This event is held in Pleasanton just off of the intersection of Hopyard and Stoneridge. Pretty typical 4 corner flat crit. Pavement is great and there aren’t any bots dots just reflectors. Pretty short course at .84 miles. Turn one was a sweeper and the rest were all standard 90’s. From the last turn it is only 150 meters or so to the line so you need to start your sprint early. We had a decent breeze blowing out of the west so we had a good tailwind leading into turn 4.
The race. About 50 guys lined open for the open 4’s. As we were the first race of the day they started us right on time. I had warmed up on course and already had decided were I needed to be to stay out of the wind. Stayed in the wheels most of the race. A few attacks went off the front but as typical for the 4’s nobody wanted to work together. So end result was gruppo compacto when they lit up the laps to go sign. At 4 to go I moved up into the top ten. Found the wheel I wanted and was sittin pretty, or so I thought. The guy on the front was motoring well till his legs cramped on the bell lap (been there). So, ended up getting swarmed and slid back way to far. Just before turn one a Roaring Mouse rider launched a solo attack. He got a good gap so we ended up chasing him till turn 4. He took it real wide on 4 not knowing we were right there. This caused the front bunch to hesitate a fraction and bunched us all up. I didn’t sprint as I was completetly out of postition. Crossed the line in 22nd place. For an open 4 race this was pretty safe. Still some goofy moves out there but, I felt at ease most of the time. One thing that would be nice though is for guys to learn how to take a corner. I am constanly amazed how many people lack this basic skill.
Mike