So I've realized two things about how I race: 1.) I'm strong enough to hold with a fast Cat 3 race. (26.8 mph in a 7 turn hilly crit) 2.) When it comes to technical course handling and guts to hold my spot in the pack, I ain't got it.
So those two things left me in the back third of the race for the majority of the race, and when I did start to move up, things would get too cramped for me and I'd lose my focus and end up drifting back. A frustrating feeling, I must admit, but when you upgrade you've got to learn all over again how to race. I can no longer just hold my place up at the front of the group with strong legs, I've got to be bold, aggressive and rub some shoulders to get some better places.
In time, in time.
Okay, so what about the race? Oh yeah, I did race. The pace was fast from the get go, but I felt good, I was hanging on but couldn't find a good line for taking the first 4 corners until about a third of the way through the race. Once that happened I was climbing through turns 3 and 4 at a good 23 mph, passing those who were struggling. The climb through turn 3 and 4 was a 5% grade, then settled into a false flat which dipped and rose again into turn 5 and a steep downhill descent at nearly 40 mph for 1/4 mile with a sweeping left followed by a 90 degree turn onto the finishing straight.
Lather rinse repeat 20 times and you've got my race. This course was super fun, a totally all encompassing course which ended in a sprint for the Cat 3 race, but saw victorious solo fliers and breakaway sprints in other races. The course was beautiful, no major cracks, sand or problems with the course and the promoters ran a tight ship.
This race was top notch. I will definitely come back and place well next time round.