Raisin Hope Foundation Classic Race Recap - 8/15/09

Today's race was so-so. Tom, Chris and I joined the other 33ish P/1/2 riders for this race. I think the small turnout was due to the Crit championships tomorrow, so guys are saving their legs. The pace for the first 30 minutes or so was pretty pedestrian. Some guys would attack, but the pack didn't seem to care too much and we meandered around until the break tired out. Around half-way the serious attacks started happening, so I moved up front and got in a couple breaks.

Nothing stuck, then while recovering in the back, the pack split and a huge group of 14+ riders got off the front. Great. So, I move towards the front of our nearly identically sized group and look for the strong riders to make the bridge. Our group was not working well together and I got in a group of 3 or 4 that tried to bridge, but didn't make it. Then, when we got caught, I watched Jon Baker move towards the front. He is a seriously strong rider, so I knew when he got in / created a bridging group, it would be successful. Well, of course, the guy goes, I'm too far back to join him, then I watch the front of our group lose the wheel and he's up the road in a group of 3. I went to the front to try to help pull him back, but our group wasn't working well, and shortly afterwards, he's too far up the road and later he latches on to the main pack.

So, the last 20 minutes of the race were pretty dull. I pulled at the front and stayed up there knowing that I alone can't pull them back and the race is pretty much over, so I might as well get some training intensity in. On the last lap, I attack about a mile out into a corner. I get maybe a 5-8 second gap and hold it until the final 200 meters when I get caught by the charging field to get nipped at the line. I finished 21st. I'm disappointed because my legs felt great, but you can't get in every break and I shouldn't have been at the back of the pack when during that crucial middle part of the race.