June 17, 2012, Bike the Bluff Criterium
Show Low AZ   30 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
Many thanks to Julie Morgan for the photography.
(Images can be clicked on for a larger version)

There was a criterium in Show Low AZ that was right up my alley, so I was able to make arrangements to participate in it at the last minute. It's a 3:10 drive and I had to leave about 4 in the morning to get there, so my dear neighbor Julie agreed to accompany me to help keep me awake during the long drive there and back; without her this race would not have been possible. This was the 2nd stage of an Omnium, but I would not have had much fun or good results in the 62 mile hilly road race the previous day. Since most everyone else did participate in that stage, they would be a bit more exhausted than me going into this final race. There were nine entered in the Omnium, so my participation in the criterium and another crit only rider gave us 11 competitors, plus some 65+ riders that joined us, but racing in their own category.

The course was a one kilometer square and the 2nd and 3rd turns were actually gentle turns. The finish line was only about 120 meters after turn 4, which could make that turn a bit dangerous in the final lap, especially considering we had about a 10 mph tailwind between turns 3 and 4.

I was only concerned about 2 riders that could possibly steal the show from me. Dwight Nelson had won the previous stages and would be one to watch for a solo break away, since he had little sprinting ability. Steve Cullinan has shown to be proficient at sprinting and would be my main concern on the final lap.

The race started very gently, but then Dwight gave a strong acceleration soon after turn 1. Steve was quick to react and I was soon right behind the two of them. Dwight eased up and things continued slowly as everyone sat back to watch for Dwight's next move. The pack would slow to a pace that was slower than my easy recovery rides. Not surprisingly, there would be some riders that would try to take advantage of this and on the next lap, Doug took off solo and nobody chased. He gained a substantial lead and if the pack continued to lolly gag, he could lap the field just due to apathy in the field. I was there for the win, so it would be up to me to make sure nobody got an easy win. I'd take a turn at the front and pick up the pace, then pull over to get the pack to continue the effort. However, they had no interest in doing so and I needed to pull the field up to within easy catching distance of Doug so that he would realize his escape had failed and give up. My efforts were not maximal, so this did not tax me.

Dwight would then try another attack, with Steve again sticking right to his wheel and I'd easily latch on. Dwight would then ease and we'd all slow again. I'd go to the front and maintain at least a medium pace to try to reduce the incentive for others to attack which I would have to eventually close down. These cycles continued throughout the race and I was able to keep everything successfully contained, as was my plan.

Dwight leading, Steve behind, Me watching both. 10 minutes in, after leading pack. 20 minutes in, leading though turn 4.

As the race progressed, I finally started to look for the lap board and was surprised to see that we were already down to 3 to go. Just after the line, a rider in red made a solo bid and nobody reacted to it. Although this was not the time that I wanted to expend extra energy, it was going to be up to me to ensure that he did not walk away with an easy win. So off to the front of the pack to pick up the pace and get him back into the pack by the time we hit turn 4.

Dwight then saw this as his last chance to reduce his losses. Having won the previous 2 stages of the Omnium, he could not afford to have Steve beat him by more than 2 places and still retain the Omnium lead. As his sprint is not that good, he needed to prevent having some other riders edge him out at the finish, so he needed to distance himself from them. So as we approach 2 laps to go (and right after I chased down the rider in red), he picks up the speed and Steve and I latch onto his wheel. We very quickly distance ourselves from the rest of the pack and with one to go, there was no worry that anyone but us three would be contesting the win of the criterium.

Dwight continued to lead and I was surprised that neither Dwight or Steve ever looked back to check out the conditions behind them. My main concern at this point was Steve, since he has a fairly good sprint. As we went down the back stretch, the pace remained constant and nobody looked back (except me as I kept verifying that no one in the pack was catching us). The tailwind between turns 3 and 4 would effectively shorten that distance and I was still concerned at taking turn 4 at 40 mph (due to the tailwind), so I wanted to jump early. As we approached turn 3, I left a gap behind Steve and then just as we were about to hit the turn I jumped, cruising up Steve's draft and then flying by both of them in the turn where they would have difficulty accelerating. Soon I had about 10 lengths on them and with the win in hand, I could brake before turn 4 and take it gently.

One to go, Dwight leading. Gauging their energy. Well clear on the final lap though the last turn. Smiles after the race.

We had a beautiful drive back, watching the change of ecosystems as we left the high mountains and returned to the valley of the sun's desert on a picture perfect day.

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)
8:47 am 11.1 11 27:22 78, W@10 24.3 33.8 167 185
Results (see page 2)    

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