Re: Race Report Thread
Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:17 am
SKCC C-Grade Crit
avg. 40.4kph, 51min
Yesterday was a special sprint points competition, where in C-grade, there were 2 mid race sprints and a finish line sprint where you could earn points. Highest points at the end of the race wins the sprint comp.
The sprints were to be at random times, so I made sure I was up near the front at the start of the race. Sure enough, 5 laps in, the sprint whistle blew and it was on for a sprint lap. The pace picked up and the bunch was strung out quickly. I think a lot of the other sprinters were caught out well back in the pack because I came round the final bend in 3rd wheel, but overshot slightly and had to give it a big kick of acceleration due to losing all my pace. Still managed to take the sprint by about 3 bike lengths and get the first 5 sprint points.
Recovery wasn't too bad afterward and I let about half the bunch roll past me before pulling onto a wheel and recovering for the next 10mins. The pace was consistent, but not driving too hard and I started to work my way back up to the front in anticipation of the next sprint. At the start of lap 15, the whistle blew and I was a bit further back than I would have liked... I moved up the bunch up the back straight, then gave a big kick for the last 50m before the final corner. This gave me plenty of pace through the corner and I came around in 3rd spot, with 3 of us widely spread across the road. I pulled back in onto the wheel of the guy in 2nd to try and get a draft, but closed the gap faster than expected and almost ran into the back of him (well, closer than I like to come anyway)... This meant I had to slow, then pull out and start sprinting again - by which time I stood no chance and came across in 3rd for a single point.
I was then on the front, and everyone just pulled in behind me. I rode tempo for half a lap, then flicked the elbow - no-one came through. I pulled in tight after a turn and flicked the elbow again - still no-one. It was then very negative racing to the finish... I was already cooked and there were a few breakaways trying to get free. Every time I got off the front, I'd pull back into 5th/6th wheel and in no time would be on the front again with no one willing to go past me to chase the breaks. I ended up doing far too much work and probably should have pulled right back to mid-pack....
3 laps to go and everyone got their mojo back as the break really needed to be brought back. The pace went up and I was struggling to close gaps, but still maintained good position. Final lap, I was sitting about 10th place again down the back straight and two guys (from the previous week) pulled the same tactic of a massive, fast, lead out down the back straight. I saw them coming and tried to jump to their wheel as they came past but couldn't close it down (strava had me doing 59kph, so they must have been doing 60-61kph!). This move gained me a few positions and I cornered in 7th, but got pushed out a bit as the guy inside me ran wide. I gave it a good kick, but had already used all my matches. Managed to move up to 5th at the line, but scored no sprint points.
Was happy with the race, but even happier when I found out I won the sprint comp!
Will be looking to improve on my sprint lines next week (i.e. not having to power off in the middle) and might even start from further back in the pack so I can ramp up onto the passing sprint 'train' more easily - as it does seem to be the same tactic from these guys every week!
avg. 40.4kph, 51min
Yesterday was a special sprint points competition, where in C-grade, there were 2 mid race sprints and a finish line sprint where you could earn points. Highest points at the end of the race wins the sprint comp.
The sprints were to be at random times, so I made sure I was up near the front at the start of the race. Sure enough, 5 laps in, the sprint whistle blew and it was on for a sprint lap. The pace picked up and the bunch was strung out quickly. I think a lot of the other sprinters were caught out well back in the pack because I came round the final bend in 3rd wheel, but overshot slightly and had to give it a big kick of acceleration due to losing all my pace. Still managed to take the sprint by about 3 bike lengths and get the first 5 sprint points.
Recovery wasn't too bad afterward and I let about half the bunch roll past me before pulling onto a wheel and recovering for the next 10mins. The pace was consistent, but not driving too hard and I started to work my way back up to the front in anticipation of the next sprint. At the start of lap 15, the whistle blew and I was a bit further back than I would have liked... I moved up the bunch up the back straight, then gave a big kick for the last 50m before the final corner. This gave me plenty of pace through the corner and I came around in 3rd spot, with 3 of us widely spread across the road. I pulled back in onto the wheel of the guy in 2nd to try and get a draft, but closed the gap faster than expected and almost ran into the back of him (well, closer than I like to come anyway)... This meant I had to slow, then pull out and start sprinting again - by which time I stood no chance and came across in 3rd for a single point.
I was then on the front, and everyone just pulled in behind me. I rode tempo for half a lap, then flicked the elbow - no-one came through. I pulled in tight after a turn and flicked the elbow again - still no-one. It was then very negative racing to the finish... I was already cooked and there were a few breakaways trying to get free. Every time I got off the front, I'd pull back into 5th/6th wheel and in no time would be on the front again with no one willing to go past me to chase the breaks. I ended up doing far too much work and probably should have pulled right back to mid-pack....
3 laps to go and everyone got their mojo back as the break really needed to be brought back. The pace went up and I was struggling to close gaps, but still maintained good position. Final lap, I was sitting about 10th place again down the back straight and two guys (from the previous week) pulled the same tactic of a massive, fast, lead out down the back straight. I saw them coming and tried to jump to their wheel as they came past but couldn't close it down (strava had me doing 59kph, so they must have been doing 60-61kph!). This move gained me a few positions and I cornered in 7th, but got pushed out a bit as the guy inside me ran wide. I gave it a good kick, but had already used all my matches. Managed to move up to 5th at the line, but scored no sprint points.
Was happy with the race, but even happier when I found out I won the sprint comp!
Will be looking to improve on my sprint lines next week (i.e. not having to power off in the middle) and might even start from further back in the pack so I can ramp up onto the passing sprint 'train' more easily - as it does seem to be the same tactic from these guys every week!