Golden State Crit -- Josh Rennie

It’s a wonderful (cycling) life:
Every time a bell rings, an angel makes me sprint.

First off it was a beautiful day and the course was perfect. It was you typical corporate park crit course but the road was super smooth and lots of trees around to kick back at watch the hammers of the pro/1/2 duke it out before my race.

Field was smaller than usual but still good sized at 40 riders. I had two goals for this race, only put effort out when it matters and get a top 10(need two more for upgrade). Whistle blows and race starts with typical fashion, off to a fast start then slow down. I make a point to keep a position in the first 10-15 without going to the front and wasting energy.

A couple laps go by and they ring the first prime bell. Coming out of the last corner, I was about 10 back or so and hopped on Jim’s wheel. He pulls off and I figure what the heck I’m close enough to go for it. I sprint only to be beat by a wheel right at the line. We sit up and the pack comes around. I quickly jump back in about 10 wheels in.

Several laps later, a group of three was about 20 seconds off the front. I was on the far left in the front and Jim was on the right. He glanced over to me with a nod and we both jumped on it trying to bridge up. As we are chasing the break, I hear that damn bell again. We round the final corner just as we make the catch and I take off in a sprint for the line determined not to be nipped again. I cross the line and look back to see a good 10 bike lengths to the next guy and a visualize a trail of burnt matches behind me, oops.

I tuck back in towards the front and conserve energy until the end of the race. There was a team there that had I think seven guys in the race and tried to control the race and lead out “their guy”. They lacked the strength to do so but the effort was very visible and cool to see, even masters dropped down to make a big showing(hint hint). Last lap rolls around and I have been sitting just off the front the entire race but at some point on the last half lap I am not sure what happened but I wasn’t paying attention and slotted back to about 25 back. I sprinted for the line and only managed 16th and Jim nabbed a top ten. This is the fourth crit in a row I have taken at least one prime but not been in the right spot at the finish. I am making baby steps to not wasting energy pulling the field around but need to work on the only sprinting when it counts.

Josh