Phoenix, AZ — Today starts with my race at 10:30 AM. I got much better sleep last night and my resting HR was reasonable this morning. Heather, Ted and I all drove downtown together for the criterium. We got there early so there was no stress or rushing around like yesterday. I signed in and took my time getting my bike and trainer setup. It was a beautiful blue sky day and there was a slight west wind. It was a little chilly when we first got there, but it was just about right for racing.
I got on the trainer and started doing my warmup routine. At first my legs felt like cement. They typically feel that way as you get into a stage race, but after 10 minutes they started to feel better. I did some pushes and my HR and wattage looked good. My legs were definitely feeling the race efforts. My criterium started fast and I was at the back. It took me a good 5 laps to get into the rhythm of a criterium. My legs weren’t used to the power-levels needed for a crit.
When they started to feel better, I quickly worked my way to the front. I stayed in the top 15 riders for the last two-thirds of the race. We were only racing for 30 minutes so I was expecting the pace to be higher, but it wasn’t too bad up front. I kept my eye on the top-five riders. With 1 lap to go I was in third wheel and I thought I was doing pretty well. But due to the course, all the action takes place on the back stretch and we were swarmed right before the second to last corner. When I watched the mass enter the corner I eased up in case there was a crash and took it easy on the last corner as well. Then I stood up to sprint and made up a few places so I ended up 19th or so.
Since no one right behind me in GC received a time bonus today, I managed to retain 6th place overall. Right before the women’s race they had a short awards ceremony for the Masters 35+ field. Since the prizes when seven deep, I was called up to the podium to stand with the top seven overall. My first awards ceremony at the first race of the year. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come!
Since Ted had to race later in the day, we were able to hang out and watch the women’s race. Trish wisely decided not to race since her cough just got worse and worse. So it was only Laura and Betsy. Heather used Trish’s radio to give Laura and Betsy information during their criterium. Heather wasn’t sure whether what she was saying was useful or not, until after the race Laura recounted that when they announced the $100 prime with 3 laps to go, Heather said on the radio, “Think about whether you want the prime or the win”. Laura went on to say, “You know, I never thought about it that way before!”. They decided to go for the win and Betsy gave an incredible lap and half lead out for Laura, who sprinted from the last corner to the line to win it with a couple bike lengths to spare!
Ted’s criterium looked fast and he looked pretty comfortable tucked into the pack most of the time. The excitement came as there were numerous crashes during his race. One was totally preventable…a rider had crashed pretty hard just after the last corner. The paramedics and a couple motorcycle cops came to his aid. There were a few volunteers that shouted to the pack that they were in the road. But once the pack went by the first time and the injured rider was off the course the cops left their motorcycles on the course. This was coming into the last few laps of the race where racers are typically redlined and not seeing straight. Wouldn’t you know it? One rider plowed right into the back of the first motorcycle, catapulting him through the air! Then the rider that was on his wheel hit him and crashed himself. Not sure what came of that crash, but I think that both riders finally did get up. Fortunately there were only two riders taking that line, or it could have been much worse. Ted managed to stay out of all the crashes and sprint to a mid-pack finish. We were both glad to have finished our first race of the year!