August 16, 2009
Eric: 8th
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/usa-cycling-national-criterium-championships-cn/stages/stage-4/results
This past weekend I made the long trek out to Downer's
Grove, Illinois for the National Criterium Championships.
This classic event has been run on the same course for the
last 23 years, and it never disappoints. It was one of the
few opportunities I would have all season to race against a
field of entirely Category 1 amateurs. While this may, at
first blush, seem to make the race easier, just imagine 150
super motivated riders (many of whom are experienced
ex-pros) giving everything they've got for a shot at the
big-time.
After a short tune-up race on Saturday evening where I
focused mainly on staying out of trouble and opening up the
legs, the big day finally arrived. The weather started out
pleasant enough, and our race set out under sunny skies.
Intending to save as much energy as possible in the early
laps of the long race, I hovered somewhere near the back of
the field, drifting back on the climb and regaining places
on the technical downhill corners. However, I soon felt the
familiar patter of raindrops and knew it was time to get to
the front.
In a lap I was fourth wheel, riding behind two Cal-Giant
riders who were setting pace to keep a small breakaway in
check. Behind them was a representative from the equally
strong Empire Cycling Team. As the skies opened up and
dumped sheets of rain down on the competitors, I stayed
tucked in behind these three riders. For about thirty laps,
this is how the race stayed. As we gradually reeled in the
breakaway, riders would launch unsuccessful attacks, many of
which I would be forced to chase alone if Cal Giant and
Empire were already there. Needless to say, this was an
exhausting task, but my legs felt good, and I knew what I
had to do if I wanted a result.
Unfortunately, one rider in the two man break broke his
chain and his companion was forced to go it alone entering
the final fifteen laps. Had this not happened, it probably
would have taken a number of more laps to catch the break,
greatly increasing the prospect of a field sprint.
Unfortunately the catch was made too soon, and the field
erupted in a series of attacks, nearly all of which I
followed. Finally, with about 10 laps to go, an Empire
rider jumped off the front. It didn't seem to be a
particularly threatening move, but it quickly became
unmanageable when a Cal-Giant rider went across as well.
The day of hard and aggressive racing had sapped my energy,
and I lacked the energy to bridge across to the small group.
I hovered near the front of the field hoping against hope
that the break would be brought back. Unfortunately, Empire
and Cal-Giant proved abundantly adept at mucking up the
chase, and the break's gap grew.
Coming into the final lap, I found myself positioned too far
back in the field. I knew that this race was decided in the
last corner, so I put on the afterburners and made a few
kamikaze moves in the corners. I gained enough positions to
move into about 6th wheel. I finished fourth in the sprint
for 8th on the day for BikeReg.com / Cannondale's first
top-10 in a National Championship event!
ps. A special thanks to Mavic whose support staff provided
me with excellent service prior to the event. They are
truly a testament to the fact that this success would be
inconceivable without the support of our sponsors.
