|
The
2004 season ended with a flurry of cyclocross races that helped to
maintain fitness going into the long, hard winter here in
Michigan
. My goal through the off season was to maintain strength without
loosing endurance. Only the spring would hold the truth to my
efforts...
The
2005 spring series is far less for winning and more for building
speed…a functional “motor-pacing”. The trick is always
maintaining health while building endurance. The silver lining is a
few top placings and a third place overall ranking.
I
began to feel my form develop into mid-May, after suffering through
some tough road races in
Michigan
and
Ohio
. The hard work and effort paid off with my first win of the season
at the Shell/Saturn Criterium (OH). The race was well attended with
a massive field of pro elite riders, and hundreds of spectators. A
break of seven was established in the first 15 minutes of the 90
minute race (see photo at left). Powering through the breakaway, we
slowly shed riders, until the final five laps…it was down to 5. I
had the legs to jump on the last lap into corner four, and held the
gap to the line for the win.
The
following race was also in
Ohio
, a two day omnium in
Ohio
, the Summer Solstice. The first day was a circuit race. Again, from
the gun I attacked with one other rider, and had the gap. My
teammate bridged up to make four, which powered away to a three
minute gap. Coming into the final miles, our gap had dwindled to 30
seconds due to all of our hard efforts and the strength of the
peloton. With 2k to go, my teammate attacked and split our group. I
waited. They sat up 1k to go…I jumped and rushed past…holding
the pace to the line for a 1-2 finish for our team.
The
following race was the Allen Park Criterium, that featured another
large field of eager and strong riders that were willing to chase.
After attacking and getting into a handful of different break-aways,
I resigned myself to sit in the field and rest for the finish. A
move that paid off…as we swallowed the remaining breakaway 1k to
the finish, our team put together an impromptu lead out that
delivered me to the line first, with two other teammates finishing
out the top 8.
|
