ORC Race Weekend Circuit Race

The ORC Race weekend circuit race was a 75' race on a 2 mile open course with a 200 meter rise with a false flat over the top. Last year a break went from the gun and stayed away the whole race, so I was attentive to see if that would happen again. From the gun the race was aggressive but no attacks really seemed to get away. After about 30' of racing it seemed that the race was tough enough for a break to go. Andy Crater, Scott Zwizanski (United Healthcare), and I got away at this point. Scott was pulling very hard and Andy and I were just trying to hang on. I was sure this was the move. But after a couple laps we got caught by the field. At this point I realized a break probably wouldn't stick and just sat in the group for the rest of the race. Scott Zwisanski tried another attack with two to go only to be brought back a lap later. I wasn't really positioned well on the last lap but took ninth in the sprint. I probably should have positioned myself better and maybe I could have gotten a top 5.

Dade City Crit

The Dade City Criterium was the day after the San Antonio Road Race. It is a fun 6 turn course with a brick section between turns 1 and 2. I felt good after my 51 mile breakaway the day before with Derek Bennett and wanted to try to win. The race was very aggressive from the gun but it just never seemed like a break would work. Finally after about 30' of racing a group of 13 formed that took a lap on the field. This group contained Phil Gaimon (Kenda), David Guttenplan (Chemstar), Ken Vida (Floridavelo), Joey Roskopf and Ty Magner (Team Type 1), myself and some other riders. The group more or less just worked together until we lapped the field with a few laps to go. There was never really a good oppertunity to attack. With three laps to go Phil launched an attack and everyone was on him like glue. With 2 to go I decided to go for it and killed myself but didn't really get a gap. I held on for seventh place. Maybe I should have waited a lap later and I would have gotten a better result. But it was a good first weekend of racing for the year.

San Antonio Road Race

The San Antonio Road Race was my first race of the 2011 season. I was very excited for it as I would see the results of my winter training there. It was 4 laps of a 17 mile rolling circuit. In the first couple miles of the race Andy Crater got away with Sean Coleman. There were some other attacks later in the lap that bridged up to the duo. Near the end of the lap the pace got high and I bridged up to the lead group. This group had about ten or twelve riders in it, including Joey Roskopf and Dan Holt from Team Type 1, 3 riders from Floridavelo, John Durango and Alejandro Bello from Santo, and David Guttenplan and Shane Braley from Chemstar. The work was uneven in the group and it was apparent that some people were tired. At the start of the second lap Derek Bennett (Floridavelo) and I got a gap. I just said to him let's not kill ourselves because we have 51 miles still to race. Over the next two laps our gap stayed at about 1'. Derek was doing awesome and I did not feel so great so I wasn't pulling as much as him. On the last lap I got a Coca Cola and I felt great. Our gap was still at 1' with Team Type 1 Chasing. I pulled hard this lap and was sure we would not get caught. Then with about 5 miles to go I see a Team Type 1 rider blazing up to us. It was Ty Magner, probably the best sprinter in the race. After that I wasn't really sure what to do. With 1 k to go I gave Ty and Derek a gap and surged into the last hill. I looked back and Ty was immediately on my wheel but I dropped Derek. I just held a fast pace to the line knowing that Ty would come around me and I held on for second. Not so bad for the first race of the year.