February 1, 2014, U of A Crit, 50+
Tucson, AZ 30 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 race was in Tucson, over an hour and a half from home, but started very reasonably in the middle of the afternoon.
The 50+ race was run with the 60+ race for one prize list down to 3 places.
Although there should be no problem placing first in the 60+, I was pretty sure I could beat most, if not all,
of the 50+ racers and the larger number of competitors would give me a chance to earn more Copper Cup points for the year long AZ contest.
If I placed 4th in the 50+ race, I'd get the same points as winning the 60+ race, so a top 3 would earn me more; so I took a gamble to go for more points.
I also decided to alter my tactics a bit.
The previous week, Keith Brodhagen made an attack and I immediately closed in on him.
However we were joined by a couple of other riders and a break formed where I duly participated with even turns at the front.
These efforts eventually pushed me to my limit and Keith was then able to escape when I was at my weakest.
Normally it's considered bad form to not do one's share in a break, but there are circumstances where it's acceptable.
In races where there are teams and the team's best chance for a win is a top sprinter, it is reasonable to send
the non-sprinters out to chase breaks down and it is not expected that they would assist the success of the break that would harm the chances of the team's sprinter.
That team mate would hope that the break away racer would resign himself back to the pack or continue on, knowing that the rider tagging along would be fresher and thwart his chance of a win anyway.
So why can't I be my own team mate and thwart a break away attempt and not assist it's success that would be to my detriment?
If we abort the break and return to the pack, it is more to my advantage as I am an excellent pack sprinter.
This is a race, not a contest of who's strongest; that's what time trials are for where each rider can show his individual strength devoid of tactics.
Another situation is where two riders have escaped and have a large time gap on the pack just prior to the finish.
At this point it is often witnessed that the riders will play cat and mouse, with one rider often sitting behind another and unwilling to take a turn at the front, similar to track sprinters in a track match sprint.
In this situation it would not be expected that each rider take equal turns at the front and the faster and more tactical rider will usually win out.
So why can't I just treat any break that I'm in as if it's one long sprint, as that is what is to my advantage.
It is more a disadvantage to the other rider to forfeit at least a second place by dropping back into the bunch, where I can often excel in a bunch sprint.
So the problem with doing this is that it's me against all of them.
If they are strong and aggressive, I better hope I can last the attacks.
If there are many strong and attacking riders, along with team mates that assist their escape, then it's a tough task.
So it would be a gamble to see if I have the energy to survive the attacks.
When we got to the race, it was cool (55 degrees) and very windy, so I wore extra layers top and bottom.
The 40+ race had just started and the winds had caused the large pack to break up into many small groups.
The breaks happened very early in the race, so I wanted to be on top of all the early action in our race.
At the start we had 23 in the 50+ and another 6 in the 60+ all starting together and racing for the same top 3 prizes.
I was on the front line, 3rd from the right and had an excellent start, slotting into second going around the first corner behind Peter Brown of GST.
The back stretch was almost a direct headwind, with a slight cross from the left, meaning that we'd be scrambling for space right next to the curb as the lead rider kept to the outside.
I kept in the draft of the lead rider until just before turn 4, where I didn't mind coming to the front in the tailwind and taking a short, easy pull.
Lined up at the start. I'm dressed in all black.
Peter Brown leads the start with an attack.
At the front at the end of lap 1.
Pulling over to keep my turn short.
Slotting right back in at the front, end of lap 1.
The next rider took off and I immediately got on his wheel and when he pulled over in the back stretch, I also pulled over and the pace slowed, but he continued to lead.
As we hit the front stretch, another attack and I did 30.8 mph to close it down.
A few other riders were right behind me and we had a bit of a gap, but without my pulling, all the others were content to also just sit on my wheel.
So my tactics were working so far and we had a couple of non-attacking laps, but there were many strong riders and also team alliances.
Lap 2, chasing another strong attack.
Lap 3, attacks contained, forced to the front, taking it easy.
With a lull at the end of Lap 3, I can take a lap reading on my computer.
Lap 5, Attack on the back stretch.
In pursuit.
Peter Brown on the GST racing team took off very strongly and Keith Brodhagen was near the front and all to happy to soft pedal at the front when it came his turn.
I had to hit 31 mph to chase him down and we all grouped together again.
Lap 10 averaged a speedy 25.8 and I had to do 31.1 mph to close a gap and I could feel the pressure taking it's toll.
Occasionally I'd feel rain drops on my face and hoped that it would not start making the course slick in the turns.
Lap 8, Mark Fosenburg preparing to attack
with Peter Brown on his wheel.
Lap 8, chasing after
Keith Brodhagen who is chasing others.
Lap 9, Keith leading down the back stretch,
followed by Brown, Brodhagen, Space.
After Keith pulled over, Peter picked up the pace at turn 3.
Lap 9, Turn 4, watching Brown and Brodhagen, but wearing out.
My breathing became labored again and I found I no longer had the snap to chase all the attacks.
So there were too many strong riders and too strong a wind to use this tactic effectively with the endurance that I had.
A couple laps later, Mark Fosenburg made a jump down the back stretch and got off the front, with nobody giving it a counter.
He quickly shot up to about a 20 second lead and I hoped that there was too much time still in the race for him to survive out there alone.
As we came to about 6 laps to go were were starting to reel him in, then Peter Brown shot down the back stretch and his team mate Keith made sure that nobody would chase him down.
I was still just hanging in, hoping to recover enough for a final sprint.
A lap later Peter joined Mark and now the two of them were able to work together.
With 4 laps to go, they only had 17 seconds on us, still within catching range.
I tried to stay somewhat near the front, but Keith was up there making sure that Peter would stay away and the gap continued to grow.
With 2 to go, there was too big a gap to be able to catch the escaped riders and we were left to scramble for third, the final place with any prizes.
I was behind Steve Cullinan who was behind Keith, but I felt this might be a bit too far back, so just before one to go I squeezed up the inside between turns 3 and 4 to have Keith drop in front of me.
Lap 12, Mark Fosenburg within our sites.
Lap 12, Peter Brown (left in red) going after Mark.
Lap 16, Keith not letting anyone successfully chase down his team mate.
Soon after we came down the finish stretch for one to go, Dan Redivo took off for a late escape attempt.
Keith gave chase and I was immediately on his wheel, which should put me in a great place for the sprint.
However, Keith was a bit too successful and we closed in on the attacking rider at the first corner, which meant that Keith would not be doing a hard lead out effort down the back stretch into the headwind.
So everyone was content for Keith to take us for the final time down the back stretch and I was on Keith's wheel, looking over my shoulder to see if anyone was going to try a late escape attempt by any of the other 12 riders in what was left of the pack.
1 lap to go, Dan Redivo
(Landis, green and white) surges and
Keith accelerates with me on his wheel.
I jump to stay with Keith. Cullinan (Core) on
far left, Brian Lemke (Landis)
following my wheel.
On Keith's wheel with one to go.
Keith catching Dan after turn 1.
Keith taking the lead through turn 2.
To get the final place, I didn't want to be third around the final corner, although there's 190 meters from the last turn to the finish line.
I assumed Cullinan was on my wheel as we anticipated the final sprint.
Although I had been tuckered out for the last half of the race, I was hoping I could still get a great jump to gap everyone.
To avoid a complication by someone else,
I attacked before the third turn, which was about 350 meters to go to the finish, a long sprint, but with 2 corners in it.
Turn 3 is a bit tight, so I had to coast just a little bit.
I glanced over my shoulder somewhat and noticed I didn't have the gap I needed and only hit 30.4 mph with Keith breathing down my neck.
I knew if I wanted any chance to win this sprint I'd have to pedal through the last turn, but it was a cobblestone pattern and I didn't want to take the chance of taking myself down.
So that short coast was exactly what Keith needed to sling off my wheel to beat me to the line as I could never get up to full speed, with Steve Cullinan making a quick advance to get by me, leaving me with a fifth place.
My jump for the sprint before turn 3.
Cullinan sitting in 6th.
After turn 3 with not a large enough gap on Keith.
Halfway to turn 4 and Keith is catching up.
First around the final turn, but faltering.
Keith easily passing me 30 m
before the line, Steve (black)
moving fast.
Keith taking the bunch sprint for third with
Steve nearly catching him.
So I used too many matches too early in the race.
The expected early breaks did not materialize, most likely due to my keeping everything contained.
However, if I just sat back and tried to pick the most likely successful break, I could have picked wrong and been left with even more riders out ahead of me.
At least I didn't just sit back and watch the race walk away from me while I had the ability to do something about it.
In the end I did not have the snap or speed that I usually do to take the final prizes available, so I'll need to be more judicious in my energy in the future.
Mark Fosenburg is an excellent sprinter and was able to take the win from Peter Brown.
My gamble for Copper Cup points didn't pan out either, as my fifth place gave me 9 points in the 23 rider field of 50+ and
I was ahead of all the 60+ riders where being registered in that race would have given me 10 points for the win.
Summary
Start
Time |
Distance
(Miles) |
Starters |
Duration |
Weather
(Deg F, mph) |
Speed avg
(MPH) |
Speed Max
(MPH) |
| 2:17 pm |
11.5 |
23 |
29:00 |
55, 12 NW |
23.8 |
31.1 |
Results
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