RBCC C Grade Crit race report, 12.10.13
Arriving at a warm, windy Heffron park for my first cycling race, I must admit to feeling very nervous.
I have been training with the club for a few months now, so there were some familiar faces glad to see me there to race.
After registering, I rode a couple of laps to warm up, and to see what the wind conditions were like, and to help the butterflies.
So I lined up on the start line with over 20 C graders, checking out the opposition, see who to stick with if any early breaks were to happen. I had some great advice from some guys on this forum, so all that was in my mind was " stay close to front and keep momentum in the corners".
The race begins and I find myself in at 5th wheel, and feeling OK. I expected the pace to be relatively fast for the first few laps, and it certainly was, as we were dropping riders from the first lap. By the third lap we had lost half of the peloton, and I was now in at second wheel, with a defence force rider leading out.
As the race went on, the two defence force riders were taking turns off the front, at a pretty quick pace. I was expecting B grade to come past, but we did not see them for the whole race.
On the second last lap a young rider from NSCC attacked over the back, into the wind, and the two defence force riders went with him. I was in shock and did not expect it, so I chased, and chased while everybody else followed my wheel. I had nothing and thought they had got away, but the three lads in front sat up and we all managed to get back on for the last lap.
So the bell lap, as we past the bell nobody wanted to lead out, me included, so the defence force riders were on the front again, and I sat at third wheel with the NSCC rider behind me. The young NSCC rider attacked again at the same point, although this time I expected it. He attacked hard and started to pull away, what, up comes his hand as he punctured the poor bloke.
So it comes to the sprint, and I am following the defence boys as they are working as a team. As we got closer to the line I thought, "Have a go!" and so I went, way too early and got past by two guys in the last 30 meters, and I gave up and got pipped for third.
So my first crit race I got a forth, and loved every minute of it. Best fun I have had with my pants on!
I have learnt so much, and have more of an idea how to train and prepare for my next race on Saturday.
Thanks for the advice everyone,
Cheers,
Darrin.