Posted: Mon Jun. 25, 2007 8:59 am
Edited: Mon Jun. 25, 2007 9:42 am
Today is my *catch up on adding some things to the team pinnacle message board* day. Not that I think I could ever compete with Ken and/or Ryan in the goal to *have the last post in all categories* ... but I have some time this morning and I have a few things on my mind.
The oval at Loudon is one of my absolute favorite training/racing events. With it being so flat and wide open ... small attacks rarely work. We (Sunapee/S&W Racing Team) kind of treat each sprint like the end of a tour stage, whereby we try to reel in anyone off the front and controll the pace running into the sprint to give our guys the best opportunity to take the sprint.
We went into the night leading in the monthly points category (top two actually), so the goal for the night was to work to secure at least the top two places for the month. The plan was for the two team leaders to alternate sprints that they were going for ... which worked exceptionally well. The wind was kind of tricky and conducive to a bunch sprint as there was a headwind along the back stretch and through the turn leading into the sprint. This meant that the lead-out guys really needed to dig and sacrifice themselves in order to keep things strung out. But our efforts were rewarded by finishing order on the sprints. On a couple of occasions, the *boys in black and blue* even went 1-2-3 across the line. For those of you who are wondering about the pace, the A-race averaged just over 27 mph with top sprint speeds in the range of 38-39 mph.
About 1/2 way through the race something funny (and humbling) happened to me. I was 5th wheel coming out of turn two on a points lap (just over 1/2 mile from the line) and waiting to hear from one of my teammates that it was time to perform my lead-out duties. Strangely, I did not hear anything, nor did I feel any pressure from behind (something I have developed an ability to sense in my 24 years of racing) ... leading me to think that we had a small gap on the field. My thoughts quickly transitioned from thinking about my teammates to taking advantage of an opportunity to get points myself. I quickly surveyed the guys in front of me. Two of them were from a regional Cat 1-2 team (Legal Seafoods), another was from a regional pro team (NERAC.com), and the fourth guy was wearing black shorts and a generic black and red jersey with no team logos of any kind. I liked my chances!!! I knew the guy in front was leading out his teammate so he would not be a factor in the sprint ... that left two strongmen plus *some wanker* in front. Top 3 in the sprint seemed pretty certain. Things played out just as I had anticipated going down the back stretch and through turns 3 and 4. Then we hit the spot on the finishing stretch where the wind became favorable. One pedal stroke before I jumped ... the guy in black and red took off like he was fired out of a cannon ... leaving a hole behind him that I could not close. I finished 4th on the sprint ... earning no points and getting a big bite of humble pie. After the sprint I rolled up on the guy and black and red and immediately recognized him ... it was Mark McCormack. I had heard that Mark was there Thursday night, but had not seen him with my own eyes until that point. For those of you who are not familiar with Mark ... here is an exerpt from an interview on the cycling news website (http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/2004/interviews/?id=mark_mccormack04)
[quote:35eddc6528]"Mark McCormack is as accomplished an American cyclist as any in the sport today.
Racing since the mid-eighties, McCormack has become known as a patient, intelligent racer and evolved as a strong team leader of the Colavita Olive Oil team. He's won everything there is to win, from crits and stage races to, ultimately, the 2003 USPRO Championships in Philadelphia, PA. He's competed in or won races as close as in his hometown to as far away as two-days' flying time.
McCormack is also a cyclocross racer. He won cyclocross national championships as both a junior and an Elite. The key to his success, he tells Steve Medcroft, is to focus on three simple principles: set goals, stay focused and keep it fun."[/quote:35eddc6528]
So instead of scoring points ... I got my butt kicked by Mark McCormack ... Is this a great sport or what!!!
I have always had a great deal of respect for Mark ... who started racing on the New England circuit about the same time I did ... but has always been many times better than I.
I seem to have digressed, so let me get back on topic to wrap this up. Read Mark's goals again ... they seem simple but are hard to master ... *set goals, stay focused, keep it fun*. These are words to live by!
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