Back On The Boards

6/26 USCF Upgrade Race @ ADT
RACE #1 – 20 Lap Scratch: The race started out pretty smooth riders just taking ½ lap pulls at decent tempo. I few riders attacked including myself, but no one was 100% committed. Everyone was too busy eyeing each other to figure who was who. With a few laps to go it really slowed, with 1.5 laps to go it was down to a snail’s pace. I was up top towards the rail and decided to jump over the top of the group...I knew the track at ADT is shorter than SD so you have to make your move sooner, but I went a little too early. I faded in turn 4 and hung on for 4th place (2 omnium points).

Photo By Pat Benson

RACE #2 – 32 Lap Points (sprints every 8): Again we started off smooth and riders we willing to rotate evenly but the pulls got shorter as we got closer to the first sprint. I was a little too far back for the first sprint and as expected EVERYONE went hard to grab points early. Not being in the ideal spot I decided not to go all out here but managed to grab 4th (1 point). I kept my momentum and rolled on through adding some pace as I hit the pole lane while some of the other riders were gassed from their sprint. A few riders went with me and when I pulled off I saw there was just four of us. I encouraged my break companions saying to just keep rolling and we will all grab points. We upped the pace even more taking hard 1/2 lap pulls. As we got closer to the second sprint the pulls remains strong, but just shorter so we were not slowing too much. I grabbed the second sprint and we just kept rolling. As we got close to the third sprint we were 3/4 of a lap up on the chasers. The pace slowed a bit because we were content to sprint amongst ourselves rather than the entire field. I ended up on the front just before the bell of the third lap and I tried to soft pedal as long as possible so we wouldn't catch the chase group. Luckily everyone else was thinking the same thing so I started the sprint out of turn 2 and was able to win that sprint just as we caught the chasers. Now it was all back together so the pace again slowed with a few of us rolling through just to keep it going. With two laps to go one rider attacked over the top and broke up the group again, I slotted in a few wheels back of the chasing riders knowing it was still a ways before the final sprint. We caught him with one to go and then I was second wheel...perfect...I jumped out of turn 2 and was able to get back in the pole lane just as we hit turn 3, now I had the shortest distance to the line and finished it off. I ended up with 16 points winning the points race over the second place rider who had 6 points.

Photo By Pat Benson

RACE #3 - Miss-N-Out (last rider pulled from race every other lap until only 1 remains): The pressure was on because the rider that won the Scratch race got 2nd in the Points so he was winning the Omnium and I was sitting in second. The Miss-N-Out is highly tactical so it was anyone’s race. I have been getting schooled in the Miss-N-Out at TNR with all the fast guys so I was hoping that I actually have taken note and learned something. I knew with a small field that I could probably ride from the front (either in the pole lane or preferably on the red line so I am not boxed in) until it was down to a few riders. So I did just that, keeping the pace just high enough so riders did not want to come over the top and box me in. With four riders left I they started to come over the top and box me in so eased off the gas and went all the way around and over the top at the last second to insure I didn't get called out. I heard one rider yell **** and looked back and it was the guy leading the overall Omnium. He knew if I got 1st or second I would take the overall. I made it to the final sprint and with 1 lap to go I pulled off the front slowing as I swung high up track in turn 1. The other rider came with me but I made sure he stayed below me as I went higher. He jumped coming out of turn 2, I saw it coming and jumped on his wheel. I waited just a tad before jumping and took the final sprint and winning the Miss-N-Out and taking the overall just by 2 omnium points.

Overall: 1st in Cat 3 Omnium and got some upgrade points. Everyone was having a great time and the racing was pretty friendly compared to your typical 4 corner criterium. Although TNR at the SD velodrome is pretty hard to beat It was awesome to get back on the boards for the first time in a few years.