May 2, 2009, State Capitol Criterium
Phoenix, AZ   11.4 miles
(Most images can be clicked on for a larger version)
Many thanks to Mike and Lisa Kolin for the photography.


This was a 30 minute criterium on a figure eight course, 1 mile around. The final stretch was not long and had a tailwind, which would effectively make it even shorter. There was a traffic island in the middle of S 17th Ave going into turn 7, which made it nearly impossible to pass someone through the turn. Thus it seemed that to win a sprint, one must lead through turn 6 and 7 and hold it to the line. However one wrinkle of the course was the surface, where there were repaired cracks, unrepaired holes, several manhole covers about a half inch lower than grade between turns 2 and 3, and raised reflectors. The weather was comfortably warm. I was racing in the 50+ category and the 60+ racers would be mixed with us.

The start is quickly followed by a tight left turn. I had lined up on the far right on the line and was about 5th to the corner. Two riders pushed the pace and got a bit of a gap. They were both from Team RPM and the riders immediately in front of me were also from Team RPM. Realizing that the team was trying to get 2 riders permanently away, I went to the front to bridge up to them. As I went through turn 3 for the first time, my rear tire bounced on the rough surface and drifted out about a foot, scaring Bixby who was right behind me. So although I only had my tire pressure at 135 psi, it was obviously too high (we had been given no time for practice laps for testing this). This was going to affect my future tactics for how I could attack going into the turns. I soon joined the two leaders before we hit turn 6 and soon the rest of the bunch joined us. Soon after that, David Bixby from Team RPM attacked solo, so I had to chase him down and he finally eased up on the back stretch again. Team RPM had about six riders and continued with these attacks where I was the only one willing to chase. They've done this in other races and I've learned that I can not rely on anyone else to chase if I want to prevent a break-away. But as long as I nullified the attacks very quickly, it was not too wearing, although more work than what was required from the other racers that just drifted along in the pack.
Into Turn 1. State Capitol in background Through turn 1. Turn 3.

By the time we got about half way into the race, Team RPM seemed to have used up their resources and the attacks ceased. We had 4 prime sprints in our race and I needed to make sure no one disappeared off the front after each of these, which turned out successfully. As we got the 5 laps to go signal, they also announced a prime and although about 4 riders tried to keep off the front after the prime, the pack became one by the back stretch. And just at that time, the course marshals at turn 6 were gyrating wildly in front of us as somehow a car had gotten on the course heading down Madison, which made the right turn before we did and safely parked on the right side of 17th so we could stream by.
Sitting behind Keith Brodhagen Keeping an eye on David Bixby. Norm Kibble at the front, keeping him in check.

With 2 to go I was a little farther back from the front than I wanted to be and I was going to need to pay closer attention to my positioning in the final lap. My Plan A was to go early, although my practice sprints during the previous week indicated my strongest sprint was short and late. But with the decent size group and the tight corners, the chances of getting into a bad position and boxed in or out were high. So I felt I needed to lead into turn 6. There was a strong headwind on Madison street between turn 5 and 6 and chances were that the pack would not be slackards on this stretch. So to avoid congestion I needed to lead early on Madison, but turn 5 was a rough surface where many riders drifted out as they coasted over the bad patches. So I had hoped to attack just before turn 4 to get a leading gap at that point, swing out before turn 5 so that I could turn outside of the curbing and dive through the rough patch in a straight line which would enable me to go faster and also accelerate through it. This would also mean about a 600 meter sprint with a good portion of it into a head wind, not an easy task.

So as we went into the final lap I was in good position of about 5th and on the left. Bixby was in about 3rd on the right. All the other "sprinters" were somewhere behind me. We came around turn 3 and I was anticipating when to jump, as I really needed to gain a gap coming out of turn 4 if I wanted to set up my different line for turn 5. Just as I jumped, I noticed 2 other riders going faster than me, one on the far inside and the other on the far outside, that must have beat me to the punch by a half second or so. The inside rider was going to be the problem as now I could no longer lead through turn 4 and had to ease off so that I could squeeze through the turn with the other riders at my shoulders. There was no opportunity to move up before turn 5, so I was about 3rd going through the turn. To make sure that I didn't get boxed in by anyone else, I attacked as soon as I could out of turn 5, but this meant accelerating into the headwind which tempered my jump so that I could not gap the riders behind me. As I ploughed into the headwind, moving into the lead, I felt like I was giving a perfect leadout to whoever might be right behind me, but I didn't have too many other options that came to mind at the time.

I led through turn 6 and came up to turn 7. The last corner was also a little rough, had some metal plates in it and a slight depression on the inside. With my distrust of the traction of my rear tire, I would not be able to go as fast through it as I originally planned, which would cost me a little of my advantage at the front. Entering the straight, I gave it everything I had, keeping a straight line somewhat towards the left side of the road. I just had to hold it to the line, but the length of the sprint was taking it's toll and I faded from 31.4 mph at the beginning of the straight to 30.9 as I saw a dark blue jersey trying to come up on my left and another rider just to my right approaching fast. The line could not come quick enough and although it was a somewhat short stretch, Steve Cullinan on my right was able to creep ahead of me and take the win, giving me another second place.
Out of the last corner. Trying to wind it up. Effort taking it's toll.

Seeing Steve come up on my right. Almost there. Second by a half length.

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Climbing
(Feet)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)
9:09 am 11.4 18 28:00 88, West@8 0 24.1 31.4 178 195

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