Scotts Valley GP report: 45+ 3/4 and 1/2/3

Scotts Valley Grand Prix
May 15th 2011
Race report by Andrew A.
45+ 3/4
35+/45+ 1/2/3

I got my head back on straight and came to race. All signs and hangover from Santa Cruz are gone (for those new to our group, refer to that race report).

I was not sure I would head down to Scotts Valley for this race until five minutes before I left the house. It was raining and hailing most the morning and I thought I would stay in the garage and ride the rollers. But the family was out for the day, I was alone and figured I would go and check out this race. If it was pouring when I got there, I would stay in the car, watch a bit and leave. Well, it was cold, but it was dry.

Suited up, and jumped in the 45+3/4 race. Think we had about 15 guys racing. This is a really fun course. Very fast with some sweeping turns and a nice finishing stretch. Back of the course had a nice head wind. A few attacks went and I went with them. At one point SJBC rider (Rick-You may recall him from my Turlock report) hammered out for a break. I jumped on him and it was the two of us with about a 50 meter gap. I rolled up and asked, "want to go for it"? He responded with a "what do you think?" By that point the rest of the pack was back on our tail. Good lesson learned…stop all the gabbing and just go. Group stayed together till last lap. I stayed in the wind in the first spot. I felt good so figured it was not a risk. I kept my ears open for any attack. Last quarter of the lap I saw a Davis rider ramp up on my left. By the time he went by me I was up to speed and jumped on his wheel. We hammered the final two corners. With about 50 meters to the line I came out of his draft and started to try and pass. I made it to the middle of his bike when the line passed beneath our wheels. Got a second place. Netted me $25 check/carton of strawberries and an iPhone case (I don’t own an iPhone, but ok).

Next race was the 35+/45+ 1/2/3's. Wow, now this was a race. About 60 riders line up. Honestly at the start I was a bit intimidated. Yahoo! rider Pat Briggs lined up next to me along with last years winner from Safeway on the other side of me. My thoughts are "what the f… am I doing here". They had a bit of a "call up" before the race and they asked everyone who has won a 1/2/3 race this year to roll to the front. Seven other guys roll up. They ask for all National champs. Three more roll up. This race was stacked!

Whistle blows and we are off. Within half a lap the field is strung out single file. They are hauling ass. I actually feel pretty good and start getting a bit giddy that I am riding with these guys and feeling ok. Every lap there are at least two or three break attempts. One lap I am on Briggs wheel when a break goes. I figure I will stay with him and if he tries to bridge he can pull me with him. Well, he goes for the bridge and leaves me in the pack thinking, "where did he go?". He took off so fast I just sat and watched. It all came back. Next lap another group of four are off and I decide to see if I can do what Briggs did. I jump to close the gap. Honestly it looked just like what Briggs did… in super slow mo. Anyway, I got the break and we lasted about a quarter lap before we are all together again.

Final lap and pace gets frantic. Everyone is jostling for position and trying to get near the front. If you so much as blinked you would find yourself 25 places further back. I made a surge up the inside and got myself into the top 15. We hit the second to last turn on the backside four abreast at 32 mph. When we hit the finishing straight everyone just exploded for the line. I rolled across in the top 25 of the race which put me in 8th place in the 45+ group (they placed the 35+ and 45+ separately). Yahoo! dude, Briggs, won the race.

Quick reflections. It was great finishing second place in the first race but the second race was way more fun. These were dudes out for blood and they were good racers. Made it a lot of fun just hanging in with them and doing what I could. Next up…Top Sport Stage Race. Come on team, sign up for this. Even if you don’t want to race, come up for the night, drink beer and heckle those racing. See you soon.

Andrew
www.coretechscycling.com