I've been crazy busy pushing
Cinnabon Premium Coffee Lattes for my Territory Manager job with
BYB Brands, Inc. (Do me a favor: they just got put into most
Ralphs Grocery stores in California, so go buy a can or twenty to help a guy out.) And when I haven't been doing that, I've been trying to spend quality time with the family. Riding time, with a co-excuse that it's the off-season, has taken a big hit, and as you can tell by the dearth of recent posts, so has this blog.
I've been meaning to write about the last race of the season (for me, for the team, and for most of SoCal). It was...
Ontario "Summer End" Grand Prix - 26 AUG 2007
First up was the 30+ race. Present for Team 5 Star Fish was Lance Coburn, Justin Beope, Peter Andersen, and me. Ontario is never nice in the summer, but compared to last year, the temperature was much more tolerable. It was hot instead of freakin' hot. Lance and I were looking to repeat our magic of last year and go 1-2 at the finish. Had it not been for my error in judgement, there was a great chance for it to happen.
I followed a first lap attack by Pat Caro (Schroeder Iron) even though I wasn't warmed up or feeling particularly good. I was gambling that Pat's attack would attract more than me and we would get a solid group of guys to roll off the front. When I saw this wasn't the quick case, I was happy to let Pat do the work and only reluctantly helped. Pat, unhappy with my less-than-committed approach, told me as much (though I have to admit he was rather polite in doing so). After two laps, I looked back to see a group, including Lance, bridging, but seemingly just ahead of the pack. I sat up off Pat thinking it would all come back together, and because I was tired, but Lance and the rest rolled by and the pack didn't come quickly enough. I waited instead of going on instinct, let Lance and the new break slip away, and then spent the rest of the race angry with myself.
Lance's group of five kept growing their lead, eventually getting more than a half-lap on the rest of the field. They were rolling great but also got a good amount of help from the rest of the Shroeder Team blocking (which actually seemed like a bad move since Pat isn't known for his sprinting skills). Back in the pack, and only after I knew Lance and the break were safely away, I attacked in hope getting away a secodary break. However, I was closely followed every time by a Schroeder rider not interested in breaking away, and then the rest of the field.
With three laps to go, I managed to get a break with four others but it didn't come together fast enough, and we didn't go fast enough, to keep the space we made. The field came back together and I was spent for the finish.
Lance held up his end of the bargain, schooling his breakmates for the win. Peter mixed it up for the field sprint and took 3rd, 8th overall. I rolled in at 12th, and Justin 17.
Part II - Pro/1/2/3
This story is a lot shorter because I wasn't as involved. I was tired from the earlier effort but did manager to help chase early and block later in the race. What I didn't manage to do is make the break, but that's where my trusty and strong teammates came through.
After a series of attacks and counters, a group of nine worked its way off the front. Brandon Gritters and Nate Deibler were our guys there, along with guys like Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing), Aaron Quesnell (Karl Strauss/SDBC), Thurlow Rogers (Sonance/Specialized), and Josh Webster (SC Velo). Both Brandon and Nate had been riding well, so the rest of us blocked and were happy to have them go off.
I don't recall the details, but somehow Nate got flushed out of the break. I think it might have been at the very end and he was swallowed by the field to the finish line. It didn't matter, because he helped get the break going and Brandon stepped up to finish the race off. With Bahati in the break, Brandon didn't chance trying to beat him in a sprint and instead attacked a lap or so before the finish. Everyone else looked around while Brandon rode with determination that led to success - a win! That's putting a firm stamp on a great season for him and for the team (notice his State Champ's Jersey in the photo).
Bahati took 2nd, Quesnell 3rd. Our very own Chris DeMarchi won the field sprint for 9th, Paul Che was 12th, Dan Vinson 25th, and I notched a PF (pack finish).
And that, my friends, was the end of the 2007 road racing season.
-adm
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