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Concord Criterium

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:07 pm
by swawersik
Course: 45ish degree right turn about 100m after the start finish leads into a long (for a crit) 3-4% climb. After another 45 degree turn halfway up, there's a serious narrowing of the course into a tight 90 degree right hander, which leads into a straight section with a couple of minor rollers. This feeds into a downhill 180 degree turn, followed in short order by a 90 left, and even shorter order by a 90 degree right. Because those last three turns are FAST and come in quick succession, I'd been thinking all week about whether a good tactic might be attacking near the top of the course, trying to hold the gap through the turns, and hanging on until the end. When I got to the race, though, I questioned this a bit, as the distance from the final turn to the start finish is pretty long (500m). Watching the masters 35+ sprint, there was clearly some room to make up positions as long as you came out of the last turn in the top 5-7 wheels.

Lined up with two MRC teammates: Nolan Garon, in his first cat4 race (tough one to start with, man) and Patrick Bauer-Blank. Both are less than half my age, and though I felt like a grizzled veteran, I was happy for the company. The race started FAST, with two CF Racing kids (Chris Gougen & PJ Renquin) lighting it up. Then a Fitwerx guy went off the front for several laps. Both of these moves had me wondering whether a 15-20 person lead group might shake out, so I stayed near the front (and even on the front for a short time to block when Patrick made a bridge attempt to the FitWerx guy).

I kept thinking "this pace is HARD, but it'll calm down." It took a long time to do so, though, and much of the race was consequently a blur. Only a couple of things registered: "Patrick's still in the mix, so I'll look for him at the end," and "I keep passing people going up the hill, but then getting swamped again when people sit up near the top - gotta figure out how to deal with that."

On 3 and 2 to go, I followed wheels I knew were good to move up. I lost some ground with the swamping at the top, but sat in about 10-12th wheel going through the final turn sequence into the bell lap. A couple of guys died on the hill, and I was in about 8th wheel through the tight turn and to the top of the hill. YES! Then the guys on the front sat up a bit. NOOOOOO! Unwilling to get swamped, I decided to take a chance and test my theory about attacking into the final turn sequence. After my first jump, I looked back under my arm and could see a decent gap, with one guy chasing a bike length or two back. GO! I was going so fast into the downhill turn, I had to fight every instinct I had to scrub some speed, then gunned it into the last two turns. By this point I was in agony, and I fully expected to be caught 50 feet from the line. But it didn't happen!!! "Holy crap, I won!" I thought...

...But. It turns out during the fog of the last 7 laps, I missed the fact that one guy went off the front at 6 to go. Honestly, I was a little disappointed, but then I realized that I still finished 2nd. First podium in a LONG time, and first upgrade points ever.

And when I got home, I had to clean the out the rocks my son left in his shorts pockets that were now blocking the washer's drain line. DOESN'T MY FAMILY KNOW I'M A BIG-TIME BIKE RACER NOW?!?!?! I bet Marcel Kittel doesn't have to deal with this crap... ;)

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:41 pm
by Jacob
Marcel Kittel has kids?

Congrats man, great result!

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:42 pm
by Len_E
Great recount of the race, as usual. Nice racing and terrific mid-race adjustment. Hell of a job to get on the podium. Congrats.

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:45 pm
by Len_E
And Marcel Kittel should be so lucky when he gets home from a podium finish.

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:55 pm
by Smudger
Superb Stefan. You deserve this (the podium that is not the domestic duties)

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:17 pm
by pace21
Awesome job Stefan! I knew it was coming....

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 7:35 am
by Robd2
Very nice result! The longer it takes the sweeter it is.

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 7:54 am
by rusto
Excellent work, Stefan!

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:22 am
by jraguin
Awesome Stefan! Just awesome. "I love it when a plan comes together." - was that Mr.T or Hannibal?

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:58 am
by taudep
Congrats Stefan. Exciting write up!

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:19 am
by JeremyC
Stefan, great work! It takes balls to attack at the end when your tired but sometimes is actually works! Congrats.

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:26 pm
by treeswayers
congrats!

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 7:13 pm
by michaelcole
Dude,
Nice work. That race always used to be the New England crit championships...
Are you now just a "heartbeat away" from the defending champion of NE crit racing?

When I got my upgrade to 3, I did concord for one more race as a 4, thinking I could sandbag the Championship.

My plan didn't come together as well and I got fourth.

BTW John, it was Hannibal.

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 2:14 pm
by PJ McQuade
Awesome Stefan! I knew it was only a matter of time to read a race report from you like this.

Re: Concord Criterium

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 8:12 pm
by argus
Mega-wicked-awesome result - congratulations!