This might be my last criterium of the year if the Oakland Grand Prix isn't rescheduled. But I felt really good about my effort in this race, I exploded in the end, but it doesn't matter since it still counts toward my 10 races to CAT4.
My mom and I arrived early, about 8:40, to the course and registration. My race was at 10:10, with all the extra time I had I was able to properly pin my number and get a very good warm-up on my trainer. By 9:40 I was all done with my warm-up, and I had time to finish a clif bar and a bottle of Propel, and then go to the bathroom. I still had a lot of time so I did a little loop which other people were doing.
After that I met up with Alex Lau and Kasra Shokat and we went to the starting line. My goal was to be in the very front row, and I thought I had blown my chances when the official called Juniors for rollout, but I was still able to get to the front on time.
We were mentored for a bit, and then the race began. The start line advantage was a success, for the next two laps I was in 2nd position behind another Junior. The pace was extremely easy so I took advantage of that to pay attention to the course and be aware of attacks. Surprisingly, for the whole race, there were no breakaways or major attacks.
By 10 mintues I was already in the middle of the pack. I tried my best to not fall back, but the road was just too wide that anyone can come around from the side. For most of the race, I ended up in the back, but on the finish line straight I would try to come around to the front. This was a major waste of energy, and it was due to my poor skills in cornering, which I need to improve.
On the bell lap I tried to open a big gap but that move completely drained my energy, and so I fell to the very back of the pack, finishing second to last (41/42), however, the pack remained close together. I was a little upset with my move, but I was proud of my effort during the whole race, and I was proud to realize that I improved and that my training really paid off.
Awesome write up.
ReplyDelete"For most of the race, I ended up in the back, but on the finish line straight I would try to come around to the front. This was a major waste of energy, and it was due to my poor skills in cornering, which I need to improve."
Good job, I'm sure alot of people could get complacent just making it, but you made a move. Great Japanese proverb; fall seven times, stand up eight.