Nutmeg Classic Criterium - Tim Dodd - 6-21-08
Beautiful weather and $500 in prime money brought roughly 120 35+ and 80 45+ masters to race around a park on a gently curving 1 mile course with one minor rise in it. This course has no real strategic elements in it to hold back the pack and with good prime money at stake, break aways were a very low probability. NEBC had Mark McMaster, Mike Rowell and myself racing in the Masters fields.
The 15 mile 45+ race, started with the usual break away attempts, but a fresh pack would have none of it. The pack settled in to a rythim with an occational burst for some $20 primes or to chase some breaks that got too far off the front. The pace quickened the final 5 laps with no teams being organized enough to lead out or control the pack. I slotted into the top five on the final lap, but collided with a fading lead out rider as I got pinched between him and surging riders. I sprited back into the top 15 for the final turn when two riders collided next to me and took me to the curb. At this point I lost my nerve and cruised to the finish in the middle of the pack.
A quick number change, and on the back of the packed 35+ race, oblivious to the front of the race, I focused on moving up through the charging field. It took about six laps of hard effort to get to the front of the race, where I got to say hi to Mike R. Mike Rowell stretched out the pack a couple times at the front playing locamotive on prime laps. Once near the front, it was a constant fight to maintain positon and found myself well back several times. The hightly motivated pack surged every 3 laps to win the 5 $100 primes. On the final lap, I spend a bit to find my way to the top 15 or so, only to get pinched out and finish well back in the field next to Mike Rowell. Mark McMaster came in shortly after.
I don’t think my elbows were sharp enough for this race.
Racing is fun.
Tim