Casey Auto Group Criterium, Todd Stadium, Newport News, VA

April 23

I did two races- the Cat 1/2/3 and the Cat 3 (in that order).

Cat 1/2/3 race
I said I was going to sit in. I always say I'm going to sit in. I had one teammate who was unsure of his fitness level, so we agreed to race our own races and see what happened. In the first part of the race, a breakaway with one of the dominant teams got away (eventually lapping the field), and all early efforts to bring it back were futile. I did, however, help chase a few smaller chase groups down. We had 60 half-mile laps to do, and I lasted for 45 of them before deciding to save some energy for the Cat 3 race. I dropped out, chilled out with Brian M. and had some food and drink before the...

...Cat 3 race
First few laps were fast. Too fast, if you ask me. I felt horrible, but managed to sit in long enough for the legs to warm back up. We were doing 40 laps, and I was the only rider from my team in the race, so again, I was working for myself. A breakaway got away about lap 10, and many chase groups tried to reel them in. Again, the dominant team from the 1/2/3 race was controlling everything, and because of it, the pace was variable. Fast, slow, faster, slow, moderate, really fast, really slow... you get the idea. This took a serious toll on my legs, as did the many accelerations and my attempts to chase down the chase groups that formed every other lap or so. I did my share of work considering my situation, and probably did too much. In the last 5 laps, when the pace was picking up, I just couldn't turn the gear fast enough to make up any ground. I sprinted to stay in the group, but was nowhere near the front when the finish line arrived.

All in all, I'm happy with the day. I felt a lot better in the 1/2/3 race than I did in the 3, and probably could have placed better if I'd stayed in (but wouldn't have had anything left for the later race...) It proves that my form is there, and that I'm still capable of staying in a fast group...

Smithfield TT, 16.5 miles, Cat 3

Saturday April 8

Rolling course, lots of turns (including one blind hairpin into a short, steep climb), and a lot of open farmland. Wind was coming from all directions...

I rode my newly configured Orbea TT bike, which is basically my normal road position with cowhorns and aerobars mounted. I have STI shifters on the cowhorns (which actually helped on this particular course, as I was able to stand and shift around the blind hairpin).

I started out a little harder (174bpm) than I would normally, being that it was 8 miles shorter than our normal TTs are. I got into a rhythm on the first section, and took the first turn pretty fast. I felt pretty good until a junior with junior gearing passed me. Turns out he's trying to qualify for Junior Worlds, and is a supa-fast dude from NJ. It wasn't until the backside of the course that I turned into a false flat through some farmland that the effort started to take its toll. I was pushing 181bpm and going about 16.5mph. Not fun at all... But once the next turn came about 2 miles later, I started to get the HR back down and the speed back up. I finished with a time of 43:30, averaging 22.5. Not my best TT, but certainly not my worst, either. I think I beat two people for 15th. Still got one BAR point out of it, though! Looking at the results, I would have been 22nd in the Cat 5s. Now that's depressing.

Norfolk Waterside Crit, Cat 3

Sunday April 9

50 degrees- cold, hellishly windy. Wind chill down in the high-30s/low 40s. Got to the race early, good warmup. I was relaxed going into the race. On the start line, I lined up in front. I was solo, with no teammates, and decided to ride for myself, and just sit in. However, I went through the first 180 degree turn first, because it's been known to be an early-race tough spot with all the nerves. I pedalled around the turn, stood up and got going again. I looked back, and I'd gotten almost 50m on the group. At this point I'm debating what to do, so I kept pedalling at a decent clip thinking the group will pick up a bit. Again, being where I am and not wanting to get caught in a turn, I dive into the next turn (a chicane with cobblestone pavers) first. The wind coming through the buildings is horrendous, probably 25-30mph headwind. I still have 25m going into the second-to-last turn, so I back off even further. Still a 25m gap, and I'm going less than 18mph into the last turn, waiting for the overtaking. It comes right as we begin the final stretch of the first lap, and an attack goes immediately. I am forced to wait for the last rider to pass, and I get back on, struggling a little after that initial effort.

I stay on the back until we get back into the 180 for the second time. The wind coming through is again 25-30mph, and I push hard to stay where I am on the back. As we round the turn, though, and the pace picks up with the exit, I get dropped. Dropped haaaard. I struggle to maintain some semblance of contact with the group, and cannot. I time trial for 2 more laps and realise I'm about 1/4 lap down in a race with two hellish sections of stiff headwinds. I will get pulled if I stay out and am close to getting lapped, so I pull out after 4 laps.

STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!! No teammates, and I pull that shit. What was I thinking? I felt good, and look where it got me. 2 weeks ago I felt awful for 15 laps, and then moved up with 5 to go.

I've learned my lessons. #1- no teammates, don't work! #2- just 'cuz you feel good at the beginning doesn't mean you can solo to victory on the first lap...