Today's report is a lesson in the importance of paying attention.
The finally was finally on for Saturday's race. I knew that if a move went in this race, it would be late, after everyone had been wilting for 40 minutes. Going early would be suicide. With a big Burnham presence we wouldn't want any of them to slip away, but otherwise we'd want to stay cool.
About 15 minutes in, Burnham and another rider were off the front. Soon I didn't see them any more. It was early, but if a group was out of sight, anything could happen. Better do something about it.
I launched an attack at the top of the false flat between Turns 1 and 2. Got a great gap. A lap later, Jason Knauff from Burnham and Hogan from Verizon, both strong riders, had bridged to me. We kept it rolling, but Hogan's pulls were too strong for both of us. I got dropped, and we were all soon absorbed.
But there was still the original two off the front. And they must have been flying, because as fast as our bridge attempt was moving, we never did get them back in sight.
Nobody in the group seemed too concerned. So as soon as I recovered, I rode tempo as much as I could. It was very frustrating, however, because I was the only one willing to drill it. C'mon, guys!
Whenever we passed Noelle on the sideline, I pleaded for a time gap. "Time!" I yelled.
"30 minutes!" she yelled back.
"No, you dummy, not the time. I know the time. I have a watch. I NEED THE GAP!"
Finally I checked in with someone: "So who's off the front?" "Umm, nobody. We're all together."
I checked with five people before I finally believed it. I'd been chasing an imaginary break! The dummy was me.
I spent most of the rest of the race in recovery. With about four to go, Jason Knauff countered a prime and went off the front with someone. Burnham's Mindeman says to me, "I hope that's your guy up there." But I have no idea. I see red and black, but it doesn't look like us. Verizon? Andy from Project 5?
I ask Kirby: It's Peter! Phew!
He and Knauff had been patient and timed it perfectly. With one to go they were genuinely out of sight. I tried to move up to get in front of Kyle and Newt at the front, but they had already started a 1-km leadout and I wasn't able to get there to contribute myself. Kyle dumped Newt off at the last corner and he got 6th. Meanwhile, Kirby sat up and pumped his fist in the air Quick Step style: Peter had won!
That's three races in a row for our 3's: Spring Prairie, Sherman Park and now Cobb Park. In bowling this'd be a turkey. Gobble gobble! And since Kenosha, I don't think we've ever represented in the 3's and finished outside the top 5 or the money, an incredible streak.
And from the way our 4's and 5's are riding, we'll have reinforcements on the way. Come on up, boys. We'd be happy to have you.