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Saturday morning, we packed my Rav4 full of gear for 3 guys with way to many wheels and headed for Yuma. Jimbo’s first race was at 4:55pm and with the schedule laid out as it was with the 3 race early on Saturday and late on Sunday, Roger and I chose only to race to 45+ Omnium, with the criterium starting at 6:10 in the evening. After checking in to the Raddison and grabbing lunch, we arrived at the race a good 2 ½ hours before Jimbo needed to start warming up. The wind was whipping all afternoon and the tent was in danger of flying away, which would have left us broiling in the sun, but we battened down the hatches and persevered.
Anyway, we rolled to the combined 35+/45+ race with Jimbo having been released from doping control so he could join us. The race rolled off at a friendly pace, up the first hill, left turn, right turn, up the second hill, left, left and downhill into a right hander, which leads to the chicane. A couple of more turns and you’re back at the start/finish. The first 3 prime laps were for bonus omnium points, so it was important to be in good position. After the prime bell rang, one rider took off up the hill and got a good size gap on the field. I launched my own attack to bridge, picked up 2nd place points, but never quite closed on our leader. A lap later, after a 35+ rider launched his own attack, I went back and joined a pair of riders who were more than happy to share to work, one was in the 35+ category, so I knew I could discount his results. We rode a steady tempo for most of the rest of the race. Thanks to Jimbo keeping the field off our backs by covering every potential move, we never saw another rider. With the lap cards out, my competition for 2nd launched an attack around turn 1, I matched it just kept the hammer down up the 2nd hill and rode away from him, keeping a solid gap for the next two laps, but worrying that if the pair were still together and willing to work together, I’d be outgunned before the end, so I eased off and let them catch me. As they came up, I looked at my 45+ competition and commented that I hope that my effort hurt him as much as it hurt me. No response. He didn’t seem to be having nearly as much as I was having. We continued together as the bell rang for the final lap. It was pretty much a replay of 4 laps earlier with him attacking at the base of the hill and me riding away from him at the top. This time, our 35+ friend took off as well and gapped me, but once I realized that my competition had completely cracked, I didn’t try to cover the move, cruising home 4th overall and 2nd in the 45+ field. Sunday morning dawned too early for any of us, especially since we didn’t finish dinner until nearly 11pm thanks to USADA so desperately wanting a little Jimbo in their lives. The alarm went off at 5 and we were back at with Jimbo’s first race at 7:30 and ours at 9am. First place in the omnium was pretty much gone since Matt, the winner from yesterday, scored a clean sweep of 1st place omnium points. I’d not only have to win the race, but sweep all 3 omnium sprints and hope Matt, who is definitely strong, fell apart. After yesterday, we decided that no one else would be able to help knock him out of the lead, so if he got away, we wouldn’t chase him down. The first 2-mile lap held omnium point bonuses. Matt took me at the line for 4 points; I picked up 2 and the 3rd place finisher from yesterday picked up 1. We had the top 3 guys off the front. It was a solid break, except I knew that Matt would be able to use and abuse our 3rd place competitor, so I had nothing to gain by working my tail off in this break. I slow rolled a couple of my pulls and let the move shut down. Once we were back with the pack, the real break formed with a couple of 35s, Matt and my fellow trackie, James Kramer, who didn’t have a single point in the omnium. I missed the move, but 3rd place missed the move as well, so once they were gone, I was content to take the easy ride. Of course, Jimbo was right next to me reminding me that I wasn’t going to take a pull. Mr. 3rd place, who is somehow a Cat 1, seemed to be clueless that we were resigned to protect our 2nd place in the omnium. He started pulling hard and then sitting up sharply, veering from side to side to show his displeasure. My job at this point was just to sit his wheel and beat him for the omnium sprints. Either he was on the front or Jimbo came up to the front to shepherd me around, even riding with a flat tire for the last 3 laps. Aside from Mr. Cat 1s erratic riding and constant complaining, it was fairly uneventful. He’d attack, I’d cover. Jimbo would pull and the guys behind would laugh because it was obvious that this guy was just hurting himself. The omnium sprints were the same except for the last one, where I decided to just jump from the front and beat him from there. The kicker to the day was that Jim and Matt ended up working well together and Jim took the win, knocking our complainer from the podium all together. All told, it was a good weekend. 2nd in the crit, 3rd in the circuit and 2nd in the omnium. I wish I had been able to get across to Matt on day 1. That would have made day 2 more intense, but hats off to him for making the move and staying away. -Terry Great Report Terry! How can I match that? O.K. I had the first race. Its about 85° and Windy. We start and I go to the front. Go figure: after the first lap we have only 4 riders. I wanted sprint points ‘cause I don’t know these guys and I want to get an early lead! The course is technical and I love it. I get the sprint points but with 4 laps to go I start getting tired and I let 2 guys go up the road. I end up 3rd for the day and 2nd in points for the overall! When I finished the race a guy came up to me and said it your lucky day! I’m like ok what are you talking about? He said, “You get to pee in a cup!” So he escorts me to an office with a bunch of people in there. Now remember, I just finished a race its 85° and they want me to pee in a cup? Yeah, that’s going to happen! The people were very nice telling me everything and I’m like, O.K., you know I have a race in 30 min. They say give us a sample and you can go. I’m drinking lots of water and I told them its not going to happen to dehydrated. With 10 minutes left before my next race they walked me back to the car. Terry pinned my number on and we lined up for the next race. I think all that water was good. Helping Terry covering the attacks as he goes up the road is sweet and I got 4th! After the race back to the drug test drinking lots of water finally almost 3hours later we filled the cup! After that Dinner and Wine! Sunday After making Terry and Roger wait till I could fill the cup the night before I made them get up at 5am for my race. The race was flat and no wind. I attacked from the start tried to get away from the leader but it wasn't going to happen. I got 2nd in the race and 2nd overall. I had a great time with Terry and Roger Thanks Guys! -Cheers Jimbo. Comments are closed.
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