Saturday, 2/28/2009
Cal Poly Classic Circuit Race
Men’s B
UCLA: myself and Hippolyte (MB Omnium 2nd)
CPSLO: Miles LaMon (MB Omnium leader) and the dozen minions
UCD: showed up in force with another dozen
UCB: just short of a dozen
UCSB: plenty
and two’s and three’s representing the other schools

8 laps of an 11-corner, 5-mile circuit on very narrow, slippy,
centerline-controlled concrete lanes with 5 corners rated GHC (Gravel
Hors Catégorie)! The course was about as flat as possible with 140’
climbing per lap with just a very short 3% grade out of a creek bottom/
Hwy 1 underpass which also coincided with the headwind.

Disclaimer: I have no wattage numbers to report……

Expectedly, the attacks and counter attacks came immediately on the
first lap. I nearly retired from the race when an inattentive fool
attempted to pass his front wheel through Hippo’s rear wheel
immediately in front of me. He tried vainly for several seconds,
ending with a really earnest effort, but dismounted his bike mid-
peloton and bounced his head hard on the ground several times within
centimeters of my front wheel. With the gravel pit obstacles
strategically and precisely positioned at all the corner apexes and
with this near miss, I seriously considered retiring. Hippo also
wasn’t amused and decided to check out the professional way – so the
first AUTHENTIC attack was initiated by Hippo which could only be
followed by CPSLO strongman Miles. It was hilarious to hear the
groans of the beaten. Hippo and Miles have all the respect. Those
two soon stretched a several hundred-meter gap. An interesting
phenomena in dysfunctional disorder resulted in CalPoly riders
continually launching off the front in pursuit of their strongest
rider, often taking a Davis, SB, or Cal rider with them in tow. I was
fiercely, verbally abusing the bunch of green ag-men til one of their
smartest went to the front to elucidate “Intro to Team Tactics”. It
had mild effect. Apparently, Hippo and Miles thought their two-up TTT
would irreversibly crush the peloton psyche and would be bad for the
fan base, so they slowed – grupetto compacto.

Then the fun started with either Hippo or myself covering every attack
for lap after lap. CalPoly, Davis, and Cal were with bottomless
supply. Hippo and I controlled the group. We knew that the only
attacker that mattered would be Miles, although we couldn’t let any
other CalPoly rider get up the road. The worst was when a CalPoly and
Davis rider would attack and the response was tardy due to narrow lane
restrictions or apathy. Once, I brought back a CalPoly-Davis-SB group
myself over nearly a half lap when the other schools were unwilling.
As I tired from nearly a dozen moves, I’d swap duties with Hippo and
he’d do the same, and so on.

Finally, a move with Miles and teammate with two UCD men went up the
road, but I was stuck in near mid-pack. A small SB and Cal group with
CalPoly sitters broke from the peloton in chase. I was excited with
the potential selection and risked passing the peloton on the gravel
shoulder to bridge up to the chase group. I went to the front ahead
of the CalPoly sitters and soon took a strong pull to bring back the
front four off ahead about 150 meters. After my turn, the SB guy on
my wheel wouldn’t/couldn’t come through, nor Cal. I considered the
situation for about 5 seconds – I upshifted two gears and sprinted
away from the point of the “chase”. Honestly, I never looked back. I
had doubts that I could make the solo bridge and hang on to Miles’
group, but the race came down to this selection so it had to be
tried. I reflected in Paul’s pain cave and searched for the way out.
I TT’d resting on the forearms, grasping my Shimano cables, trying to
decisively close the gap as quick as possible. Damn, this was fun!

The break of four made a serious mistake. They let me get on. They
should’ve dropped a toolbox of hammers to prevent the catch. Oh
well. Hippo watched my move, trapped further back, and covered the
chase which initially made some ground on us. My lead five worked
really well together in paceline and we stretched out our lead over
the next lap and a half. Assessing my companions, I knew I had the
win, even against two team pairs. I knew that I only had to match a
Miles attack or sprint finish. My goal has been to beat Miles this
year and I couldn’t believe I met the opportunity so soon!

In the last kilometer, the Davis and CalPoly workers bumped up the
pace and I watched Miles’ wheel. Miles accelerated hard out the
saddle with 350 meters to go. Way too soon! We dropped the other
three like stones. I sat in the saddle and followed as silently as I
could. I’m sure he was shocked when he glanced back with 200 to go
that I was in tow. He really set the fires and redoubled his effort.
Game on. I touched off my jets and easily came around Miles to put
some bike lengths of domination behind. There’s no way Miles’ is
gonna take me in a sprint. You’ve got to have that sprinting
confidence. Thanks Hippo and John for the training! The dejected
peloton rolled in more than a minute after I believe. Miles was
probably pissed that he didn’t cross the line first and alone in front
of his expectant people, but he was rewarded over the weekend, earning
more than enough points with the 2nd and the crit win for the first
upgrade this year out of the B’s to the big show. Miles’ shared the
next day that he thought it was a hard race. It’s funny how different
the perception is with the V! I thought that was the most fun race
ever. Hippo and I worked the teams with numbers. Oh frabjous day!
Calloo, Calay!

I want to thank all the teammates at CalPoly for a really fun
weekend! The numbers that showed up made the tactical race planning
awesome!

-Dave