1.25km circuit, 15 minutes + 2.
Field of 10, 7 adults and 3 juniors.
Temp : 21.1C
Overcast with a 9km/h southerly breeze.
Very rough map of circuit :
It was a strange race. The race started at a fast pace which strung the field out in the first lap. There was a new rider up the front and I'd been help train him during the week so I caught up to him pulled up next to him and told him to drop off the front otherwise he'd be buggered. A millisecond second later the most experienced rider in the group also called out to him to drop back. He'll be in the training rides this week so I'll explain that to with him then.
That fixed up, we got down to racing. Out of the 10 there were 4 of us who were possible winners. One being myself, one got third in front of me last race but it was so close we had the same times, one was a guy who dropped down from C grade, the other was a big guy who looked strong but I'd never seen him ride before. The four of us lead the race until the other two guys dropped off the pace leaving myself and a woman. We circled together for a lap or two but being smaller she was hard to draft. She pushed hard down the home straight and rounded a corner and got
about a 10 metre break and I wasn't too concerned about catching up as I was out of breath. After another half a lap she was about 20-30 metres ahead. 3 laps to go, that was when I had to make a quick decision - use up a lot of energy catching her and hope I recover for a sprint finish or let the guys 20-30 metres behind me catch me and us work together. I opted for the later but unfortunately they weren't in great shape and we slowed for the rest of the race leading to her having an easy victory. I was fortunate because the ex C grader wasn't keen to drop off the front, he lead for the last lap and a half. He was knacked coming off the final back straight and slowed after turning the second last corner. That left it open for myself and the mystery man who took advantage of the other guy slowing and came up the inside and lead into the final corner. Big mistake - I can corner well and cut through the apex of the corner straight on to his wheel, I looked up and saw the finish about 200 metres ahead and thought, "It's a little early but he's slow out of the corner, now's my chance." I sped past quickly, quick look back, and he was slow to respond so I picked up the pace, up a few gears, you now the routine, crossed the line at 49.2km/h in second place. Fastest I'd ever ridden while not in a group or down hill.
The winner was 58 seconds ahead which was exaggerated by the fact these other two guys didn't have any fight left in them once I let them catch me and we didn't really work together. I'm sure with a different group of riders we would have caught her because she was only 40 or 50m ahead when we joined together or maybe I should have taken up the challenge and tried to catch her, who knows. It was only about my 5th of 6th race so I'm still learning.
Going into the race I was confident because I've got my training routine through the week better sorted out. I'm now doing the harder work early to mid week comprising of 2 hard rides, one moderate ride and a little running, Friday is a rest day, Saturday a light ride then Sunday the race.
Overall I was happy with the result but next time if someone makes a break then I'll attempt to catch them and see how I go. Watching others cornering gives me confidence in criteriums because some have no idea. The guy who came 4th even told me mid race he's crap at cornering, I'd already worked that out! I took the guy who came 8th to the circuit on the day before the race to give him cornering lessons but it had rained and the road was wet so that didn't happen.
Megan came in at a respectable 7th 38 seconds behind me. Not bad for a 13 Y O girl against full grow adults. She had a bad start and had trouble getting clipped in and with the fast early pace she was quickly off the lead group. The other juniors were 5th (2 seconds ahead of her) and 10th (two laps down), both boys.
My race stats :
Distance : 12.5km
Time : 23m 52s
The time doesn't seem to add up for a 15 minute + 2 but we crossed the line at 14m 50s so it was more like a 15 minute + 3
Max speed : 49.2km/h
Ave speed : 31.2km/h
Ave HR : 163
Max HR : 187
Yet another enjoyable day at the races.
LATE PS :
Photos to follow. My wife took some photos but she used the old fashion camera with film. She wanted to finish the roll.
The only issue I have is the amount of grip that I may/may not have - don't want to find out the hard way, but am gradually learning.
Dammit. They're partly based out of the Edwardstown Velodrome (just behind the big shopping centre there). In this state, the summer months are devoted to criteriums and track, the winter months to road racing, so you get to go racing all year round.
