Tufts Cat 4/5 Race Report - Chuck Dopfel, April 9
As I drove through Lincoln on my way to Tufts this afternoon I thought what a beautiful day for a bike ride. I was out early to meet my daughter who was coming into town to watch the collegiate races. With a 3:15 start time I wanted to be there before 1:30 so I would get a chance to visit with my daughter before I signed in and got a good warm up. I arrived at 1:15 with everything going to plan. I found my daughter and ran into Gio at registration. After a quick visit Gio and I both headed off to get our bikes and trainers and to setup and get ready for the race.
As I came back across the field with bike and trainer in hand I noticed Gio walking around with his bike in on hand and his rear wheel in the other. Gio’s race prep was off to a less then illustrious start—his rear derailleur was hanging loose having detached from his frame and it seemed like his race may be over before his warm up started. As I got my trainer set up Gio was trying to work out a solution to his problem, which he eventually did by borrowing a bike from his nephew (?? on the relation) who was there racing for Dartmouth.
At about that time Rick showed up followed shortly there after by Roy. So the four NEBC representatives, Gio, Rick, Roy and me, where all there getting ready for what was sure to be an exciting 30 laps of racing.
As you’ve all heard the strategy for the Tufts criterium is simple—be on the line at the start, be at the front into the first two turns, and stay there. I carefully picked my position to watch the end of the collegiate Mens A race to ensure I could find a spot on the line at the start. As they called us to the line things continued to go to plan as I was able to quickly, and relatively easily, position myself right where I wanted to be for the start. I was on the line three in from the right edge of the field – Ross would have been proud. This positioned me perfectly for taking an outside line into turns one and two,which I figured would allow me the best chance to come out of turn two in the top 10. Rick was on my left shoulder, Gio two or three to his left on the second row, with Roy sitting in behind Rick and me. All still seemed to be going to plan.
Then, the announcer welcomed us all and recognized Tufts and Quad Cycle for the fine event they where hosting. Not a big deal until …..... he called for Quad Cycle and Tufts riders to come up to the front—there goes my perfect spot for the start as there were more then enough Quad Cycle representatives to fill the front line and then some, oh well. The count down comes, the whistle blows, and we’re off.
Coming into the first turn, and then the second, it becomes obvious why it is so important in this race to be at, and stay at, the front. Coming into those first two turns the field basically comes to a stop to negotiate the turns. If your not at the front you get quickly left behind. Even with the Quad Cycle team taking the front line I still managed to come out of turn two in the top 20. However, after turn two the field is already starting to string out. With every one of the six turns on that first lap seeming like stop and go even in the 20th +- spot I already knew I had a lot of work to do to ensure I did not lose contact with the lead group. Between turns two and three I noticed Gio pull forward and figured I’d focus on him and work to get up to his wheel.
Through the second and third laps I settled in, found my lines through the turns and the places where I thought I could move up, and was slowly working my way forward. Each lap it seemed less like stop and go through the turns as the front was quickly thinning out and it was becoming easier to negotiate the turns. Coming up the hill into turn six and across the straight finishing the third lap I knew I was going to have to work hard over the next lap or two and find some help or I would be left behind as it was clear that the front of the race was beginning to pull away and would start to create a gap in front of me if I did not catch the right wheels during the next lap or two.
I was settling in and feeling pretty good. Down the straight I work around three or four riders who where clearly starting to face and I was sure that I was going to be able to stay with the lead group for at least a little while longer. Into turn one things where much cleaner now, this was the first time into that turn that I didn’t need to hit the brakes to negotiate it three wide. Coming into turn two I had my line picked and was ready to accelerate out of it and move up a few more places. Coming down the hill and into the left hand turn I had a rider just in front of me on my right who decided to not follow a smooth line but instead to cut it hard and crossed the line I was on. I had three choices—1 – run into his rear wheel; 2 – cut it hard and try to stay to his left; 3 – go behind him and to his right.
1 – had a predictable result which I wanted to avoid. The line I was on was already pretty tight and as I was ready to pull past this guy coming out of the turn I figured option 2 would likely have the same, or similar, result as option 1 – if I didn’t run into him the line would have been to tight and I likely would have lost my wheels and hit the pavement with or without him. This left me with one option, 3, straighten my line quickly and come around his outside, and try to make the corner. The result—right cheek meet hay bails. After straightening my line to avoid his rear wheel I was not able to get through the turn. I took out four hay bails with my cheeks—both facial and posterior—and wound up sitting atop the hay. Before I could even sit up straight, which didn’t take long as the hay was pretty forgiving, there was an EMT at my side asking if I wanted to be checked out—you think they might have been expecting some problems on this corner?
I said I was allright, sat there as the field went by, got up to get out of the way and check on my bike. Other then having my left brake lever moved and needing to center my front brakes everything seemed to be in working order—oh yea and the slight bruise on my right cheek and a very slightly sore neck. With my brake lever out of place (how I hit the hay with my right cheek and had my left brake lever displaced without any other front end damage I’m not sure) I knew I could not jump back into the race so I went to find my daughter as I knew she would be worried now that I had missed two laps. I assured her I was OK and headed for the pit to have my brake lever straightened out—I was not planning on getting back into the race but I figured I should leave with the bike back in working condition.
As soon as my brake lever was fixed Roy comes rolling into the pit with a flat rear wheel. As they are working to get Roy back onto the course Gio rolls in with more mechanical difficulties. I’m staying out but Roy and Gio are back on the course within a lap or two.
I go across the road to watch the race. A few laps go by and Rick rolls over with his race day over—he lost contact with the lead group and on this course that’s the end. A few more laps go by and I notice Gio out on the other side of the road—if the machine isn’t working right what are you going to do. That leaves Roy in the race to represent NEBC.
If there is any question that this is a race of attrition and as much a race against the course as against your competitors how do these numbers sound—66 start, 10 finish, 56 DNF. Of the 56 DNF I have no idea how many where pulled or simply called it a day because they could not keep up as opposed to having meet the hay bails or the pavement. Of the 10 that finished our one NEBC rider who made it to the end came in 5th. Nice job Roy!
As tough as this course is, and as short as my day was, I wish we could start it again—now. I’m new to this sport but I can not imagine a greater challenge then the one that this race presents to get to the front, stay on the front, and make it to the end. After going out so early due to forces beyond my control, or perhaps in my control with a little more experience, the competitive spirit in me wants an opportunity to give it another try to seeif I can finish this race. We’ll have to see if another year makes me any wiser come next April when I’ll have my next chance to give the Tufts criterium another try …......... for right now I can’t wait.