, so I dialed back my speed slightly, but easily picked up the prime. It took a full lap to settle back into the pack. Immediately back to back primes were announced. A rider attacked and got free. I was still close to the front so I chased, getting a small gap ahead of the pack, yet wasn’t able to close on the leader. That was enough speedy antics for me and I settled back in, hoping to recover.

I spent the remainder of the race trying to maintain a good position in the shrinking pack (we lost many riders in the first 30 minutes). I hadn’t seen Dan recently, but Jeff was always in sight, doing better than me at keeping good position. With 3 or 4 laps to go, he moved up front which made some guys sweat a little. The pace quickened. See “Takeaways” below for possible explanations of why, by the bell lap, my legs cramped and I had to sit up and let the pack go. I came to the line last of the remaining riders.

Takeways
The average speed for the race was just north of 26 mph. Unlike my experiences at Cats Hill and Davis, I never felt like I was getting any shelter from the wind. I nestled in the pack, but it really felt like I was having to work hard for the whole race. My heart rate averaged 177 bpm, which is higher than the redline that I set for long climbs. On the bottom of the course on each lap, it dropped closer to 168, but ramped back above 180 for the upper half of the course. One contributing factor might be that I was scared of turn 4. I allowed too much space ahead of my wheel, because each lap I had to get out of the saddle and hammer to close the gap on riders ahead.

Another spot that took a toll on me most laps was the inside line into turn 2 at the top of D street. Guys would crowd the inside corner, causing a traffic jam. Whenever I was dumb enough to take that line, I often got slowed by stalling riders. The entry on the inside line was bumpy, and the exit had more road crown to ascend. This cost a match lap after lap.

Extra Stuff
Below is a video by Mike Redman, just showing the lineup, start, and a slow motion view of the pack coming out of turn 4. Thanks Mike.

video: Michael Redman

Colavita Grand Prix Criterium, Sunday July 17, 2016

Field
Combined M45+/55+ cat 123 (27 starters)

• M45+ 22
• M55+ 5

No teammates today, but many friends in the pack.

Result
4th of 5

Course
A 1.2 mile loop with no sharp corners. There is a slight “hill” after turn 1, and a slight descent after turn 2, descending gradually through a gentle chicane. The finish is 480 meters from the last corner.

Conditions
Mid 70’s with a 12-14 mph wind from the west. The back side of the course was into the wind, and the 3rd stretch had a stiff crosswind from the right.

The Race
Not plying great depths in this report. I rode 4th/5th wheel in the first lap. Riders attacked, Brian McAndrews (M55+ cat 2, Thirsty Bear p/b Akamai) jumped on and so did I, but there was no real gap. That first lap was over 28 mph. 

Riders attacked on lap 2, and I did my best to stay about 10th wheel, but quickly lost shelter as the course took us into the wind on the back side. As the pack strung out to begin lap 3, a few of us were off the back. I tried to go anaerobic as long as I could to latch back on but the pack disappeared over the little hill after turn 1.

I had David Garzoli (45+, unattached) and Jess Raphael (M55+ cat 3, 3 Ft. - It's The Law) for company, but they both seemed tired. I pulled us around for a lap or two, then David and Jess started taking turns at the front. David said “good luck” a couple of laps later and withdrew. I was willing to forge onward, while I mistook Jess’ lackluster effort. I’ve never been dropped in a criterium before, so I wasn’t aware that it would be allowed to latch back onto the pack after being lapped (we’d just have to race each other one more lap after they finished).

Instead I attacked and dropped Jess a couple of laps later and plugged along at a measly 23 mph, with my heart rate averaging 173 bpm, for the rest of the “race”.

With 4-1/2 laps to go, two breakaway riders, Kyle Glerum (M45, cat 2, Peet's Coffee Racing) and Gardie Jackson (M45, cat 1, Thirsty Bear p/b Akamai), flew past, lapping me. They sat up, looking at one another, apparently playing cat and mouse, with a 20-second gap to the chasers. I guess it would’ve been ok to hitch onto them, but I wasn’t sure. Another 3/4 of a lap later, the pack passed me. Again I guess I should’ve latched on, especially since for all I knew, Jess might be in that bunch.

I asked the moto if I was supposed to drop out, but he said I could stay in if I wanted. I plowed along, the pack finished, I did my last lap and came in 4th of 5.

Lessons Learned
While I was smart enough to start in the front row, I raced stupidly after the whistle. I’m not strong enough to chase attacks that early in the race. All that did was make me too tired to stick with the pack. I’m probably the only rider who had to ride at lactate threshold for the whole race.

On being lapped, let’s refer to the USA Cycling rule book:

3D4. Riders who have lost contact with the field, and are then caught by a breakaway from the field, may not lead. Riders off the front of the field may not accept assistance from riders who have lost contact with the back of the field. Lapped riders may rejoin and race with the field in cases where lapped riders are not being withdrawn by the officials.

It would've been much less work to jump into the pack, but even better yet to maintain contact in the first place. I hope not to need this bit of information in the future:-/.

As it turned out, Jess Raphael did find shelter in the pack, but since I was only a half lap behind the field, I didn't risk my precious 4th place.

2016 Davis 4th of July Criterium

Our heads would be more even in height I stood on that blue box!
photo: Jeff Kato

Group
45/55 123 Combined field (45 starters: Four 55s and forty-one 45s)

Teammates
One: Jeff Kato (45s)

Result
3rd (of the 55s)

Course
Forty minutes on a flat flat flat, mostly well-paved 0.7-mile L-shaped lap, with five left turns and one right.

Preparation
Mostly mental. I’ve been a bit scattered lately with more work, and a busy social calendar. June was a lean racing month (just one road race and one hill climb time trial). My weekly workouts were less focused, and adherence to endurance and other strength training went right out the window.

But gentle prodding from teammate Jeff Kato reminded me of recent self-assessment of my racing goals: Mainly to continue developing my racing experience beyond the comfort zone. Which means embracing the challenge of races that don’t obviously fit my strengths.

Two more factors led me to race this one: In May I hung in, and really had fun, during the Cat’s Hill criterium. And there was potential for a point or two in the NCNCA Premiere Points Series.

The Race
Like a dummy, I waited with a dozen other racers, as our noon launch approached, in the shade, a few meters behind the bright sunny start line. As the announcer began talking up the crowd, a few guys rolled up to the line after their practice laps. I was boxed in by the other “shade-seekers” and by the time we lined up, both Jeff and I were in the back. Even with a small field of 45, it would be a lot of work to move up with all the turns on this course.

The whistle blows and we’re off. And yup, it’s fast (26.7 mph average speed for the whole race). We’re probably at 30th wheel, “tail gunning” and it’s stupid-hard to keep the gaps closed. 6 or 7 laps in I was starting to think I wasn’t going to be able to keep up the effort, and might get dropped.

At this point I could see about 7 riders had split off the front. The next few laps seemed much faster, but gps data doesn’t support that.

I turned my attention to looking for opportunities. I found the long, two block straightaway after the last turn (turn 6) and turn 1, was a good place to buy a few positions by moving up the right side. Then between turn 1 and 2, up the right side, guys were leaving 4 or 5 feet of space to the curb because the pavement had a nasty linear ridge. I explored and used most of the useful “real estate” there, to move up some spots. Then between turn 4 and 5, the speed is lower (only about 24 mph) and I could gain a single position.

Once I found those gems, I spent a few laps “banking” whatever positions I could. Move up 3, lose two, move up 4, lose 3… but eventually there was a “net profit.” I think I must’ve moved up into the less-surge-y part of the pack, and I didn’t feel like I was at my limit anymore. I was finally warmed up and having lots of fun.

Not really on the front, just trying to close a gap. The moto is a very bad sign–I'm too close to the back of the pack.
photo: Katie Truong

I’ve mentioned it before, but will repeat it here: These M123 criterium guys know how to corner. And going through the turns with them is a pleasure… except with a few laps to go, we lost one rider, sliding out on turn six.

I won’t drone on any longer because I didn’t have any impact on the race. The pace was already high, so the bell lap didn’t seem any different. Coming through turn 6 I could see Jeff was a half-dozen positions ahead, on his way to a solid mid-pack finish. I held off one rider on my right rear, just in case he was in my age group, though I couldn’t see his number. I likely came in around 28th-ish, but that was good enough for 3rd among the 55s–my first podium of the season, and 2 more Premiere Series points, maintaining 8th in the series.

At least at one point I was ahead of 55+ winner Marty Cunningham (cat 2, Folsom Bike/Trek/Raley's).
photo: Katie Truong

Takeaways
Jeff and I compared notes on the drive home and we both felt a need to work on enduring repeated surges. I feel like I get faster at recovery after 12 to 15 of them.

In the “No s--t Sherlock” department: There’s no good reason to start at the back of the pack in a criterium.