February 7, 2016, Sun Devil Criterium, Category Masters 55+
Tempe, AZ   30 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ

This was a flat, 30 minute criterium on very smooth roads. The course was a clockwise 0.6 mile, somewhat triangular shaped course with 3 ninety degree turns, the last one 130 meters from the finish. The first corner was a little bumpy from gutters and required off loading weight from the saddle to safely navigate. The second corner had a tight exit, precluding taking it at full speed. The last corner had developed (since last year) a major bump in the middle of the road at the beginning of the turn, and opened up wide and could be pedaled through. The weather was just a little cool in clear and calm conditions, so I wore leg warmers and full length sleeves with three layers on the torso.

Our 22 member race would be riding the race with 4 65+ racers which would be scored separately. Starting a few seconds behind us, on the course at the same time, would be the 35+ and 45+ Cat 4/5 race with a pack of 11 and 13 riders in those categories. So 50 riders on the course at the same time in 4 different races in 2 different groups which were not allowed to mix.

Our race would be very competitive, with AZ riders Mark Fosenburg, Steve Cullinan, Keith Brodhagen and David Bixby and WA rider Joe Baratto being the guys to watch for top placings. Fosenburg and Brodhagen are strong attackers as well as sprinters. Cullinan had been sprinting very well this year. Baratto is an excellent track racer from WA who placed second the previous day at McDowell in the 50+ race (behind an Oklahoma rider, age 54). With these strong riders in the mix, this would not be the leisurely race of last year.

I had a good start and stayed in the top 3 for the first lap, which went at an easy 22.4 mph. Right at the line, Fosenburg decided to turn up the heat and soloed off the front, which animated the pack, with a second lap speed of 25.7. We brought him back in, but the pack kept some good momentum over the next lap at 24.5 mph. The officials rang the bell for the first prime lap and Fosenburg took off again, this time with me right on his wheel. We had a little gap and just before the first corner he pulled over for me to take a turn, which was a little tricky to set up with the sharp corner coming up. He led through the turn into the chicanes and then started lamenting that I wasn't taking a turn, like I was Superman unwilling to use my super powers, but there really wasn't room to get around him and I didn't feel like Superman either. After finding room after the chicanes I took a turn at the front, but then nobody would take the lead from me. I just kept a somewhat easy pace (lap average only 23.3) and led all the way through the last corner. Being in good position, I jumped to try to take the prime, but wasn't fast enough and Fosenburg pipped me at the line for the 2 tires on offer.

The pack really started to move, with the next lap averaging 28.1 and the effort took it's toll on me. They announced another prime and I stayed on Fosenburg's wheel for the entire lap, but he did not contest the prime and Bixby was able to jump on the inside and take it.

Fortunately the next several laps were at a more manageable speed, but definitely not slow. It seemed they were offering primes every other lap, but I felt like I was struggling just to keep my position in the pack and didn't have anything to spare for prime sprints. With 6 laps to go out of our eventual 21, my pre-race nutrition started to come back up, which made the struggle even harder. With 3 laps to go, we caught the 35/45 pack and went by them on the inside just past the chicanes on the back stretch. However, we were now encountering lapped riders from both packs all over the course, making the corners a bit more complicated to navigate safely.

I decided to use Fosenburg as my lead out, hoping he still had plenty of energy and that his accelarations would be smooth. As we got the one to go lap board, the pace eased up and we were surrounded on both sides, putting us much farther back than I thought optimal. But the technical nature of the course did not provide an easy solution to quickly adjust position, so I'd have to hope that Fosenburg would find the magical path.

I was in about 8th place going through the far, third corner and knew that this was not going to be able to provide a win. Fosenburg moved up nicely on that final stretch before the last corner, putting himself in 3rd around the last corner and myself on his wheel. However he hit the bump in that final corner just right and his rear wheel went airborn, giving me a bit of fear. I should have just dived to the inside, but instead hesitated to make sure I would get through it safely. Since it's a short trip from the final corner to the line, there was not enough distance to make up any ground, so I took 4th overall and the last of the prize money.
Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)
8:28 am 12.7 22 30:14 58, Calm 25.2 32.3

Results    

Racing page     Bike page