January 22, 2012, Avondale Masters 50+
Avondale AZ

Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
Many thanks to my Dad and Stephen P. Bobko-Hillenaar for the photography.

The second Arizona Criterium of the year, held in Avondale, just West of Phoenix and this year they had a 50+ Masters category. I skipped yesterday's race in Tucson, which started at 7:30 am and was an hour and a half away. I had won this race in 2010, so I was very familiar with what needed to be done. Last year I was up in Canada, so I missed all of the Arizona racing (we now own a home in Phoenix AZ). I was not sure how fit I was going to be, as I've not really had a strong preparation for it and a fall from the bike in late December prevented me from doing any upper body work after re-injuring my left shoulder.

 

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 finish by the time this event happened. Normally the optimal place to begin the sprint is just before coming out of the final bend.

There were some new riders that have aged into the class since the last time I was competing here. Mark Fosenburg had won the event last year and was my pick as the most dangerous challenger. Corky Kurtz was another threat to watch and the ever strong Keith Brodhagen would not likely let a break go without him. Steve Cullinan can sometimes pull out a good sprint, but is usually not sprinting well early in the year. So a good group of about 25 racers were at the line and there was no dominant team that would take over the race.

The temperature was about 60 and overcast, and since the race started at 4:45 pm, it was only going to get colder. So I was wearing arm and leg warmers (again the only rider with leg warmers), which put me dressed from head to toe in solid black. I've changed clubs this year, now riding for Focus Racing, but the team uniforms have not yet come in, so I'm wearing my black skinsuit.
 
Warming up with Keith.

I started off casually on the second row so that I could watch the primary challengers. Mark was very good at picking great lines through the corners and possessed great confidence. Keith was sitting behind me most of the time and that concerned me. After about 5 laps we had a prime and Mark Fosenburg made a surge off the front for a solo break immediately after it. Not knowing his strengths and knowing that he had a few team mates in the pack presented a worry, but the pack maintained a good pace and he never got more than about 8 lengths off the front. After about 4 laps we absorbed him. He and Corky would usually be in a good position a bit ahead of mid-pack, but Keith was still riding the back. So I drifted back to find him and made sure that I easily recognized his jersey should he try a flyer.


There were a few mild attacks by lesser riders, but these did not concern me and they were all easily caught by the pack in short manner. I had left my cycle computer at home, so I'd have to estimate when we approached the end of our 30 minute race. When I thought it was about 8 or 9 minutes to go, I searched out Mark and made sure I was either on his wheel or close enough to latch on to him if he surged.

As we came around the bend with what would eventually be 6 laps to go, I was on Mark's wheel and he was accelerating strongly. Apparently Keith was making a solo attack and he was responding. I stuck to Mark's wheel and as we hit the straight I saw that the three of us had a gap and I took a turn at the front (for the first and only time), coaxing them to try to keep the break going. Keith only wanted to get away solo, so he eased up and the pack was soon on our heels. This move though clearly marked the three of us to the rest of the pack as the riders to watch.

Keith attacking, Mark chasing, myself following Mark

The next lap around, the lap board showed 4 to go, so at least I knew how close we were to the end. The whole pack slowed down and Keith led the field, followed by Mark and then myself. The next lap also showed 4 to go, so I was counting on the fact that this was the real 4 to go.

I was now sticking to Mark's wheel and nothing was going to knock me off. I didn't even look at the lap board, but expected it to be 3 on the next go around. There was a bit of a surge in the pack, but nothing that was difficult or dangerous. As we came around the line again, it still showed 3, but they flipped it over to 2 after some of the riders had passed and then an official yelled "Two to go".

When we came around with one to go, Mark was in a fairly good position, about 6 back and I made sure I followed him like glue. I was pumping myself up for the finish and as we entered the bend for the final time, Mark was really picking up speed early. Apparently Keith had taken an early flyer and was leading around the bend. I easily stuck to Mark as he came around the bend, but as he passed the final rider between Keith and himself, that rider swung out and forced me to take an outside line that was no longer following Mark and cost me some momentum. I got back on course as quickly as I could, but Mark now had two lengths on me and more momentum. I struggled to close the gap as I passed Keith, but the distance to the line was too short and I could only manage a second place.

100 meters to go.


50 meters to go.


At the finish line.

Overall I was pleased with my fitness. I had no problems keeping the pace or accelerating when needed. Since I rode conservatively for the whole race, it was no more taxing than a zone 2 training ride. My bike handling skills were not undermined by my crash a month ago. I had a possibility to win if luck had not intervened in Mark's favor.

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