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.