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RR: Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
My race report from Saturday....
--- I finally managed to make my crit debut for 2006 on Saturday morning, and boy am I glad that I finally got there!! I had a great morning, and it reminded me of how much I enjoy crit racing... After a slow start to the morning, rode to the Murarrie circuit arriving at 7:50am for an 8am start - I don't like to arrive too early, but this was pushing a bit much!! At least I knew my legs would be warm for the race... Signed up for Cat 2/Div 2, and got myself organised. Race started at about 8:05 - 40min + 3 laps, with about 30 people in the field (by my rough count). Pace was very slow early, with the field taking the first few laps at only 31-32km/h. I was sitting at the back of the front third, and it seemed that no-one wanted to take charge up the front - but eventually things got 'organised' and the pace picked up to around 38km/h. Cat 2/Div 1 (equiv. to C-Grade) was on the course at the same time as us (I guess we were equiv. to D-Grade), as well as Cat 3 (E-Grade??) - so there were 3 packs circling around the 1.5km circuit. This had the potential to get a bit confusing, and ended up making for some interesting times when the packs were overtaking. I had managed to keep a position around mid-pack, sometimes a little bit more forward. The first time Div 1 passed us, the front riders in our race sped up and tried to retake them straight away!! Luckily, being in the front half, I was able to sit on their wheels as they headed passed. The peloton split in two, and the 'chase group' had to work hard to catch back up to us. A good tactical lesson for me (without the hard work!!) about staying in touch with the front-runners..... This same 'trick' happened again when Div 1 inevitably caught up to overtake and the front riders pushed past again!! I was wondering if it was ego or adrenalin - but at least their tactics were clear and I knew what would happen each time!! We reached the 20min mark and the whistle blew for the Prime lap. A guy in Credit Agricole kit took off straight away, but no-one seemed keen to chase (definitely not me - I just wanted to finish with the group!!), so he did a one-lap ITT to take the Prime - well done!! Just passed 30min, and I was starting to feel the effort. We got passed again by Div 1, and once again the leaders of our group took off - but I was two-thirds of the way back in the pack and missed the jump!! So much for my being super-aware of their tactics!! Lots of yells by people for them to "calm down - let Div 1 go!!", but they took off.... So I was stuck in the chase group - we all worked hard, and I even took a long turn trying to bridge the gap back. Eventually we made it back on, which was very satisfying (don't know what Div 1 thought of all this though - they must have been getting dizzy!!). The chase effort had knackered me a bit, and so I drifted to the back of the field. I nearly got gapped off the back a few times, but thought there was no way I'd let myself get dropped, so I gritted the teeth and worked to get back up to mid-pack. Things felt much better once I settled into a rhythm there and a quick drink plus a few more steadier laps had me back and feeling good again. A few people were obviously getting nervous though, as we had to drop two separate dropped bottles by the leaders (hope that wasn't a tactic to thin the field!!). The "3 laps to go" sign came up, and I was feeling very happy to be sitting back up in the front third. The pace slowed again as people started looking around and waiting for something to happen. Then suddenly we had reached the bell lap and we were all still together!! I saw the guy in CA kit who won the prime moving an inside line, so I jumped on his wheel as I figured he might be a good bet to go at the finish... He moved up the front pretty quickly, and so I was sitting at 2nd wheel heading down the back street, halfway through the last lap!!!!! I soon discovered the tactical problems with this though, as I couldn't tell what was happening behind me. Who was gonna jump?? As we turned the corner, about 6-7 riders went flying past. Luckily, I was able to jump onto the last of them, and the pace went berserk as everyone else tried to come with us. I was happy to be holding their wheels, but had no more speed to add for a final finishing sprint..... As we came down the final straight to the line, two guys in front of me went all "Robbie vs Stuey" and started leaning all over each other - so I sat up and backed off just in case, and cruised over the line in about 10th place (although I don't think I would have made up any places if I'd sprinted any further!!). Final stats - 31km at 37.4km/h average. I had a very fun morning, and was stoked with my efforts. It was great to be an active participant in the crits for a change, instead of just hanging tough at the back trying hard not to get dropped!!! --- Cheers all, Abby |
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RR: Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
Absent Husband Wrote: My race report from Saturday.... [chomp] Abby That's excellent Abby! A bit of sprint training and you'll be up for the win. I did the trek series yesterday and misjudged the finish line (which I had only passed 6 times previously!) by 100m. Uphill finish - 5th.. 4th.. 3rd... yesssss... 2nd.... oh ****... *there's* the line???...whoosh...whoosh..whoosh etc Did Paulie race as well? Adam -- adam85 |
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RR: Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
That's right ritcho, which was annoying me (and the rest of the
peloton!). In fact, on the last break which I missed and helped chase back, a few of the chase riders said, "Don't worry about them, I reckon they'll be DQ'ed for using the higher grade...". Just after Div 1 went past, the Div 2 leaders would tuck in briefly then try and drag us all past. A few of the older heads told them that they had to drop back and let a clear gap form between the two grades before attacking (ie. like a brief neutral period) but they didn't listen. After the race, I noticed the commissaires approached the serial offenders (bloody Cycle-ogical riders!! *grins*) and explain to them the deal. The riders didn't seeem convinced (they had a good whinge about being punished for attacking later), but at least the officials followed up, which was good. Cheers, Abby |
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Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
"Absent Husband" wrote in message oups.com... My race report from Saturday.... ... and cruised over the line in about 10th place Final stats - 31km at 37.4km/h average. Abby Hey Abby, That's fantastic. Congrats. Cat 2 div 1 must have been pretty quick were they if they lapped you 3 times? I'll have to join you next week. Sounds like div 2 is a good place for a debut :-) Cheers, Mick |
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Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
Mick wrote:
"Absent Husband" wrote in message oups.com... My race report from Saturday.... ... and cruised over the line in about 10th place Final stats - 31km at 37.4km/h average. Abby Hey Abby, That's fantastic. Congrats. Cat 2 div 1 must have been pretty quick were they if they lapped you 3 times? I'll have to join you next week. Sounds like div 2 is a good place for a debut :-) Cheers, Mick If they have Cat 2, Div 1 and Cat 2, Div 2, and Cat 3, and that's also the order of their respective average speeds, etc, doesn't that mean they have Cat 2, Cat 3, Cat 4? Tam |
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Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
I know, I think they are making it more confusing than they have to.
They have Elite & Cat 1 at 7am. Then Cat 2 Div 1, Cat 2 Div 2 and Cat 3 all at 8am. I don't see why it shouldn't be just Elite, then Cat 1-4. Or go back to the old system of A-E grades... Oh, and Mick - they only lapped us once really. They would overtake us, then we'd re-overtake them. So we were all usually on the same lap...... So I don't think their average speed would have been much greater than ours?? No crits at murarrie this Saturday (Easter and all that), but they'll be back the following week as per normal. Will be good to catch up again!! Cheers, Abby |
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Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
Absent Husband wrote:
I know, I think they are making it more confusing than they have to. They have Elite & Cat 1 at 7am. Then Cat 2 Div 1, Cat 2 Div 2 and Cat 3 all at 8am. I don't see why it shouldn't be just Elite, then Cat 1-4. Or go back to the old system of A-E grades... Oh, and Mick - they only lapped us once really. They would overtake us, then we'd re-overtake them. So we were all usually on the same lap...... So I don't think their average speed would have been much greater than ours?? No crits at murarrie this Saturday (Easter and all that), but they'll be back the following week as per normal. Will be good to catch up again!! Cheers, Abby I think they have Cat 1, Cat 2 etc because they combine Elite and Masters, Men's and Women's grades. So Cat 2 might be Elite Men's C grade and Elite Women's B Grade and Masters Men's B Grade or something. Tam |
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Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
"Absent Husband" wrote in message oups.com... Oh, and Mick - they only lapped us once really. They would overtake us, then we'd re-overtake them. So we were all usually on the same lap...... So I don't think their average speed would have been much greater than ours?? No crits at murarrie this Saturday (Easter and all that), but they'll be back the following week as per normal. Will be good to catch up again!! Cheers, Abby Doh! Ok, week after next then. I could use the extra pre-race training. |
#9
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Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
Mick wrote:
"Absent Husband" wrote in message oups.com... Oh, and Mick - they only lapped us once really. They would overtake us, then we'd re-overtake them. So we were all usually on the same lap...... So I don't think their average speed would have been much greater than ours?? No crits at murarrie this Saturday (Easter and all that), but they'll be back the following week as per normal. Will be good to catch up again!! Cheers, Abby Doh! Ok, week after next then. I could use the extra pre-race training. According to Andrew von Berky's website, it's still on. As well as: Sunshine Coast Tour - Elite and Masters - Day 1 (*SEQ Tour event*) 9am start - Tinbeerwah RR. FLYER. (SCCC) Lakeside closed circuit kermesse racing, all grades. Reverse direction circuit, hilltop finish. 1:30pm start at Lakeside motor raceway, Kurwongbah. (HPRW) Can anyone confirm or deny? Tam |
#10
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Murarrie Crits - Sat 8/4/06
"Tamyka Bell" wrote I think they have Cat 1, Cat 2 etc because they combine Elite and Masters, Men's and Women's grades. So Cat 2 might be Elite Men's C grade and Elite Women's B Grade and Masters Men's B Grade or something. err...or not! Sounds like you're thinking of open events like the Trek series. The splitting of the two groups just happened as they had too many for one. They should all come out to lakeside for a challenge but they're too scared of the hills Adam |
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