February 21, 2010, Avondale Masters 50+
Avondale AZ
(Most images can be clicked on for a larger version)
Many thanks to Rick Giordano for the photography.

This was the second Avondale race of the year and I had won the first 50+ race last month. We started late in the day again at 3:25 p.m.

The course was exactly a half mile per lap and perfectly flat, with basically 3 right turns and a long curve. The final straightaway was 160 meters with a slight headwind coming into the final bend, creating a cross wind from the left in the final straight. We had rain showers earlier in the day, but Rick and I escaped the downpour during our separate events, even though a race in between got dumped on.

This month had a few less entries, probably due to the threatening weather, with only 15 of us starting. The main threat would be Bob Pongratz who has been winning many of the 50+ crits this year. Due to racing yesterday and the lack of strong opposition, I did a very minimal warmup of about 3 leisurely laps around the course. This year I have been concentrating on a fast 500 TT and improving my sprint speed, so no focus has been put on longer efforts and I may not do so this season. This is a disadvantage in Criteriums and other mass start races where I would be more limited with my arsenal to being mostly restricted to pack sprint finishes without having to expend myself in countering attacks or doing long chases.

I took a laid back start to watch the action and a Team RPM rider, Joe Cunningham, rode off the front and the riders at the front of the pack had no interest in keeping him close. Team RPM had 4 riders in the group and would be deploying team tactics again, although all other riders were riding as individuals. They kept a couple of Team RPM riders at the front to disturb any chases as their lone rider kept gaining ground. With the course being only a half mile long, it would not be difficult for a rider of any caliber to lap us, as several times we dipped below 20 mph. So on lap 3 I went to the front and did a bit of a pull for about 3/4 of a lap. This got us closer, but I really didn't want to do all the work. Then another rider in red, Ken Doss, slipped off the front and everyone just watched him go. I took another pull to try to keep them in check. Team RPM made sure they had riders right on top of me, so there was little progress. Finally Joe began to tire and Ken caught up with him, but my efforts kept them from just walking away with the win. At 10 minutes into the race, I give a bit more effort and we were just on the heels of the two riders in front.

Partial starting lineup. Lap 1, lone break. Lap 3, trying to pick up the pace. Team RPM riders ready to thwart the chase.

Ken walking away. Everyone watching me to chase. Team RPM keeping close. Escapees almost caught.

Just as we are about to close in, the officials announced a $50 prime sprint. This will certainly get the pace up to speed to finish off the break away, but I'm not feeling rested enough to contest it. Some of the better sprinters really pick up the pace coming to the line and I do a hard effort to try to keep them in check. Unfortunately, Bob Pongratz of Team RPM had been sitting at the back most of the time and took a flyer off of me and passed everyone after the finish line. Since nobody else would chase, we slowed down to below 20 mph again, he got a good gap, and he was then gone for the day. As we hovered around the low 20 mph speed, we basically just waited for Bob to lap us. I tried a super hard effort to break away alone, but most everyone had enough strength to stay with me, but were not willing to use any of that energy to work together to reel in Bob. Several laps later, as we slowed down to about 18 mph, Ken Doss (in red) slipped off the front again. Soon after another rider, Rob Tompkins (in black) joined him and I could not get anyone to join me in closing the gap. So all the prize money was now up the road.
Bob hurting solo. Wondering how to motivate these guys. Team RPM keeping close. 2 more slip away.

We still had about 5 laps to reel in the two escapees and they were not going fast. However everyone was waiting for me to chase them down, which would then exhaust me just before the sprint. So I tried a different tactic and dropped to the very back, out of their sight, hoping that they would want to chase after the last of the prize money with their own initiative. To my dismay, they just slowed down more, sometimes down to 16 mph, as we watched the two riders get totally out of sight. As we came around with 2 laps to go, Bob was right on our heels about to lap us and took the lead of the group on the bell lap for the satisfaction that he had indeed lapped the field. The only glory left was to win the pack sprint for fourth. The sprinters to beat would be Steve Cullinan (in white and green) who won the last 2 crits of last season, Korky Curtz (in yellow and black) who won the Crit the previous day, and Joe Cunningham of Team RPM.
Bob almost lapping w/2 to go. Bell lap. Bob at the front. Checking w/1 to go. Steve 2 ahead, Joe just ahead, Korky 3 behind.

As we came around the bend for the final time, I had planned on holding back my sprint effort for as late as possible. I had hoped to find a hole in the pack towards the inside of the curve, as the distance is shorter and more protected from the wind. I had put the chain into the 50x13 and as we neared the straight, I was still considering sweeping to the safer outside, but saw a hole just in time on the inside and went for it. This allowed me to get past Steve who had been ahead of me and gain several lengths on him. Korky had gone very far on the outside, making it hard to make up ground on Steve.

So a fourth place finish, with prizes for the top three. There were no series awards either to my surprise, as I would have won the series. Another day of not playing the right tactics at any time and coming up short.

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 Cadence avg
(rpm)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)		 Calories Burned
(Kcal)
3:25 pm 11 15 27:27 63, Sunny, SW@8 23.9 33.8 98 156 188 302

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