March 5, 2016, San Tan Criterium 60+
Phoenix, AZ   40 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ

This was a 40 minute criterium on very smooth roads around a bar bell shaped course, 1.15 miles per lap. I had won on this course a couple of time previously, so I was very familiar with it. The weather was beautiful, calm, sunny and just under 70 degrees.

Typically the 50+ and 60+ race occur simultaneously and ride together (the race flyer stated "Race together"). Last year I took the first 2 of the available 4 primes and was hoping to repeat that as well as winning the 60+ category. However, this year they physically separated us and the 6 60+ riders started 30 seconds after the 19 50+ racers. I was a bit disappointed with this arrangement, since there were no real challengers in the 60+ field.

I took the lead at the start at a good race pace to ensure no crashes would occur in front of me and released my front position after the third turn. I was happy to see that the others kept the pace up. Although I could win this race with any tactics, I did not want it to be an embarrassingly slow race that made us look look weak and useless.

When the pace eased up, I went back to the front to bring it up. After two laps, I pulled over and was surprised to see only Greg Barrett with me and the others faltering behind. He asked me if I wanted to work together with him. Since I didn't want to spend the next 35 minutes riding alone, it was pretty much the only choice. We shared turns and kept the pace up at 24 mph average.

The organizers were generous in giving us one of the primes, which I easily took about 17 minutes into the race.

Due to the configuration of the course, we were able to see the 50+ race and eventually the 4 man 60+ group we had left behind. Although we were losing a few seconds each lap on the 50+ race, they were only going to finish about half a lap ahead of us. I was happy to see that our 2 man pace was nearly as fast as the attacking 19 younger racers. The 50+ pack lapped the slower 60+ group with about 4 laps to go. We were about 3/4 of a lap up on the 60+ pack by the finish.

Our pace picked up to 24.9 and 25.5 mph for the last two laps, although I never felt taxed and could have easily picked up the pace at any time. I waited until the final stretch before the final corner to begin my sprint and quickly gapped Greg, only needing 33.5 mph to take the win.

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)
8:36 am 14.8 6 36:54 69, Calm 24.0 33.5

Results

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