Race Report for Rocket_City_2006 from JarretK (Jul 31)

Huntsville was a good weekend, though the results could have and should have been a little better. I usually don't finish a race mad (okay, I was a bit angry after TLF but that was for another reason). RC did a good job on the play by play of the RR. He and I worked hard from the start to finish with him being the only one of us smart enough to finish well. Prior to the start, the officials explained all the course details and the key piece of information about both lanes being open for sprinting from about 900 meters out. I missed all that info as I was "occupied".

After we caught the final break on the final lap, I went to the front to keep the pace high to keep the flyers to a minimum. At about 1.5-2 km to go I rolled off into the group to rest for the finish. I was ready for a sprint. I even brought an 11-tooth! So I am sitting about three-fourths of the way back in the group as we cross the 1km to go line. The course took a right turn onto the finishing road which was a 4 lane industrial park with a grass median. As we rounded the corner the official told us the road was ours. I was thinking it was only going to be open in another 400 meters. So that was the race. After we got through the corner the front group was gone and the rest of us had to start motoring. I think that was my first and LAST 900 meter sprint. I got to about 5 bike lengths from the last man in the front group but that was 100 feet from the line. I did get to see RC fighting it out up with the big dogs. RC rides a lot smarter than he looks!

The TT was held later. I finished 3rd. I hate TTs. They hate me. I got 10 bucks or in bicycle terminology: 2 tubes for a LBS. Twenty more finishes like that I can afford my new pair of Sidis!!

The CRIT was another day of what should have been. I felt like garbage and it showed. Our CRIT was 60 minutes (why, God, why) with a field of about 40 guys. After thirty minutes of riding around at the back of the group, the big move of the day went up the road. I, as usual, missed it. On a prime lap the whole field just sat up at the finish line as two guys were up the road a touch and had the prime wrapped. I decided to give it a go so I rolled off the main field and went in pursuit of something. It was not really glory, I think it was more to see Greg's face as he witnessed me actively chasing in a CRIT instead of riding around smiling or checking my heart rate. So, after my move I got with Ryan and we worked together for the next twenty minutes or so. Greg gave us lap times and we eventually brought it from over 30 seconds to about 3 on the last lap. At that point we were near the finish so the front 6 stopped messing around and sprinted it out. I managed 7th. The crowd rejoiced, all but Greg of course. He just lectured. I am so looking forward to joining him in the 3s.