San Rafael Crit Race Report: by Chris Scheetz

• Race Day Conditions - Clear, light winds, mid - 70's
• Race - Category 35+ 3 - 4 (there were 47 racers at the line)
• Venue - Downtown San Rafael, slightly more than a 1/2 mile loop through the downtown business district. Four right turns, starting on 4th street (0.21 miles), right turn on D Street (0.07 miles), right turn on 5th Street (0.21 miles) right turn on A Street (0.07 miles)
• Race Start Time - 2:30PM
• Race Time - 40 minutes

The start/finish was mid 4th Street to a right on D Street (a hill at approximately 5-6% grade), to a right on 5th Street (a fast, slight down hill) to a fast right on A Street (on new asphalt) to the last right back on 4th. The last right had the metal crowd control barriers placed on the right hand curb and running the left hand side of 4th Street so you figured out after couple laps not to get pinched on the inside of the turn and not to over bake the turn on the outside.

As one would expect on a short course like this, at the gun, it was zero to maximum heart rate before you made the second right turn on 5th Street. It was clear to me, there was very little room to advance forward in the pack due to the constant accordion effect. The pack would compress going into the corners leading to D and A Streets and stretch out on 4th and 5th Street. It really became a race of holding your position and hoped you did not blowup. For me, I found myself mid pack, and that is where I stayed. There was some jockeying between the riders around me, but nobody advanced.

I did find the race taxing at first, but as the laps rolled on there was a predicable rhythm that made this criterium more relaxing than a few I raced earlier this year and I am sure a some of the comfort came from the fact I was riding with more experienced riders.

With two laps to go, there was the predictable surge and a great sense of relief that the race was almost over without a mishap. When I crossed the finish line, the field had looped the streets 30 times and my bike computer noted 24.8 mph average over 16.5 miles. I finished 12th in the CAT 4's.