Spring Fling Criterium #4

Lawrence Kansas on Saturday, March 23.  Cold.  37 degrees.  Numbers have dropped.  Many of our teammates are on Spring Break.  The sky was overcast.  The course looked grey. 

Mark Ramsden and I arrived early this week.  Last week's high pace race still fresh in our minds.  We selected a good site for our tent.  Used the brick wall to help block the cold winds.  No heater today - Roger Harrison was supporting the God's Country Duathlon. 

We had a great 45 minute warmup. No more teammates arrived.  Mark and I went to the start of the men's masters.  Same fast guys as last week.  All the races at this series are "points races".   To get any place at all, you have to get points. You only get points on sprint laps or the final.  We knew we had to be aggressive.  Mark and I were at the back of the field as they rang the bell for the first sprint.  One lap to go.  He could see me looking around to find a way to the front.  Mark followed.  I made it to the front, but soon was tired.  Mark came around to take the lead.  He did a tremendous pull which allowed me to recover and increased our lead on the field.  I survived to take fourth place (points) in the sprint.  We both continued to ride well challenging the finish, but outside the points. 

Next race was the ladies.  Missy Holstead was our only lady racer.  She was in high spirits.  Her family was visiting and watching her race for the first time.  She did not disappoint.  Missy placed fifth in the women's category 4.  Great job! 

John Finnegan was our only junior racer this week.  He was first place in the junior 10 to 12 and sixth place in the juniors 12-18.  Great job John! 

Finally the men's category 5 race.  These four guys have made it to every race - Mike Miller, Bill Cole, Matt Doolan and Jim Lee.  If you remember Saturday afternoon at 3 PM, you know the snow had started.  The wind was blustery and the temperature had dropped about 6 degrees.  Bill rode over to me after his warmup to tell me "this is nuts!".  The men's category five race started quickly.  To make things even more fun, the promoter added an additional lap this week.  The field strung out.   Matt and Jim stayed with the lead group.  Matt made an attack on what was supposed to be the sprint lap - no bell rang.  Jim attacked on lap 4 - bell lap.  Jim won the sprint!  By the final lap only three leaders remained.  Jim was with them, taking third place.  Great job by all these guys!  Snow criterium! 

Although the last four races have been epic, we look forward to racing in warmer conditions.  Next Satuday is the fifth and final spring fling criterium.