June 16, 2013, Bike the Bluff Criterium
Show Low AZ   30 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
Many thanks to Austin Lossing for the photography.
(Images can be clicked on for a larger version)

There was a criterium in Show Low AZ, about a 3:10 drive. With that commitment ahead, I was concerned that my left calf felt like cramping up the instant I got into the car. I decided to carry on and gave both calves some massaging during the early part of the drive. My nephew Austin came along to view the scenery and the race which made the drive go quickly, having him there for conversation. I arrived about 8:00 am as the race was scheduled for 8:30, but it had been moved to 8:50. This was the 2nd stage of an Omnium, but I can't fair well in the 62 mile hilly road race which was held on the previous day. There were ten competitors in our class, plus some 65+ riders that joined us, but racing in their own category. There would be two prime sprints during the race. My warmup consisted of riding from turn 1 where we parked and around the course to the start line; a total of 2 minutes.

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, and we had about a 10 mph tailwind down the final stretch.

I was only concerned about 2 riders: David Bixby, who had won the previous stage and Dwight Nelson; they would be the ones to watch for break away attempts. I was fairly certain they did not have the acceleration or sprint to make it too difficult for me. I would just need to keep them in check and not allow anyone else to sleepily wander away off the front.

The race started very gently for the first few laps. Dwight tried an attack and I was quickly on his wheel and he soon subsided his effort. At the end of lap 4, they announced the first prime. A team mate of David's had just tried a solo effort with David giving pause at the front, so I needed to bring the group back up to him. Dwight took the lead on the back stretch, followed by David and then myself. Just before turn 4, I passed David and then passed Dwight on the inside to easily take the prime, hitting 34.6 mph and just watching him without having to put in a full effort. We immediately eased up and I was able to sit in the middle of the pack for the next several laps.

 
End of lap 4, chasing down lone rider (out of photo).
 
 
Taking the first prime.
 
All grouped together, taking it easy.
 
Then Dwight got a flat and at a fortunate time, right after turn 4 and approaching the wheel pit just 100m ahead. Unfortunately, he had brought a spare set of wheels, but did not put them in the pit which would have allowed him to rejoin us a lap later, so we got to see him walking back to his parked car on the subsequent lap instead.

Lap 10 was the announcement of another prime, just as I was again reeling in a slow, solo effort. I was able to drop back onto David's wheel on the back stretch and then pass him easily just before turn 4 to take the prime, only needing 31.5 mph to do so.

 
End of lap 10, chasing down lone rider.
 
 
End of lap 10, David on my wheel.
 
 
Maneuvering David to the front.
 
 
Taking the second prime.
I was able to sit back and watch, knowing that David would be the only one likely to try something and that I could easily keep him on a leash. With a few laps to go, he did try a jump, but it was easily contained and he soon gave in. Just before two to go, another rider gave a try to escape and I kept quickly to his wheel, with David watching me. Then just before turn 2 approaching one to go, a stronger solo attack which David chased down, with me keeping close attendance, hitting 30.7 mph in the process.

 
Coming up to 2 to go.
 
 
2 to go.
 
 
An attack approaching one to go, David chasing with me on his wheel.
 
 
One lap to go.
By turn 1 of the last lap we were all bunched together again. I was following David and even let Duane get up onto his wheel after turn 2, slipping my gear into a 50x15. The back stretch was into a headwind and I stayed in the group until just before turn 3, then leapt around them all to take turn 3 at full speed, hitting 35.1 mph on the back stretch and putting a 6 length gap between us. I slowed to about 28 mph for the turn, just to be safe since there was some straw on the road from the bales and I had plenty enough of a lead. As I looked back, I saw David behind and picked it up to 32 mph just to ensure he couldn't catch me and I took the win.

 
6 length lead coming into turn 4.
 
 
After exiting turn 4.
 
Checking status behind.
 
 
Off to the line.
 
Video of sprint (30 MB MPG)

Final lap stats:

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)
8:52 am 11.8 10 29:04 87, S@10 24.4 35.1 164 187

Results    

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