Tom Rice's Santa Cruz Crit Report

Where – Santa Cruz Classic Criterium

When – 15 April, 2012
Race - 35+ Cat 4 - 39 Racers
Stats – 16 laps over "Up and Down Beach Hill"
CoreTechs teammates: Alan Takahashi, John Tsamasfyros

(I guess I also have to say this... I've arrived at the venue in plenty of time to register, warm-up and get ready to race. No rushing or being late. Sweet.)

We're bunched up, ready to go at the start line and we get this briefing: "At my whistle, go! TWEEEET!!".

We get started. I'm normally very quick to snap into my peddles and almost never have any trouble getting started but this time, it's different. I think I'm clipped in but my left foot slips off the peddle and I whack the front of my seat with my butt and tip the nose of my seat down about 20 degrees. My saddle is no longer anywhere near level. Well, that's a bummer. Now I can't really sit and peddle comfortably. Oh well, it is a very short race and the hills are short, punchy climbs best done standing up. I try to dismiss the problem after about three laps.

The pace is fairly quick from the start and the course is definitely technical. The descent from the start-finish straight leads into a mid-descent switch-back that stirs up the pack on every lap. If you're not on your game here, you will find yourself relegated to the back of the pack in short order. With my distracting seat situation, I find myself see-sawing between the front and the back of the pack during each of the first few laps. That's a lot of wasted energy! After a bit, I get my concentration in control and do a better job keeping near the front. Even so, some guys from Berkeley Bicycle Club are trying to manage the front and they don't seem to want any company.

There seems to be a pecking order in every race and sometimes you have to earn your place at the front. To that end, I take a flyer off the front. I don't mean to try a solo break but maybe someone will join me and I also hope to test some of my competitors to see who looks strong. After a couple of laps, I haven't learned much so I come back to the pack. Teammate Alan takes up the front for a good pull which gives me a charge of energy and enthusiasm. And, the front of the pack seems a little more "welcoming".



It's important to know that the course narrows coming to the last right hand turns that lead onto the hill on the front straight. On every lap there is much jockeying for position as we come through this section of the course. My plan towards the end of the race is to attack on this hill with two to go, hoping to draw out the stronger riders for a break that will take us to the finish. I end up solo. I'll let Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen and Bob Roll take up the commentary:

Phil: "This attack by the CoreTechs rider is a brave one. I think he might just make it. I certainly hope he does!"

Paul: "You're hoping against hope, Phil. I don't think he has a chance. The pack doesn't seem to be relenting and they know he will be slowing on that last hill approaching this finish line."

Bob: "This is Rice from the CoreTechs Cycling Team. I've done some research on this guy. He has a reputation for impossible solo efforts that submarine his opportunities to win. Someone needs to take a frame pump and whack some sense into him!"

Phil: "There is a rider that seems ready to join Rice in the break, maybe they can work together..."

Paul: "It certainly doesn't look like it. Rice is looking for some help but this bridging rider doesn't seem to have anything to offer... and the pack is charging!!"

Bob: "Rice is melting like a kid's snowcone on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk!"

Phil: "Paul, you had it right. With 300 meters to go, the pack is swarming past Rice. They are sprinting for the finish!! Rice's teammate Takahashi is right there... he might have it... oh and he is just pipped at the line. Matthew Hough from SquadraSF gets the win and CoreTechs rider Alan Takahashi crosses in second with a great sprint finish..."

(cut back to reality)

So, it was a fun race! I'm super jazzed that Alan got second. As usual, I get some good lessons and, even without a top finish, I get a good dose of confidence I need for future criteriums. And, maybe, just maybe, I've finally learned my lesson about leading out the final laps of a race. We'll see.

Tom Rice
Bicycle Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team