4/2 “Black Line Fever” @ Encino Velodrome – Bob Hansing Memorial Cup #1
There are lots of good photos from the event, Videos, and a write up in a local track blog Ride The Black Line.
Encino Velodrome has been hosting the Bob Hansing Memorial Cup for as long as I have been racing track (2007). This is an omnium type series where they have awards for Best Overall Rider, Endurance Racer, Sprinter, and Most Aggressive. This year it is a 3 race series and Black Line Fever was the first event. The Cat 3/4 field was pretty big and included some really fast Juniors.
Report:
Flying 200m: I have done a 200 few of these over the years, so I know the idea, but have not dialed it in by any means. I kept my standard gear on, a 50-15 and gave it a go. I felt I hit it ok into turn one and kept the speed up around turn 3 and 4, with my head down I saw painted line #1 which I assumed was the front straight pursuit line and then gave a bike throw for line #2 which I thought was the finish line. Ooops they have (3) painted lines at Encino, one before the pursuit, then the pursuit, and finally the finish line. I ended up with a 12.81 which was good enough for 6th,a little slower than I was hoping for, but if I threw my bike at the real finish line I may have gotten close to my PR. (12.42) US National Team Rider Kevin Masnker was out in the California sun getting some training in and pulled off a 11.18 a new Encino record! That was pretty cool to watch.
Race #1 – Match Sprint (4-up riding for 5th place): I drew the short straw and had to lead the riders off the rail. (2) PAA riders were in the group and decided to take the lead from me early and ramp it up slowly in the pole lane for the sprint leading out the guy tucked in second. I ended up at the back of the line and moved along side to box the guy in second in, I waited too long to start the sprint he muscled his way by and got the win for 5th and I ended up 6th with no omnium points…darn bad start to my day.
Race #2 – 40 Lap Points (sprints every 10, points go 5-3-2-1): See the Video above, but here is the summary. Pace was really slow from the start everyone wanting to save it for the 1st sprint (+5 points). The field was big and I hate slow races on the track so I jumped on the inside with 2 laps before the first sprint easily grabbed the 1st sprint (+5 points). I kept rolling and saw that few riders were coming across, I waited and gave encouragement that we had a gap and can take all the other sprints if we work together. The group worked well together, but started to slow as we reached the second sprint…this frustrated me so I hit it hard and early for the second sprint and easily grabbed it. Only one guy was still with me so we worked together and caught on to the back of the main pack (+20 points). In the pack I recovered a bit then went for the 3rd sprint grabbing 2nd I think (+3 points). I knew I was pretty close to having the win locked in, but rode it out for the final sprint and just followed the wheels to grab 3rd (+2 points). Final tally 1st Place! w/ 35 points with second place having like 26 points. I have never lapped the field before so was super pleased with that. Got my redemption after a bad 1st event.
Race #3 - Miss-N-Out (last rider pulled from race every other lap until only 1 remains): See Video above! This race can be really fun or really lame. Lots of tactics means that the fastest guy can get called out super early! I have blown in enough times that I knew with a big field like ours and pulling riders every lap on the small 250m track it would really pay to be at or near the front and NOT boxed in. So I rode it from the front just modulating the throttle to keep everyone over my right shoulder. The key is going just fast enough so everyone is content to let me lead, but not too fast so that I have nothing left at the end. The big field keeps everyone fighting at the back high on the track so they are going a much longer distance than me and while I ride tempo they sprint every single lap. I nailed it this time and was able to make it to the final sprint without too much effort. I thought I saw the last rider hesitate or get gapped a little so I started the sprint early but was edged out by one fast junior! It was a really fun race and the Juniors were really impressive and willing to work while off the front in the points race.
Overall: 2nd Place in Cat 3/4 Omnium and got some Track Cat 2 upgrade points.
Up next ADT this weekend for the LAVRA Cup. Skipping TNR this week but hopefully will get rid of my cold/cough before Saturday.
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