Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - First Match Sprint Tournament

Yesterday, Hermes and I did our first match sprint tournament at the Hellyer Velodrome in San Jose, CA. We figured we should put the skills that we learned at the Kenny Williams track camp a couple weeks ago to the test! There were 23 racers, including 3 women (counting me) and 2 juniors. We started out by each of us doing a flying 200 meter time trial. Based on our 200 meter times, we were placed into 4 groups of 6. Some of these guys were really fast!! The fastest 200 m time was 11.26 seconds – smokin’! Hermes was with the guys in the 3rd group and I was in the 4th group with the other women and the juniors. Then we did several match sprints; some were "two-up" (two sprinters); some "three-up" (three sprinters). We start at the rail, roll off and then do two laps. The first lap is generally cat-and-mouse, each person watching the other to see who is going to make the first move. Once that happens it is a sprint to the finish. It was fun racing with my Webcor team mate because we are both competitive and are so evenly matched in the sprint events. I won one of the three match sprints and my team mate took the other two. The match sprint is an event at the state and national championships, so this was a rare opportunity to practice (most of the seasonal racing at the track is mass start events). But most importantly, it was a blast! The weather was gorgeous - just like summer - must have been close to eighty degrees 'tho we had some wind to contend with.
Here are some photos.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/velodiva/MEA3uprail.jpg

Ladies starting at the rail: Roaring Mouse, Webcor teammate, Velodiva

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/velodiva/MEAfinish.jpg

Sprint to victory (photo courtesy of Jan Snyder, JP Images)

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/velodiva/MEAtrack.jpg

Velodiva on the track - the photographer embedded that title - not me!!! (photo courtesy of Jan Snyder, JP Images)

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/velodiva/RFArail.jpg

Hermes at the rail in #1 position

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/velodiva/RFAstart.jpg

Hermes leading out

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/velodiva/RFAtrack.jpg

Hermes at the track

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/velodiva/RFAfinish.jpg

Hermes sprinting

very cool!

Did you race in the sprint at State and National Championships last season?

Look at the "Sprint Tactics" presentations on the Fixed Gear Fever website if you haven't already.
http://www.fixedgearfever.com/modules.php?name=Coaching

It explains some sprint tactics. Good for your next sprint tournament.

I was down there on sunday just watching. I've done a few of the beginner sessions on saturday's and I just wanted to get a feel for how fast some folks were....I'm nowhere near 11.26. It was impressive how many people were in the low 12's.

Did you race in the sprint at State and National Championships last season?

Look at the "Sprint Tactics" presentations on the Fixed Gear Fever website if you haven't already.
http://www.fixedgearfever.com/modules.php?name=Coaching

It explains some sprint tactics. Good for your next sprint tournament.

Thanks for the information! I'll definitely review the presentations. No, I did not compete in the sprint at State or Nationals. This was my first match sprint event. I did Nationals last year but only did the 500 meter TT and 2K pursuit (I won the 2K in my age group). My first time on the track was only two weeks before Nationals, so I stuck to the individual events. I look forward to State and Natz this year. I already have my team pursuit team lined up too.

I was down there on sunday just watching. I've done a few of the beginner sessions on saturday's and I just wanted to get a feel for how fast some folks were....I'm nowhere near 11.26. It was impressive how many people were in the low 12's.

Next time come out and play. Yes, some of those guys are amazing fast, but as you saw, there were people of all levels.

I was standing at the rail during some match sprints in CO and it was interesting watching the women race. The first lap, they'd fly by just yaking with each other, then the bell would ring and all yaking stopped. This is why my wife, who HATES all competitive sports, loves to watch track racing. The atmosphere is so different. BTW it has nothing to do with the very fit guys wearing tights. LOL

How much of a run-up did the racers have for the flying 200's? 1 lap? 2?