Tom Rice Reports from CCCX-45+ 3/4 (June 4 2012)

Where – Central Coast Circuit Races at Fort Ord, California

When – June 3, 2012
Race - 45+ Cat 3/4
Stats – 60 minutes (5 laps on a rolling course - 4.3 miles each)
Mark Foster and I are the CoreTechs riders in this race
Finish - 13th out of 20

I packed the night before so I could have a nice relaxing breakfast before heading down to Fort Ord on the Monterey Bay to setup for the race. So, at about 7:45, I jump into my truck all packed and ready to go. Mark Foster and I have two races (along with the rest of the CoreTechs Horde), and we'll need a nice shady place to hang out and tell lies. So, I stop on the way and pick up my canopy, jump back in the truck, punch in the "All 70's All the Time" XM radio station and have a very nice drive down to the venue.

I find Mark Foster is already there. So, with plenty of time to get ready, we get our numbers pinned then get our bikes on the trainers so we can warm up. Mark and I discuss race tactics during our warm-up - we decide that we'll save as much energy as possible during this first race. No unnecessary breakaway attempts, just sit in, cover any dangerous looking attacks and make sure we're well positioned to try for the podium. Mark is the better sprinter between the two of us so my job is to make sure he's delivered to the finish straight with a good shot at the line. I'll do what I can to, hopefully, get on the podium with him.

On the first lap, two riders, including Scott Leahy of SJBC, get a gap on our field. While these two are able to hold off the pack for most of 4 laps, with some moderate effort and some not so subtle cajoling of the pack, we keep these miscreants in sight... They would open a gap of about 30 to 45 seconds, the pack would close the gap to about 15 seconds and the chase would wither and die. Then, the breakaway would again open a gap of about 30 to 45 seconds, the pack would close the gap to about 15 seconds and the chase would wither and die. Then we'd repeat that cycle.

Finally, on the last lap before the first hill, I'm thinking, "Okay, either Mark or I need to bridge up to the breakaway or we're gonna lose this race." So, I move to get next to Mark, so we can have a discussion, when Mark jumps to bridge the gap. "Sweet!" It's a good move so I go to the front to cover for him. Mark is catching the breakaway when another rider (I think it was Justin Eatinger of Audi) jumps to bridge. So, I jump onto Justin's wheel and go with him. We end up exciting most of the rest of the pack and soon there are a dozen or so all together at the front.

Mark and I are well positioned as we come down the hill into the final right hander onto the finish straight. I decide to go wide at the turn in order to position for the sprint and I get pushed a little wider than I want. Unfortunately, the next guy I'm passing also pushes way wide and I get vectored off course onto the walkway on the wrong side of the cones (still on the pavement, so I'm not in jeopardy, but I'm off course and it would be unsafe to sprint from there). So, after an expression of frustration, I sit up and coast in to take 13th.

I'm not too excited by my finish but I feel we've raced a very smart race, we both had a shot at the sprint and I have lots of energy remaining for the much more difficult 35+ Open race (report to follow). I still need to work on a good finish when the pack comes to the line all together but it has been a good race and, of course, I get yet another good lesson!


Tom Rice
Bicycle Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team