MIDSOUTH MASTER CYCLING CLUB

The criterium course felt pretty tough during our quick warmup.  The route was right near the river and had a steep downhill right after the start before tracking back up the hill.  I think the strong wind was more of a factor than the hills and I don't recall ever really feeling a tail wind anywhere on the course.  The Masters field is strong as expected and people are already jockeying for position at the start line which leads me to believe this is going to be a fast one.

Just before the start the referee decides he can't see enough of my number on the side and makes me repin it which was definitely odd.  Jaro is helping me for a minute before he realizes that his tire is low on air.  He drops back to the wheel pit to top it off.  The pit guy is still pumping air in it when the starter lady says "go" and the riders take off.  I swear I see her looking right at Jaro when she does.  I debate for a fraction of a second to wait to help him catch back on but figure I better stay with the pack.  I recall a criterium in Nashville with the same caliber of riders where I was doing everything I could to hold the wheel in front of me.

I see Jaro back with us before we are even half way through the first lap.  There was a little bumping and maybe even a crash during the first lap as people squeezed in tight to stay out of the wind.  The pace wasn't as fast as I expected but I still don't feel very good.

Jay is working at the front and takes a few fliers off the front but for the most part things stay together.  I am pretty much just holding on in the pack and fight occasionally to close a gap as riders in front of me tire.  Fortunately for me the race was short.  My heart rate seemed high during the whole thing and my calves were cramping off and on.  As we enter the last lap, Ed is on the front pushing the pace.  I am near the back of the pack as we start up the hill for the last time and see Tony Scott with Texas Road House move up the left side of the pack.  I know I should catch his wheel and get to the front to help out Jaro who is looking pretty good in the pack but am unable to. 

The speed ramps up and I drift a little off the back of the pack as we enter the finishing stretch.  I can see Jaro pushing his way up the left side of the pack way in front of me.  He ends up finishing a very solid 4th place.  The rest of us are in the pack or off the back.  Tony Scott wins the race.  Jaro continues his expensive habit of tearing up skinsuits.  His left leg is ripped up from unknown contact with someone or something during the race.

The criterium venue is nice with several bars and restaurants along the finish stretch.  We enjoy a few beers while we watch the others categories race into the evening. 

How did this happen?

Cool start for the road race

Things start off pretty typical with a few breaks attempting to go off the front before being brought in.  I see Jaro in one of them but it doesn't look like it gets organized in time to stay away.  I was near the back at the start and am slowing working my way up through the pack and finally get there as we start the longer hill a few miles from the start line.

We cross the start line on the second lap and Jim Brock with Alabama Masters pushes the pace up the first hill.  I see John McLauchlin with the Max and Bensdorf team go with him.  I quickly jump on his wheel and they drive the pace as we continue to climb.  There are two other riders with us as we start rotating through the front after cresting the peak.  I glance back and see the pack just behind us.  After another pull I realize that I was seeing one of the

We continue working with John pushing the pace the hardest.  I am definitely feeling the effort but I think others in the break are as well.  After a couple of miles we make a turn and I get gapped as we start up a steeper section of hill.  I work hard to get back on but just blow up trying to catch them.  Eventually the pack catches me and I know the rest of the team will now have to start chasing.  I try to recover at the back of the group before moving back to the front to start to reel in the break.

I don't see any other teams working to catch the break.  Jay is on the front with a couple of John's teammates on his wheel.   I trade a couple of pulls with Jay and still see the front break in sight up the road.  As we get on the longer hill before the start / finish, I know I am going to have some problems.  My legs are dead and it seems like

Jason on the front during the road race

Jerry and Charlie working in the road race

After a mile or so, Miro Novak with Alabama Masters pops out of nowhere and starts pushing the pace.  He apparently broke a spoke some time during the second lap and was working to catch back up after a wheel change.  We start rotating again and pretty much do so for the remaining two laps.  Riders come and go in the chase but it is pretty much Jay, Miro and Me working and we finish a hard day together a few minutes off the back.

I think John McLauchlin was able stay away from the early break and finished with two other riders well off the front.  A few others got away as well before the race was complete leaving a bunch sprint for 8th place which Jaro was able to take going away.  It is unfortunate that I wasn't able to help Jaro out during the races this weekend.

The event was fun and definitely provided some challenging early season racing.  For me personally, I put it in the "what ever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" category.      

Jaro taking the bunch sprint in the road race