May 3, 2009, Scottsdale Grand Prix Criterium
Scottsdale, AZ 11.4 miles
This was a 30 minute criterium on a 4 corner course, about a half mile around.
The final stretch is short and the stretch leading up to the final turn is narrow with several slight twists.
Plus the final turn had a surface of rounded brick rather than asphalt and theres a small speed bump just after the turn.
The weather was comfortably warm.
I was racing in the 50+ category and the 60+ racers would be mixed with us.
I was quick off the start, getting a gap before the first corner and led the entire lap to get a feel for the course and avoid getting involved in early crashes.
On the next lap, Team RPM tried an escape, but there were a couple of other riders willing to keep them in check.
The pace was pretty good for the majority of the race and the tight corners where a little tense throughout the race.
There were four primes and I kept any eye on any possible escapes and none were attempted after a prime.
Keith Brodhagen was riding strong and would often push the pace between corners 2 and 3 in a bit of an attack during the middle of the race,
so I made sure that he did not slip off the front without me.
About half way through the race, I heard some collision noise behind me in the middle of the stretch between turns 3 and 4.
On the next lap, I saw Steve Cullinan standing by the roadside, the only rider who had beaten me the previous day.
As the race progressed, I still was not comfortable with being able to go full speed through the final turn, even with only 120 psi in my tires.
It was narrow, bumpy, and that speed bump coming out of the turn would always make the tires hop.
It seemed like it would be difficult to pass anyone in that short distance from the final turn.
So my Plan A was to attack coming out of corner 3 and take the lead before the intersection between turns 3 and 4 (where there is a roundabout around a fountain), and keep it until the finish.
The laps were short and I missed the 5 to go, but caught the 4 to go lap.
I was expecting Keith to still be strong, but he was sitting rather far back in the pack and I didn't think this would be good positioning if he kept this into the final lap.
So I started to move up and was keeping track of the laps in my head.
We went through turns 2 and 3 and I said to myself, this is the final time through here before the final sprint.
On the next lap, Bixby attacked before corner 2 on the outside so I jumped on the inside, taking turn 2 in second position.
I attacked coming out of turn 3 and poured it on, taking the best line through the twisting back stretch.
A quick look back and I saw I had a substantial lead before turn 4, so I did not need to risk taking it at full speed.
As I came down the home stretch, I had about 8 lengths and was about to raise my arms in victory, when I noticed the lap board said 1 to go.
Alrighty then, scratch this victory off the list.
After just completing a 400 meter sprint, I doubted I could continue for another 800 and keep a lead to the finish.
I eased up and waited for the pack, dropping back to about eighth.
As we went into the back stretch after turn 3, I felt I could do better and moved up to fourth.
Into the final home stretch I watched the lead contenders in front of me as I struggled to maintain some dignity,
but another rider was able to pass my failing strength and I finished 6th and out of the money.
This was the last AZ race of the season, so I finished up without a single victory in a 50+ race.
I'll have to be much more vigilant in keeping track of the laps in the future;
I'm usually the one telling everyone else how many to go when someone's confused, so I'm surprised that I screwed up so badly.
I was pretty unhappy as I am pretty sure I could have easily won this race without that mistake.
Summary
Start
Time |
Distance
(Miles) |
Starters |
Duration |
Weather
(Deg F, mph) |
Climbing
(Feet) |
Speed avg
(MPH) |
Speed Max
(MPH) |
HR avg
(BPM) |
HR max
(BPM) |
| 8:45 am |
11.7 |
18 |
27:30 |
83, Calm |
0 |
24.9 |
32.9 |
173 |
192 |
Results
Racing page Bike page
