Clear Lake 2010

Crit-Saturday was a great day for racing a bike.  A slightly different course layout in Clear Lake added a couple turns making it a fairly technical loop, along with a section of fresh smooth blacktop.  A bit smaller that average field turned out for the Cat 4 race, but small numbers doesn't translate to easier racing.  The pace was quick but manageable at the beginning as everyone kind of got into the groove a bit.  I stuck it out smack dab in the middle for a bit just waiting to see what would play out.  Nothing much was happening, so I moved up and thought I'd take a pull or two on the front and pick up the pace some, hoping that in doing so, maybe a couple weaker riders might fall out the back.  That really didn't work out according to plan, no one really wanted to pull through to keep the pace high, nor did anyone drop.  A couple breaks formed now and again but none got more than a few seconds off before the pack roared and swallowed them back up.  As the lap counter dwindled down, I tried to concentrate on staying near the front in case anyone thought they'd ride away with something.  With three laps to go, I sensed some folks getting tired or needing a rest so after the little incline (that added up lap after lap) in the middle of the course, I put in a bit of an acceleration in the one block stretch with what little tailwind we had.  Rolling through the s/f it was strung out single file behind me into the wind so I didn't stay on the gas long.  About that time, two Colorbiotics riders and a guy in a green kit were leading and I settled in behind them.  I knew Eric and Ben were very close behind me and we were quickly running out of race course to make anything happen.  The last half lap, I was in all out chase mode just to keep contact with the three ahead.  At that point the finish was fairly anti-climatic, but looking back I saw two teammates right there, so I was super stoked we all had great finishes.  Turned out 4th, 5th, and 7th.  My data showed avg heart rate at 180, and avg speed of 24.0 for almost 18 miles in 44 minutes. 
 
RR-The legendary Surf Ballroom was the staging and start location for the 41 mile course throughout Cerro Gordo and Hancock rural county roads.  The weather started out overcast and drizzly but by the end of the ride had cleared up some and started becoming humid.  A nice long neutral roll out through town and along the lake shore felt nice on the legs getting everything good and loose.  The pace in the beginning mirrored that of Saturday, quick but manageable.  I floated all around in just about every position front to back the first few race miles.  Did some pace making, did some wheel sucking.  Every now and again the pace would ramp up for a bit before leveling off again.  It is always best to be towards the front at that point, if you are in the back you chase harder with every acceleration, and if someone ahead of you doesn't react quickly enough it can bob you off before you have the chance to remain in the draft.  About halfway through, there was one move that was dangerous enough to get a rise out of me.  Two riders got out the front and got maybe 20-30 seconds up the road.  I was midpack and comfortable letting them hang out there a bit before chasing them down.  IN a few minutes time when those two had their biggest lead, two more got out and was working on bridging up.  I started to get nervous as the Colorbiotics guy from the day before was maybe third wheel getting drug along.  Nervousness set in all around more and more and the charge was on.  The bridge came back very quickly and shortly thereafter so did the original break but immediately the Colorbiotics guy countered.  I chose to go with him right away, (in the back of my head I was trying to keep an eye on him as he showed he was pretty strong on Saturday) and along with me went Rick Noyes from Rasmussens.  We each rotated a time or two when the pack caught on to us.  At that point we were approximately 2/3 through the race, and became apparent that it would be a full field sprint at the finish, as nobody was interested in letting anything go.  I rolled around and found Ben and Eric.  Both said they were feeling pretty good.  Ben was tucked in top 5ish and Eric was near the back.  This being the third time we've raced this course there is a right turn going into about 2 miles straight, then another right turn that straightens out for 3ish miles leading to the finish.  Eric and I agreed at the back that we would move up after the first turn and then all 3 of us get lined up after the final turn.  Worked out perfectly as we wanted it to and with about 2.5 miles to go, the orange and blue pain train was in full force at the front.  We had a picture perfect situation at hand.  I was on front pulling just shy of my threshold, when we passed the last, very animated corner marshall letting us know at the top of his lungs "1 mile to go boys! Wind 'er up if you're gonna!" all while flailing his arms and legs.  I found an orange road sign I estimated to be about 1/2 mile from the finish where I planned to lay it all out at the front of the train when suddenly I hear Ben yell "right side".  I was just inside of the yellow line allowing about enough room for two behind me in the cross wind draft, so I tried to move over to tag onto him but couldn't.  At that point, it was literally chaos.  A small handful of riders all shot around me to make for a really long sprint, including both Eric and Ben and I went hoarse screaming "GO!" to them.  Then suddenly behind me I start hearing the sounds of a crash.  I didn't look back going full throttle but it did not sound good.  Eric rolled through in 2nd, Ben right behind in 4th and I think I was one of the last riders in contention to finish in 8th.  Cooled off down the road before spinning back to crash site.  3 riders still on the the road, one of which not moving.  Roadside reports say he was airborne, inverted and ended up landing on head/shoulder.  At the podiums, the race organizer said when the left the scene in the ambulance he was responsive and was assured by EMT's that he would be o.k.  Have heard since that he got out of the hospital Monday morning and headed home to Minnesota promising to be back next year.  Even though you aren't involved in the crash, it still kinda shakes your foundation a bit when it's that "close to home" so to speak.   My final numbers show avg heart rate at 140, maxed at 185, avg speed of 22.4.