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03-23-05, 05:53 PM
I thought for those of you that are going to do this criterium Sunday I will send a little commentary about the race your way.
I like 8 miles from the course, straight down from my house in West Riverside. I decided to go for the homefield advantage and go ride the course today... today was a nasty day for a run...
Ontario Grand Prix, long course 1.22 actual miles. Seven corner slightly technical course "relativly" flat course with nice corners on ok pavement. Here is a breakdown of the race...
Start is on top of a little crest of businessway, after the start it goes counterclockwise. The first corner is wide and flat. As soon as you hit the first corner there is a slight grade with a crest about 100 feet in then a nice fast downgrade (slight) into the second corner. The second corner is very wide and should be fast onto a wide main road. The pack should remain fast down a small straight away that is flat into the fourth corner which is a left turn. The road leads directly to a upgrade which should slow the pack and into a sharp right. The right (4th corner is nasty) because anyone on the inside has to contend with two nasty man holes that will cause you to crash if you hit them. After the corner a nice flat straight is perfect to recover into the next corner which is a left. Follows are 3 technical corners (5, 6 and 7 which is a u turn formation with a little straight section then a fast left onto the main road. The final stretch is slightly uphill but fast, will be easy to sprint hard to the crest where the start finish is.
The last little technical peice and the uphill after the 3th turn can be nasty if there is any wind at all. It is a tunnel effect in the buildings and wind will be nasty and will slow the pack down. I rode the course 8 laps, 38 minutes, 4 minute laps, 9.8 miles total, about 20.6 MPH at LT, pushing the 30 MPH crosswind. Overall the course looks good and it should be a good race. This race getting in the front is important but the corners should keep the speeds slightly down. I would estimate a 3.2 or so minute lap.
For all those that are racing good luck! :D
I like 8 miles from the course, straight down from my house in West Riverside. I decided to go for the homefield advantage and go ride the course today... today was a nasty day for a run...
Ontario Grand Prix, long course 1.22 actual miles. Seven corner slightly technical course "relativly" flat course with nice corners on ok pavement. Here is a breakdown of the race...
Start is on top of a little crest of businessway, after the start it goes counterclockwise. The first corner is wide and flat. As soon as you hit the first corner there is a slight grade with a crest about 100 feet in then a nice fast downgrade (slight) into the second corner. The second corner is very wide and should be fast onto a wide main road. The pack should remain fast down a small straight away that is flat into the fourth corner which is a left turn. The road leads directly to a upgrade which should slow the pack and into a sharp right. The right (4th corner is nasty) because anyone on the inside has to contend with two nasty man holes that will cause you to crash if you hit them. After the corner a nice flat straight is perfect to recover into the next corner which is a left. Follows are 3 technical corners (5, 6 and 7 which is a u turn formation with a little straight section then a fast left onto the main road. The final stretch is slightly uphill but fast, will be easy to sprint hard to the crest where the start finish is.
The last little technical peice and the uphill after the 3th turn can be nasty if there is any wind at all. It is a tunnel effect in the buildings and wind will be nasty and will slow the pack down. I rode the course 8 laps, 38 minutes, 4 minute laps, 9.8 miles total, about 20.6 MPH at LT, pushing the 30 MPH crosswind. Overall the course looks good and it should be a good race. This race getting in the front is important but the corners should keep the speeds slightly down. I would estimate a 3.2 or so minute lap.
For all those that are racing good luck! :D