Author

William Pankonin on May 9, 2010

Race name: Matt Wittig Memorial Crit - Masters 4/5 Race date: Sunday, May 9, 2010

Once again, Hampshire Cycle Club and Rainbow Jersey Cycles organized a terrific race in Muskego Park, Wisconsin. The perfect course in a beautiful park. The route offers quite a few features for racers to test their skills, executing different solo or team tactics: a nice light hill, a bump for good measure, two or three inclines, descents, wind, one hard corner, and gradual turns.

Bryce H., John W. and I lined up for the Masters 4/5 forty minute plus three lap criterium. Real easy on the first four laps or so. I grew a little impatient and decided it was time to execute my plan. After we had begun the climb, I attacked. One racer covered me, but I kept going because I wasn't sure what the field was doing. After a lap, we were caught. Precisely at this moment, John attacked like a rabid dog with only one rider covering. Perfect. Bryce went to the front directly and took charge. Twice he motioned and told me where to ride so that we would disrupt everyone's business of catching John. We rode slow on the front, blocked lanes, and generally caused confusion and made the peloton quite sloppy. One rider seemed determined to catch John as he pulled hard on the front, but he soon fizzled out after I would not come through for a pull. He shook his head back and forth in disgust and took a seat in the back. John drilled it for six laps, and no teams could organize anything to make the catch. No one rider was strong enough for the wind and hill to catch him solo. With three to go, the rider I mentioned previously re-appeared and hit the front again. We followed him and John was caught. When he was, I attacked. Part of me didn't feel very confident about this move because it wasn't the hardest part of the course. If you're familiar with the course, this happened on the little descent, just before the park entrance and sharp corner (maybe about 300 meters from the corner). I put a gap on the field and cut the corner as hot as I could with my HEDs. I moved onto the front of my saddle, got as small as possible, and put my heart rate at ninty-one percent into the wind. I climbed the big hill, the little hill, grabbed a big gear, and put my head down. Two to go. At the corner, I took a glance. No one. Keep going. No relief. This was looking good because the group could not take that corner as fast as I, one rider. Also, they were quite tired, I'm sure, from chasing a xXxer. Plus, Bryce was being a pain back in the front of the peloton.

After the climb, the bell rang for last lap. There was no doubt in my mind, that John and Bryce were back there making a mess of things -all for me. A little smile as I glanced back again at the corner, and saw no one. I climbed the hill again. Towards the top, I turned back one last time. The peloton swept around the corner, clawing and fighting. I crested and posted up as I took the victory. It was my first win; I hope I'm smiling in the photo.

I could not have pulled this off without Bryce and John, who were exceptionally strong and strategic racers. To top off the day, John took third in the group sprint. For most of the race, the group was either chasing John or me, or their plans were being thwarted by General Bryce.

Strong work fellas. Aggressive and smart racing. Here's a shout-out to my coach and xXx, who have all made this win possible for me. A team victory for xXx racing-Athletico.