Lafayette Crit Report

Here's the second installment from the past weekend of Webcor/Alto Velo Elite Team racing. Lafayette was a bit of a confusing race, as Rand describes below, due to some officiating/promoter complications. Even with all the mayhem that ensued, the race was really positive for the team, as we had 2 of our guys in the leading break of 7 that eventually lapped the field.

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Lafayette Crit
Lafayette, CA
July 13, 2008
Weather: Warm and slightly windy
Teammates: James, Rob, Aroussen and Bruce (Radioman)
Place: 2nd of ~50

A word of warning: this report is long and confusing...but the race was WAY more confusing in person. It started out quite controlled and normal, but ended up being the most absurd and bizarre race I have ever seen. Read on if you are interested.

My legs were feeling really good, and I wanted to get off the front of the race early. After cycling through a few breaks, with Aroussen and Rob and James covering some others, I bridged to three guys off the front and we rotated through quickly. We dangled a few seconds off the front of the strung-out pack, and then another three guys bridged up (including Aroussen).

That made a group of 7, and we were well-placed with two of our riders in such a small group. The break also contained Pat Briggs (CalGiant), who was definitely the most dangerous rider in the group, but Christian Kearney (Z-team) and Bob Newman (Pac. State Bank) were also looking very strong. We worked very well together as a group and about halfway through the event we were approaching the back end of the field, ready to lap.

However, the officials had forgotten to bring a finishline camera. Therefore, they did not want to deal with trying to pick placings for a breakaway intermingled with the field at the finish, so they decided to modify the race...

...what ensued was mayhem.

The officials first attempted to neutralize the field and force the break to pass straight through and continue working. However, we no longer had an impetus to work hard, as we had already lapped the field--meanwhile, the field was upset that they had no chance at the win. Some of the more discontent sprinters began protesting by laying across the start-finish line, etc. It was nuts.

Because we didnt HAVE to ride fast anymore in the break, we didnt. Even though the officials yelled at us to "keep racing" and "ride fast," we just rolled a steady pace, because the officials had just turned it into a 7 man race. Therefore, we were caught by the field again from behind. Keep in mind that we were still a lap up. I was actually really excited that we were back in the field...according to standard crit rules, when a break laps the field, teams are allowed to help their breakaway riders win the race by leading them out. These are generally pretty hectic and fast finishes, guys get confused, and I was also feeling pretty good about my sprint.

Unfortunately, the officials STILL didnt like this and forced the breakaway riders off the BACK of the field again...where we continued to roll around slowly, chatting. Eventually the breakaway decided that we would all evenly split the prize money, and drag-race to the line for placings.

In the meantime, the officials had decided to finish the field early to get them off the course, so they rang a bell for the field (I had no idea they were doing this, by the way, as the break was on the opposite side of the course at this point) so that they could finish and get places 8-10.

This plan backfired pretty badly, as the main field came flying around for the field sprint and RE-CAUGHT THE BREAKAWAY right in the final corner. Mayhem, as I said. Once all these riders had finally cleared off the course, the officials gave the breakaway a 2-laps-to-go signal and yelled at us to "race faster." Unreal. Truly bizarre.

We rolled around the course 7-abreast, chatting and talking and laughing at about 18 mph for the final lap and a half. I marked CalGiant sprinter Pat Briggs' wheel, and he jumped to sprint as we entered the last corner. I kicked to try and come around him, but couldnt quite get there, and I finished about a half-bike length or so back. Aroussen rolled in solidly in 5th. Pretty good photo of finishing sprint can be seen here

Aroussen did a great job all day of working in the break, while Rob and James helped shut the field down. Bruce did a spectacular job keeping us informed of what was going on. Thanks again to all four of these guys!

Rand