July 8, 2012, Foxboro Ranch Circuit Race
Munds Park, AZ   19.1 miles
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
Many thanks to my wife Noel for the photography.
(Images can be clicked on for a larger version)

There was an Omnium event in and around Flagstaff after the 4th of July. I didn't want to do the 6 mile hill climb on Friday or the 45 mile hilly road race on Saturday, but the 24 mile flat circuit race on Sunday sounded like fun. The course was situated in a new development surrounded by National forest and was a beautiful backdrop to the race. It was a 50+ race and there would be a good challenge since my two main contenders from the spring would be racing: Keith Brodhagen and Mark Fosenburg. The course was billed as 2 miles around, but it was really 1.73 miles and we were to do 12 laps with the first being a neutral lap guided by a motorcycle, but we actually only did 11 without a neutral lap; shortening the race only puts things in my favor. There were 7 entries from the Omnium plus another 7 that only entered the circuit race for a total of 14 in the 50+ race. The 3 60+ racers would also start with us, but the dozen or so 40+ racers started 2 minutes ahead of us.

The finish was a concern again as the final corner was only about 120 meters from the finish and curved to the right. On top of that, we crossed through a covered bridge with loose wooden planks just before the turn, where the setup for the turn would start in the bridge and then continue onto a rather narrow road, making the turn precarious. The danger would be further compounded by the fact that the 200 meter stretch from the penultimate turn to the final turn had a 10 mph tailwind.

Instructions in front of the Foxboro Clubhouse.   Off we go, watching Keith from the start. Dressed in black again.

The race started off quite gently and then a rider rode off the front before the first turn with nobody bothering to chase. He got a fair lead on us, but after two laps he started to lose ground, even though our pace still seemed rather mundane. We let him sit out there for a couple more laps and just before we swallowed him up, we slowed some more and he gained again; he was later absorbed a couple of laps later. This slow pace allowed me to conserve a lot of energy and would be to my advantage if it came down to a bunch sprint.

The penultimate corner. Entering the covered bridge. Exiting the covered bridge onto the final turn.

During this time I had been marking Mark, but knew that Keith was sitting at the back, most likely planning an attack from behind. I decided to drop back and keep a better eye on Keith and the two of us swept up the rear of the pack for several laps. Soon we were lapped by 3 40+ riders and a half lap later the rest of the 40+ riders came by us; not surprising seeing as how slowly we were going. They hovered just in front of us and I was worried that if we picked up the pace that things could get rather confusing if we caught them.

Another rider went off the front and everyone again just watched him increase his lead. We still had several laps to go and it seemed that we were assured that we could reel him in at any time. I was still at the very back, expecting Keith to make a surge at any time and paid strict attention to his motives, but then was surprised at 2.5 laps to go to see him pull some dates out of his back pocket and start eating. I started to think that he wasn't taking this race too seriously and as it turned out, he was also entered Pro 1,2 race that immediately followed us. At two laps to go, Keith went to the front and Mark got right on his wheel as I watched them from immediately behind. But the pace seemed like a leisurely Sunday ride and nobody made an aggressive move.

Approaching the finish after the bridge. A wave to my fans. One lap to go, sitting on Mark; Keith leading.

With one to go, the pace started to pick up and I switched over to keeping on Mark's wheel as best I could. I had decided previously that my Plan A would be to go long and I had picked out a stone marker with 3 reflectors on it that was about 220 meters before the penultimate corner, with my goal to be first to this corner and then hope that the tailwind and short distance from the final corner to the line would get me to the line first. As we headed down the back stretch for the final time, I got boxed in a couple of times and lost Mark's wheel. I saw Mark pull ahead through a gap and get a few lengths in front of me. I was able to maneuver to the left side and pull up to be even with his back wheel, but off to the side.

As we started to clear a slight right bend, I saw my marker and gave a strong jump that put me about 3 lengths in front of the pack. I had gotten up to speed quickly and as I started scanning the flat terrain ahead for the penultimate corner, I saw my original stone marker and realized I had begun much too early, actually about 370 meters before that corner. There was no turning back, so I drove towards that corner and consciously did not touch the brakes, although for safety's sake it would have been prudent to do so. I made it through the turn without going off the road and got out of the saddle to accelerate again, already in my 50x12 gear. I couldn't look back to see how I was doing as I had that worrisome bridge to contend with in a few seconds. I took the best line, but did feather the front brake just a bit to keep myself in the confines of the road and then out of the saddle again to try to make up for that handicap. As I quickly neared the line I realized that I was not going to get passed and was overjoyed to beat Mark and Keith and win the race (beating Mark by at least a couple of lengths).

Leading Mark and Keith to the finish. Scott crossing the line first. Thinking I had won.

However I was soon disheartened to see another rider just 4 lengths in front of me with a number on his back that indicated he was in the 50+ race. I had assumed that he was a dropped 40+ rider, but by not watching the front action adequately, I later realized that the lone rider that had escaped so easily near the end was never reeled in. So I actually placed second, but still beat the best sprinters. It was surprising at how close I came to catching him, yet disappointing that the pack had not been just a little faster to keep the escapee in check better. My final sprint effort was actually about 750 meters long (200 meters is more typical).

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)
11:18 am 19.1 14 47:55 93, 10 mph SSE 23.9 36.4 160 192


Final lap chart.

Results

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