March 2, 2013, Colossal Cave Criterium 55+
Oro Valley, 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)

This course has been used for races previously and I've ridden it several times. The half mile course has several turns that can be a bit tight when taken at speed and the final stetch is slightly uphill. The weather was clear and the 44 degrees felt much warmer in the sun with barely any wind.

We had 20 starters with us all racing together for the criterium, even though the 60+ and 70+ would be scored separately for the Omnium points which included the road race on Sunday (which I would forgo). There would be a total of 6 primes spread throughout the race.

The race started off at a moderate pace for the first several laps. After a few laps Jon Roberts meandered off the front and the riders leading the bunch seemed to not be motivated in keeping him close. I took a turn at the front to increase the momentum, but then it slowed immediately again. Finally I made a jump prior to the final turn on lap 6 of 23 and began to chase him down, hearing the bell for a prime prize just as I approached the line. This was my fastest lap of the race, averaging 27.3 mph and hitting 33.5 mph. It took me more than a lap to catch Jon, finally passing him on the uphill finish section to also take the prime and hoped the two of us could work together in a break away, but he eased up.
Reviewing the competition. Chasing Jon,
looking to see who's following. 		Dwight leading after chase,
Jon second, me third, Reg fourth.

The pack sat on my wheel for the rest of the lap and then Dwight took a turn at the front up the hill. On the next back stretch, Reg Dowdall rolled off the front. Again the pack was not motivated to chase and he quickly gained quite a lead. I wasn't sure who he was or his capabilities. Then Jon jumped off the front and I was a couple riders back in the pack. The rider at the front, Dwight Nelson, really slowed us down and it was extremely difficult to get around him on the twisty course. When I finally had a chance almost a lap later, I gave a strong jump in pursuit of Jon and Reg. Dwight chased hard and was able to get on my wheel and when I pulled over for him to take a turn, he took the lead and slowed down again, blocking the way and even taking a drink of water while at the front. I got around him and chased again, but now the gap had grown incredibly and Reg and Jon were working together. Dwight chased me down and would not maintain the pace. I tried again a lap later, but the two escapees were permanently gone. I couldn't quite figure out why Dwight was blocking for riders not on his team, but it was obvious he was doing so.

Our little remnant of a pack was down to about 6 after all the attacks and I conceded to just sit in and go for third place. The officials then announced a prime for the pack and Dwight picked up the pace. I was in third spot coming around the final turn and was not about to let him profit from his previous interferences, so I came around him on the uphill stretch and took the prime.
Chasing Jon and Reg,
Dwight behind ready to quash the effort.		 Pack prime win, Dwight second.

So we just dawdled around at about 24 mph, waiting for the 5 to go lap board to come out. When it did, the pace picked up a bit and then with 4 to go the pace really picked up, averaging 26.5 mph, as Dwight put the pressure on with Bill McDorman on his wheel. I had been watching from the back of our 5 man group and had to jump around the other two to not let Dwight and Bill get away and then just sat with them. As we rounded the first corner after 2 to go, I heard the bell sound for the 2 leaders for their final lap, so they were not far behind. Dwight kept the pace pretty brutal for the last 3 laps, the last lap averaging 26.1 mph.
Taking final turn with 3 to go.

As we approached the final turn for the last time, I accelerated around the other two on the outside, hitting 33.7 mph, taking the final turn first and with 5 lengths in hand was able to easily take third.
Finishing lap.

After the race, Dwight came up to me and said he had to help the other riders because they were his friends. I said that I guess I'm not his friend. I certainly was not expecting him to ride more against me than for himself.

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)
8:09 am 11.9 12 55-59
20 Total		 29:11 44, Calm 24.5 33.7 166 182

Results

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