Originally Posted by sarals

2014 NCNCA California State Criterium Championships, MW 60-64, Third (podium)

My road season for 2014 is now over. And, I've gone out on a bit of a roll, making the podium in my last three races. Two of them I got because I showed up. This one, I earned. And I missed second by a foot, and first by a bike length.

The crit was held as part of the Red Kite Omnium in an industrial park in Pleasanton. The course was flat, wide, and smooth (except for the botts dots). There was a five MPH quartering crosswind on the straight after the front straight, and a headwind on the back straight. There were four primes. The field was small, twelve riders, 50 - 54, 55 - 59, and 60 - 64 categories. We did a forty minute race (the 60+ men only had to do thirty minutes, whuses). Because the field was so small, staying in on the primes was a must, even though I did not plan to sprint for one of them.

The pace was fairly high over all, averaged 20.4 MPH, and some laps were absolutely amazing, averaging 26 MPH. I saw a max of 29.6 MPH, so I was working pretty hard. My Garmin was totally DEAD when I tried to power it on for the race, so my iPhone (in my back pocket) recorded the race for me (sorry, coach!). It was actually nice not having that display to distract me, and I kept my head up for the whole race.

We rolled off fairly easy, and right away one of the gals went to the front and drilled it. Someone yelled "why so fast?!", but that meant nothing. The pace did ease some on the back straight. There were a few pokes and jabs to test the field (my teammate Heidi did a LOT of attacking, good for her!). I was determined to stay very close to my two rivals in my age category, and I mostly did, too. It became obvious to me as the race unfolded that I was behind tactically at times, missing some opportunities, but I felt that the last few laps were the important ones and I needed more to keep my nose out of the wind than positioning towards the front of the peloton. The bike skills were mostly stellar, everyone holding solid lines through the corners, except with four to go, a woman dove in me in the last turn and ALMOST took me out! The gal behind me told me afterwards that I did great job staying up, she was sure I was going down. At any rate, that little fracas popped me off the back, and because it was a prime lap, I had to work my little behind off to bridge back up. That used up a bunch of matches and as it turned out it numbed my sprint a bit. However, I WAS NOT GOING TO GET DROPPED - PERIOD!

On the last lap, my plan was to have my teammate lead me out, but I couldn't find her! As we turned on to the straight prior to the front straight, the 50+ gals got away, and the remainder of the field, eight of us, started scrambling for position. My two competitors were just ahead of me, in reach, and I turned up the power to all I had and tucked in with them. In the last turn, I pulled up along side Narda, and we started the sprint together. She inched out on me, and held it, and I just didn't have the pop to get past her to the line - and for a moment I thought I was going to! That was exciting!

I earned that third place, and I'm really happy about it. Several women complimented me after it was all over on how well I rode and strong I've become. I have to thank Ex for that! I still lack positioning judgement, but that will come with reps.

What a season. Wow....