I decided to race in the "C" race because I wasn't too sure about the competition and I always hate if there's a large turnout of fast pros or top category young riders (Cat 1/2) in the "B" race. It was a very quick pace and there were about a dozen riders who could have raced in the "B" race, myself included, of the just under 30 racers. Overall, it was fun and clean with little problems and no accidents. It was sunny but very cool around 10c. There was a nasty wind blowing on the back straightaway about 20-24 kph.
I got to the race late because of traffic at the border. So, after picking up my racing number and signing the waivers, I had only about 25 minutes to change, get my bike ready and to warm up. Staying focused on everything, I got ready to warm up in 5 minutes. Got on my bike and did a number of warm up laps on the course because the hills would get my core and heart rate up. My cadence wasn't working properly and stopped to see if I could get it running for
the race but it wouldn't go--likely needs a new battery. I realized then that I had my bib number on the wrong side of my jersey as this race does a left side pass of the cameras (usually it's the right side). So, I rode to the start and peeled off my jersey to change the bib number just so they wouldn't start without me.I started the race off bad! I couldn't get my left foot cleat locked into my pedal. I knew I didn't have time to mess around because the start immediately goes into an uphill slope. If I got dropped at the start, I wouldn't have been able to recover. And, I knew there was a decent downhill after that so I could get the cleat locked in while coasting down in the group. It worked and I stayed with the group. The riders behind me must have thought I was nuts because my left leg was out of the cleat and I was reaching down to clear dirt from it.
I ended up near the back of the group by choice more than anything. I wanted to scope out any shaky riders to be wary of and picked out 4 right away. After a lap and a half on the race course, I moved up into the middle of the pack. I stayed there or moved to the outside when I could. About half way through the race, the official called for the only prime and I wanted the prize as there was no other prizes for winning. I moved up to about 8th in the group early in the lap but got boxed in really quick. I knew I had to get to either side if I was going to have any chance at sprinting for the prime prize. Well about 2/3 of the way through the lap, the guy on my right moved up and I finally had an opening. I moved out to the right on a left-hand bend and went right to it! I didn't actually 'sprint' but pounded really hard in a high gear. 2 guys jumped on my wheel but I was away. It was hard, especially when one of the guys moved to my right to try and pass. But I knew he no longer was in my slipstream so I just geared up and cranked harder. I won the prime by about 1/2 a tire. Boy, it felt great and I took a pull right away! Then, I dropped all the way to the back for about 1 1/2 laps. I quickly recovered and moved right back to the front for a second pull which lasted about 1/2 lap.
Before long, there were 2 laps left and only 12 or so riders in the lead group. I was near the back and my legs felt great. One lap to go and the group started to string out. Me and another rider punched it hard on the back straightaway and bridged the gap. There were now only 8 riders in the lead group at the finish and I finished a nice tight 8th and was happy about the results.
Full results at: Flying Rhino Cycling Club