Well, the 2010 season has transitioned to cyclocross and a few members of the team are still hanging strong. Jamie Wright has won several races, Ralph is starting to come on strong, and Cody is continuing to add to an impressive season.
Photo Courtesy of Don McEwan
I, on the other hand, started winding down the season right after a solid finish at the Blount Seafood Criterium in August. Moving and work commitments cut into my training schedule and training/racing suffered. I did snag a top 10 at the Great Osprey Road Race last month, but I definitely wasn't in top form.
Now, I am focused on 2011. I am increasing miles and working on adjusting to the colder temperatures associated with winter training. The work now will pay off in the spring.
The team will be getting together soon to discuss plans for the 2011 season, possible additions to the team, and the upcoming sponsorship drive.
Stay tuned for winter training details - and more cross results.
Jeff, Steve and I raced at Attleboro Saturday. No great success to report, but we didn’t crash seriously. Steve had a minor incident involving a rider damaging his front wheel, but he took his free lap and continued the race.
Jeff was strong in the Pro12 field and finished in the chase group after what looked like a fast and furious chase for a dozen or so laps. After a 1+ hr rain delay due to lightning the Cat 3 and Cat 4 races were combined. We started a decent rain, but it soon stopped and the roads were even drying as we finished. Several riders discounted the affect of water on braking surfaces and caused single rider incidents, one of which forced Steve to stop completely.
Future reference if you are ever stopped like that behind a crash, the answer is YES you went down or you won’t get your free lap.
3 guys got off the front around halfway and managed to build a quick lead and stayed away to the end. On the last lap I was in a good position going into corner two but some riders braked too much and I lost some momentum, then on the downhill one idiot sprinted down the inside (so he could be 10th at best into the corner) and couldn’t make the turn at the bottom. Amazingly he slid out with hitting anyone else. I finished mid pack but officially 11th in the Cat 3’s.
Sunday Cody and I raced at Walnut Hill Park in New Britain CT. If you’ve never raced here it’s a great course typically, fast, safe and great for spectating.
Cody and I lined up for the Masters 30+ as a warm up before our primary races of the day. The pace was quick from the gun, but again a break went away around midway through the 20 lap race. I ended up 12th (3rd apparently in the field sprint) Cody pulled out around midway to conserve for her primary race which immediately followed the 30+.
After 15 laps and no successful breaks in the race it came down to a sprint, and Cody pulled away for her second win of the year at Walnut Hill Park and earned the New England Regional Championship jersey for Cat 3/4.
Men’s Cat 3 I survived for a pack finish. Mildly disappointed, but the heat and two consecutive days of racing finally got to me.
Sunday was one of my favorite criteriums of the season, the Keith Berger criterium in Hartford, CT. Ralph and I drove down the night before to save an early morning trip - hoping to be rested and end up with a couple of podium finishes. Ralph raced the mens category 3 field and the mens Pro-3 field. I decided to race the masters and Pro-3 races.
Chris Worden also showed up on Sunday to represent the juniors field, and Cody Harris arrived mid-morning to race with the womens open field.
My first race went reasonably well. A good sized field of 70-80 racers lined up for the 40+ race. The pace was fast, but the race was smooth. As usual, several attacks went off from the first lap. Because the course is flat with long straight sections, I decided to gamble on any attack being brought back - so I raced smart and conserved for the final sprint.
That turned out to be the wrong choice, a break of 12 went off the front and although we brought them to within 6 seconds at the finish, we did not catch them. I was sitting somewhere around the middle of the pack with one lap to go; I was planning on just finishing in the middle of the filed since the money was up the road. That all changed when I rode by Jurgen and heard him heckling me. I moved up as quickly as possible and positioned within the top 5 coming in to the last two turns. Once out of the last turn, I put down a big sprint and was able to take 3rd in the field sprint, only missing 2nd by the width of a tire. No money, but good confidence builder against a large field with some big names.
The Pro-3 race went well for the first 75% of the race. The pace was fast, but I was able to position and move to the front whenever I wanted to. Unfortunately, the effects of the first race of the day and the 90+ degree temperature started to hit me. Chills, nausea, and a light head were all indications of a pretty good case of dehydration. I tried to hang in until the end, but had to pull out with a few laps left. Lesson learned - only do one race when the temps are above 85!
Ralph raced well, Chris crashed in the category 4 race, but ended up top 3 in his junior field, and Cody snagged 6th in the womens open field. I am sure they will be posting details soon.
The next race weekend coming up is Attelboro and the New England Championships in Hartford on July 11th and 12th.
