Elite 4/5

What a difference a year makes.

Last year nine xXxers entered the Circuit of Sauk. Last year nine xXxers got dropped on the Circuit of Sauk's first climb.

This year 14 xXxers entered, and at least seven survived the first climb. Barabooyeah.

The 4/5 field was about 50 strong. xXx was by far the largest team there, which in a way worked to our disadvantage. Tim, Ed and I each tried going off the front a few times, but each time the field reacted and shut things down quicky. There were only a few attacks from other riders, perhaps because they were afraid to poke the fearsome xXx juggernaught, even after attrition made our numbers more naught than jugger.

The pace was strong most of the race, which also made it hard to get enough of a gap to make a break viable. It was fast enough that we had to work hard, but slow enough that Tim and Matt could belt out Iron Maiden from the middle of the peloton. The harmony was exquisite. They'd obviously been practicing around the campfire.

I pushed tempo after we crested each of the big climbs, but I didn't have enough gas to shatter the field like I would have liked. The field was still 30 after the first climb and would only get down to about 25 by the finish.

Our plan, per usual, was that if it came down to a field sprint, Ansgar would be designated sprinter. Tim and I would lead him out and Ed would sweep up any scraps. Coming into the last big climb, however, word spread from the back that we'd lost Ansgar. Thus Plan C was enacted: Lead Ed out. He and I were both near the front and I checked in with him. He confirmed he still had some leg left, which was more than I could say for myself.

Funny thing about Ed. Despite tallying fourth-, third- and second-place finishes the first three races of his life, he remains a humble guy.

Here's something he e-mailed me this week: "I don't have faith that I'll be on the podium if the bunch sprint is more than 5."

To which I replied: "I agree. Parkside revealed your bunch sprint skills to be for s---."

(That's irony, kids. Parkside revealed Ed to be one of the top three bunch sprinters on our team.)

Starting on the descent with 2 miles to go, the pace went extremely hot and strung us out good. I found Ed around fourth wheel and settled in ahead of him. We leapfrogged a bit but did a good job of communicating our positions.

I don't think I gave him much of a lead-out, partly because we were getting boxed in. When a rider jumped too early and slowed in front of us, Ed capitalized, squeaking around the bottleneck and sprinting for first. I hope he has faith in his bunch sprint now.

Kevin and I rounded out the top 10 at 9th and 10th, respectively. (Kevin, however, was left off the official results, even though I clearly saw him finish ahead of me. I asked the officials about it later but it was hours too late to do anything about it. So, word to the wise: Always be sure to confirm your standing in the first 15 minutes after a race.)

I'm really proud of the turnout this year. We showed greatness in numbers and greatness in our riding, and we impressed a lot of people. More important, we paid tribute to our team's forefathers, Eric Sprattling among them. Whether you were the first to cross the finish line or the last, I thank you all for that.

Masters 4/5

This year's race was only two laps. It would have been a shame to drive all that way and race only 27 miles, so I doubled down for the masters 4/5 race, along with Ed, Mike Kirby and Mike Stanley. Again the field would be about 50 strong, but this time there would be far more blue than red, with strong representation from Brazen Dropouts and Bellin. Those were the teams that made up the winning break in last week's Whitnall crit.

As I'd expected it to be, the masters race was intense but smooth. The Dropouts had about eight riders and controlled the front. Compared to the earlier race, there wasn't nearly as much surging and slowing, which happens in the elite 4/5 races when someone goes off the front and then suddenly realizes that pulling is hard.

The field was about 25 when we took our second trip up the first big climb. I was the only xXxer. This time the field would shatter, which is a beautiful thing to see happen, depending on your position. For me, the view was pretty nice. The peloton broke up into a lead group of five and several chase groups of three to four.

I was in the first chase group. It was me, an Atkins rider and a Brazen Dropout. The leaders dangled a tantalizing 40 meters ahead of us. Unfortunately the Dropout refused to pull, as he had a teammate up the road. Talk about brazen, but, hey, that's racing. Not Brian Boyle-approved positive racing, but at least it was racing and not just riding in circles.

Atkins and I worked well together, but the gap grew. After a few miles I tried to persuade the Dropout to help us out.

"So you've got one of the five up there, huh?"

(Head nod.)

"Wouldn't you rather have two of eight?"

"I'll have to think about that."

"Well, don't think too long, because we're dying here."

Finally the Dropout decided to take some pulls, but it was far too late. I tried to break away on the last climb, and when that didn't work I tried to set Atkins free. That didn't work either, and in the sprint the fresh-legged Dropout dusted us both for sixth place.

Three cheers for masters 4/5 racing. I look forward to doing more of these races, and I hope Illinois promoters catch on. They almost take the sting out of being old.