April 29, 2012, AZ State Criterium Championships
Phoenix, AZ   45 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
Many thanks to Noel Space for the photography.
(Images can be clicked on for a larger version)

This was a 45 minute criterium on very smooth roads around a mostly rectangular course, riding counterclockwise around the 0.8 mile distance in North Phoenix (just North of 101 on 7th St). The course has a gradual elevation gain in it from the last corner up to the first corner, gaining 28 feet. The weather was beautiful, 80 degrees and sunny, with just a hint of wind from the SW. We were warned at the start that the race may be shortened to permit getting back on schedule.

This race is very coveted as attested to the fact that there was a 55+ open race the afternoon before with a $400 prize list to 10 places, but only had 2 starters and 1 finisher. I would have loved to have had another race to include for the season, but very few wanted to weaken their stance in the championship race the next morning. It would have been better if the organizers switched the timing of these two events, then they would have seen a couple dozen racers in the open race, including myself.

Although we were listed as having the same start time as the 50-54 racers, we actually started 30 seconds behind them and were not allowed to mix. So this greatly improved my chances of controlling the race and not having the stronger 50-54 racers break away with some 55-59 riders that could be stronger than I on the climb. We had a 19 participants and saw 21 50-54 riders in front of us. David Bixby had proven himself strong on this course a month ago and was fresh off of a win at the State Championship Road Race a week ago, so he would be the man to watch. Steve Cullinan was the next threat that I was aware of, but only when it comes down to the sprint. There were 3 last minute entries that I had not researched prior to the race, so hopefully they contained no surprises. My main tactic would be to not let anyone meander away for an easy win and to keep David in close proximity for his expected attacks. I had a concern that Bixby would use his two teammates to work against me, either with attacks to try to wear me out, breaking away while Bixby held me back, or possibly boxing me in as David attacked. I felt that most of the other riders were not strong enough to stay away solo and a group would only survive away if given negative assistance back in the pack.

From the start, we began rather relaxed as everyone gained familiarity. The next lap saw some stronger work on the hill portion of the course, but nothing very taxing. I kept within one rider of Bixby so that he could not catch me sleeping and usually tried to be immediately on his wheel as we went up the climb. I had no qualms about not taking pulls at the front. To me, this race was about nullifying attacks and taking it to a bunch finish, as that would suit my strengths.

Occasionally we seemed to be closing in on the 50-54 group, so they must not have been working very hard. Seven laps into the race a couple of riders gave a strong attack from the bottom of the hill and got a bit of a gap, one of them being the weaker of Bixby's two teammates. I stayed with Bixby and we quickly closed the gap and Bixby gave a strong surge on the hill to try to solo away, but I was right there with him. He eased towards the top of the hill when he noticed his lack of success and I was surprised that we had not gapped the rest of the bunch. If the two of us established a break, I would have the advantage of only having to control one rider, but I would also have to work harder to keep that break alive and this might allow Bixby to wear me out on the hill and leave me before the finish; so I preferred if the two of us did not separate from the group.

10 minutes in, keeping Bixby (red bike) close. 14 minutes in, 2 riders attack. Keeping Bixby in contact.

The next time up the hill was uneventful and I let Bixby wander a little ahead of me. Seeing an opportunity, Bixby attacked on the back stretch and I had to chase him down, catching him pretty quickly. I did not want to burn myself out too much nullifying these attacks, so I would need to keep a tight rein on Bixby to squelch his temptation to attack by staying right with him. Jay Guyot took over Bixby's attack by turn 4, but with all of us chasing them down, they eased up, allowing us to regroup on the climb. Jay had been a strong rider a few years ago and I was not sure of his current form and he was one of the race day entries I had not reviewed.

Jay taking the lead from Bixby's attack. Regrouping, Jay leading, me watching them. 22 minutes in, all together; me sticking with Bixby.

Bixby knew that time was running out and would have difficulty taking me in a sprint. He tried several more times up the climb to increase the pressure to distance himself from me, but I had no trouble staying right with him on each of the laps that he attacked. Everyone else knew that we were the two strongest riders and would pretty much sit behind us as David would stick to the front and I'd keep him close.

On Bixby's wheel. Everyone else watching us.  

So a few laps earlier than expected, we get an announcement of a third prime along with 6 laps to go. The two previous primes were not hotly contested and this one even less so. With 5 to go, that pack settled into a regular rhythm with no more surges up the hill; this played perfectly for me and was very welcome to see. We started to run into small groups of lapped riders, most from the 50-54 race and I hoped this would not create a problem in the finishing moments.

Bixby leading, 35 minutes in. Bixby looking at what's behind him, 2 to go.
Jay (silver) on my wheel, Steve (black) on his.		 One to go, my signal that all is good (the smile).

With two to go, Bixby has his two teammates work their way off the front as he intentionally leaves a gap. Afraid that he may sacrifice his own glory to allow his teammates to take a win and beat me, I venture up to the escapees, being conservative in my effort as much as possible. At the top of the hill, everything was back in control, but I then did not have good visibility of Bixby's whereabouts. Fortunately he just eased back to the front and we assumed our previous boring, but strategically advantageous, game. As we came to the final lap, Bixby instructed his strongest teammate (Doug Forsha) to the front and shouted some instructions as to when to accelerate to give him a leadout into the sprint. I couldn't hear exactly what he said, but as we approached the first corner, Bixby started to lose control and in the corner was having problems with his rear wheel. I asked him what that was all about and he said he had a flat. As I saw that he was dropping back, I moved up to his teammates wheel, wondering if he was aware that I was then in Bixby's place. We rounded turn 2 and I was wondering when he might do his acceleration. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that it was not Bixby behind him. We went through the mild turns in the back stretch and I was waiting to do my final jump, worried that the slight headwind between turns 3 and 4 might give someone else an advantage if I went too soon. Before I could jump, I heard swooshing of tires on both sides and a silver jersey on my right go flying by as Jay made his bid for the win. I quickly jumped on his wheel and followed him through turn 3, taking it tight so that no one else could cut through. Then it was a matter of setting up the final turn, taking it tighter than Jay on the inside so that I could accelerate past him to the line, but we were approaching another small group of lapped riders. Fortunately we were going fast enough that we quickly overtook them and I had just enough time to set up the proper line as I watched Jay swing way too wide and coasting for much too long. I came through and kept to the center of the road, although I had initially told myself to get the the far left side (from my perspective) since the wind was coming from my right and I did not want to give shelter to anyone that might try to pass. Jay was still doing fairly well and this concerned me, so I put my head down and gave it all I could. I saw that I was advancing on him and passing him, but I made sure to keep the effort up all the way to the line. Unbeknownst to me, Steve Cullinan had set himself up on my wheel on the back stretch and had put himself in a fairly good position to make a bid to beat me in the final stretch from the last corner. He failed to take the corner as tightly as I had and this gave him a bit of a handicap as he had to move back over to my draft, then accelerate up behind me, and then wisely try to pass me on the leeward side. He came close to closing the gap, but he ran out of race course and could not decline me of the win.

Taking the final corner tighter than the others. Cullinan getting into my draft. Cullinan accelerating through my draft.

The camera focused on the background in the following pictures, but they still give an idea of the action
Cullinan making his bid to come around. Crossing the line. Victory. Bixby (in red square) finishing 12th.

David Bixby continued to ride with very little control on a soft tire and finished the race in 12th place (he can be seen in the last photo, rounding the corner, highlighted in a red square). The photos also revealed a rider on the right that went down in the final turn, but was able to get himself back up and not take anyone else down. In the first photo of the sprint sequence, there are also two riders directly behind Jay at the far left of the photo, one riding off course at 90 degrees (on the sidewalk) and another striking the curb with the right side of his wheel and his right foot in the air. I'm assuming these casualties were the lapped riders we came across and I was fortunate that they did not affect the outcome of the top 3 placings.

So the spring goal of winning the State Criterium Championships was successful. I went over to gather with my small group of family and friends and receive their congratulations, seeing their happy faces. It was a wonderful feeling.

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)
9:35 am 15.4 19 38:20 80, SW@5 24.1 34.7 166 191

Results (see page 17)    

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