February 20, 2010, LAVRA Cup 55+
Carson CA   Omnium
(Images can be clicked on for a larger version)

This was my second trip to the indoor velodrome in Los Angeles this year. My new training buddy Rick Giordano was with me for his second go around of real track racing, but in the tougher 45+ category. We were both a bit behind in our strength and endurance training, but time marches on.

The LAVRA Cup series consists of 6 days of racing, about one each month, where the top 4 are considered for the overall cup championships. I'm hoping that I can participate in at least 5 of them. In the morning they have all the timed events that would be included in a Championship and the afternoon consists of 3 mass start races that make up an Omnium. Rick and I would ride the flying 200 and the standing 500 in the morning this time; then compete in the afternoon omnium event.

We had left Arizona Friday morning and had time to visit the track on Friday evening when a 6 to 9 pm open track training session is normally scheduled. To our surprise, there were only about 5 riders using the track, so we were able to have much freedom in practicing on the track, sometimes with only the 2 of us having the entire track to ourselves. We both practiced a few runs of a flying 200 start utilizing a new line to the start that dropped us down to the bottom much later.

We arrived Saturday morning at 7:30 am for the racing that starts at 9. The registration took half an hour, so we had less time than expected for warm-up, but there was still adequate time for us to get in what we needed. The first event would be the flying 500, where Rick would be 3rd to start and I was 15th. This was Rick's second 200 on a steep 250 track and he improved over last month's poor showing to record a 12.67, but we both know he can do much better. After waiting nearly half an hour at the inside rail to wait my turn, I had my 3 laps to get rolling before the time of the last 3/4 of a lap. I had a good line and good control, but my legs felt like they were full of lead. I had one of my worst times of 13.04 seconds. I hit a top speed of 37.1 mph very early, but only maintained about 35 mph for the majority of the ride. Next month I'll warm up better on the trainer and try to show up to the start just before my turn.

Rolling out for the 200	200: Winding up in turn 3	200: Timed effort through turn 3

The very next event is the 500 and I quickly changed out my bars for this event. Rick started 3rd again and I was 13th. Rick had a fair time of 39.05, but can shave a lot off by improving the immediate start; we'll also get more strength in him as the season progresses. I had a fair start and a mediocre performance and pulled off a disappointing 38.44 for 5th place after sitting for half an hour again prior to starting the event. I had a top speed of 35.6 mph, but should have been more aggressive at the start and I need to train for the longer effort to avoid faltering towards the end. The Canadian Women rider right behind me showed up just as I was getting ready to start, coming straight from her trainer, and did a 37.49. I'll have to time my entry into the waiting line better in the future, rather than following the instructions of the officials. The winning time of 35.74 is closer to what I'm trying to accomplish, but I still have a long way to go to get close to that.

The other timed events followed and they took longer than anticipated, such that the Omnium racing didn't start until 4 p.m. instead of the scheduled 3 p.m. My 55+ event would be first. Although we only had 6 riders, one was going to be a tough competitor. I had researched Keith Ketterer prior to coming to the race after seeing his name in the early online registration. Not only had he won 3 Master's National Championship events last September, but last October he also set a 50-54 Master's World hour record (and at nearly the end of his being eligible for being 54 as he is a 55 class racer for 2010). He is also a Category 2 track rider, where the rest of us are 3 or slower. He regularly competes against the 1-2 riders in both track and criteriums and is competitive against them.

Our first race was a 20 lap scratch race. Although we started off easily, Keith was soon on the attack and I was quick to latch onto his wheel. Not surprisingly, he immediately pulled up, so I went through to keep up the pace. However, he soon attacked again and I realized I was probably going to just have to stick very closely to his wheel so that he could not get away. Being the smart rider that he is, he pulled a tactic I did not expect and also did not think would be effective. When we came to the back of the group, I stayed on his wheel and he drifted off the back of the bunch. We kept going slower as the group continued to pull away until they were nearly 3/4 of a lap ahead of us. Finally he dropped down the track and put on a bit of speed and I thought that we would be playing catch up, so I took a turn for half a lap. When I pulled up, he attacked hard and gapped me and my legs just screamed at me when I tried to get back onto his wheel. In exasperation, he pulled away and joined the others, leaving me alone and struggling. Now with the group having his power to keep them going, I had no chance to rejoin and would subsequently finished in dead last. Ricky Shorts, the rider that was my toughest competitor last year, took second as expected. Since Omnium points for each event are awarded with 7,5,3,2,1 points, I was the only one to have zero and the best I could now hope for in the overall might be a third. So this was most likely going to be a throw-away day out of my 5 attempts to work towards the cup award. I took a gamble, didn't have the strength to back it up, and paid dearly.

Keith leading the group.	Chasing a Keith attack.	Keith pushing the pace again.	Keith dropping us way back.

Rick soon had his 20 lap scratch race and kept himself in good position throughout. There are two dominant riders in his category, both named John, but they seem to prefer to win with strategy and sprints, rather than long, hard breakaways. I was delighted to see Rick place himself well going into the final lap and finishing 4th out of the 14 competitors, gaining some Omnium points in the process.

My next race was a Tempo race; One point each lap for the winner, then 3,2,1 points for the final lap. Keith pushed the pace on the first lap, getting the points, with Ricky second and myself third. On the next lap, I made the effort and took the point. Keith came through again to win the next point. Then I was able to start my sprint from 175 meters while in 3rd position to take the 4th available point. As I eased back into the group, Keith came through hard, Ricky left a large gap and Keith was now gone for good. So the rest of us just rode an easy pace, since no more points would be available to the rest until the final lap, but my 2 points in hand should allow me to capture second as long as I finished in the top 3. Just as we came up to our 18th lap, Keith was closing in on our little bunch. The rule is that lapped riders finish on the same lap as the leader(s). So what should have been 2 to go as we approached the line, now showed 1 to go on the lap board and I heard the bell. At 230 meters to go I jumped hard from the front and this time I really felt good power in my legs, getting a couple of lengths on Ricky who had been strategically sticking to my wheel for the last couple of laps. I powered it to the line, just to see a 1 still up on the lap board and getting the bell again. I look back and there's Ricky trying hard to close the gap and I now need to struggle hard for an extra lap if I want to beat him, although points-wise it wouldn't matter. It turns out they had a young, inexperienced person manning the lap board who would solely focus on the leaders and could not pay attention as to how his actions might affect other riders in the race. Still it felt good to get in a strong sprint, although I could not be victorious overall with Keith's strength being so dominant.

Rick had his 45+ tempo race follow shortly. It was fun to seem him right in the mix, keeping himself mid-pack and learning by watching his fellow competitors. The two Johns were taking most of the points, but nobody was getting away from the group. Then on lap 7, Rick decided to add a point to his tally and from 200 meters out gives a good effort; somewhat too good as he got about 10 lengths on everyone by the line. After looking over his shoulder and seeing the margin he had, he decided to stick it out and gather another point, which eventually turned out to be an exciting 7 points as he kept his lead on the group. Apparently they didn't figure that the big sprinter would have the stamina to keep out ahead of them. On the 14th lap they were closing down on him pretty fast and I had encouraged him to try for one more, but they caught him by the line and he fell off the lead group exhausted. He then spent the remainder of the race with the second group and ended up tying the leader on points, but being awarded 2nd by finishing behind him on the final lap. This moved Rick up a spot to 3rd overall in the Omnium standings. He was having a much better day than I was.

Rick taking off for a sprint.	A big margin at the line.	Checking the damage.	Next lap.

Third lap away.	Increasing lead on 4th away.	Catching lapped riders.

Almost a half lap lead.	7th point and the chase is on.	Caught with 20 m to go on 8th lap of being away.

The final event for me was a 40 lap points race; sprint every 10 laps for 5,3,2,1 points. We remained as one group up to the first sprint and Keith really poured it on to take the first honors and I only managed a third place. A few laps later, Keith took a flyer, gapped us, and got away. We let him go around and lap us, as he was going to win the event anyway. I was able to win the group sprint for the next two sprints while Keith was out ahead solo, getting second place points. Then Keith took off again and we just watched him ride away. However, another rider, Eguege Poyrena, jumped off the front and the group began to chase, but when Ricky was in the lead, he just sat up and left a huge hole on the rider. We still had enough laps to catch him, however Keith eased up and Eguege was able to latch onto his wheel and then get towed away from us. This left us sprinting for third. As we came up to 2 to go, Keith passed me, having lapped us again, and the lap board showed 1 to go, as it should, but no bell was rung. I gave another huge effort and won the group sprint for 3rd, but the lap board still showed 1 to go as I crossed the line; with no bell this time either I struggled out an additional lap just to make sure I got my points. Apparently the kid just forgot to clear the lap board after we passed, in addition to forgetting to ring the bell at any time. Since I tied on points with Eguege, but finished behind him on the final lap, I only got 3rd place in the Points race. Since Eguege and I tied on points for the overall Omnium, but he finished higher on the final race, he took 3rd and I finished out of the money in 4th. So a good day of racing, but disappointing results for the potential I think I had.


Rick had his final 40 lap points race before we could hit the road back to Arizona. His third place could be in jeopardy now that the other riders know he's no slouch. He wisely stayed near the front and kept a careful eye on the two Johns. As they approached the first of 4 points sprints, he positioned himself well with two laps and one lap to go.

Start of the Points race.	Keeping an eye on the leader.	2 to go for 1st sprint.	1 to go for 1st sprint.

With 200 meters to go on the first sprint, he started from 5th position and screamed around the other 4 riders on the back stretch, and taking the sprint handily.

Starting his sprint.	Screaming down the back stretch.	Approaching corner 3.	Leading during first sprint.

Pulling away.	Coming out of turn 4.	An untouchable lead.	Bringing it in.

I had to motion to Rick to ease up, as he needed to recuperate to contest the next sprint. The others were probably hoping that he would try to stay away solo and blow himself up. Realizing that he wasn't going to hang himself, the two Johns put on the pressure and attacked, but another rider and Rick put out the energy to keep them reined in. With 3 laps to go for the second sprint, riders eased up and assessed the situation, with Rick right in the thick of things.

Countering an attack.	Back at the front on next lap.	3 to go for the 2nd sprint.	Riders strategize with 23 to go.

With 2 to go, one of the Johns made an attack and Rick patiently sat in the group to conserve his energy. Unfortunately the gap grew too large and the best Rick would be able to do was to get a 2nd in this sprint, which he handily did.

An attack at 22 to go.	Rick being patient.	Rick being watched with less than 21 to go.

Accelerating down the back stretch.	Trying to close down a huge margin.	Unable to get another first.	Holding on for 2nd place points.

So I was getting pretty excited at this point. Rick was mixing it up with the big boys and was head and shoulders above all the rest, riding both smart and fast. Immediately after the second sprint, there was another attack and Rick's position at the line gave him the opportunity to slip in with the aggressors as they formed a 4 man break. He dutifully took his turns so as not to get any extra heat put on him. With two to go before the 3rd sprint, he completed another turn at the front, but was caught off guard by the more experienced riders. One of the Johns attacked with a weak rider on his wheel as Rick neared the back which split up the group, leaving Rick trailing off the back. Soon after the sprint, the other 3 regrouped and then caught some lapped riders, making it one large group and poor Rick out alone. Yet he persevered well enough to avoid getting lapped which would have lost him 20 points in the process and thus finished 3rd in the Points race.

4 man break after 2nd sprint.	Pulling off after a turn at the front.	Swinging up at 12 to go.	Culled off the back at 11 to go.

Rick picked up his prize winnings for his overall Third place in the 45+ Omnium (his first cash from a track event) and we left as quickly as we could, since we had a criterium race in Arizona the following day. We'd arrive back at 2 a.m. after a very talkative drive back.

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