Folsom Crit 2/14/15

field: elite 3
size: 41
Teammates: Rey Surla

The Folsom course is simple and fun. Shape could be described as a watermelon slice or smiley face. Only 2 real corners that if taken properly can be pedaled through at speed. Race started fairly slow, a few riders rolled off the front with no worry from the peleton. I took it upon myself to bring the group off the front back and hopefully ignite some racing. I think around lap 2.5 to 3 another group attacked and were putting decent time into the peleton. On lap 4 around 8-9min in, i put in a big acceleration from turn 3 to bridge solo to the group up the road. Caught them between t2 & t3 on lap 5. They were going ok but i felt good so i upped the pace. Group of 4 breakaway. Up and coming junior Charlie (leadoutracing) and i were the pace makers with the other 2 doing their pulls cooperativley. A prime bell was rung for our group and i let the others know we should just keep working together, the prime was not contested but we ended up loosing a rider. Around 22min in i looked back and found the peleton had closed the gap to our group. The break immediatly lifted the pace in an effort to break the peletons spirit. The effort worked but cost the break another rider. Just Charlie and i left. We worked very well together and settled into a rythym, i would pull out of 1 to 3 and he the rest. When your suffering you notice smaller traights about courses. This course actually rises slightly into the finish, which is where Charlie usually ended up pulling, i had to consciously lift my effort to stay with him. The gap to the peleton stayed around 30seconds as the laps clicked away thanks in part to Rey’s efforts of control. I think we were both counting down wishing it was over. As the announcer counted down the final laps i was curous how the finale would play out because of the rythym we had fallen into for the last 20min. Going into the last lap i decided (because i’m such a nice guy) i would just pull the entire last lap and see if i could lift the pace enough to where he couldnt come around into the line. But Charlie put in a little dig between 3 & 4 and took the front. He led through 4 and the finish straight and i sprinted past to the line. Thanks!
1st win on the “road” ever.

45min crit duration
average speed of 26.5ish mph
finished 1/41
Rey 25th

Next Folsom crit race is 5/23