Race report: National Criterium Championships
The 2009 National Criterium Championships in Downers Grove, Ill; I'm in the blue-white-orange kit, swerving to avoid the crashing rider's bike in the sprint finish. The guy was banged up but okay; not sure about his bike.
Event: National Criterium Championships
Location: Downers Grove, Ill.
Date: Sat., Aug. 15, 2009
First race: 3:30, Elite Masters’ 4/5 35+, $500, 30 mins. + 1 lap, $20, 75 rider max.
Second race: 5:10, Men’s Cat 3/4, $1,000, 45 mins. + 1 lap, $25, 175 rider max.
First race
Overview: The National Criterium Championships weekend in Downers Grove, Ill., just west of Chicago, is the place to be in mid-August if you’re into racing crits. It’s a lot of guys’ A race for the second half of the season. This was one of the first races I ever did, way back in the early 1990s, when I raced the citizens’ race in my PDM kit on my Italian-tricolor Schwinn Tempo—sad but true. I’ve done this race a few times since then, as a Cat. 3 and Cat. 4. It’s simply a great course and a fun weekend of racing. And it’s my hometown race, too. I was born and raised 20 minutes away and went to college nearby and have family who live in the area.
Otherwise, as posted on the race Web site:
Bicycle racing in America is defined by the Criterium. On almost any Sunday, from coast to coast, you can find a Criterium race. High speeds, short courses, multiple laps, a tinge of danger and heart pounding sprints are the hallmark features of the “Crit”. Every year, USA Cycling professional bicycle racers compete for their national Criterium title in Downers Grove. Along with speed and skill it also takes teamwork to produce a Champion. Often times the teams will choose one rider to support and carry team pride into the final sprint. The USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship features not only America’s best racers but also those from around the world.
Weather: 88 F, 50% humidity, sunny. (A little hot for my Irish blood.)
Course: Hard, moderately fast, technical 1-mile figure-8 course with eight turns.
Prerace: Got to course early to warm up before the first races started; this was helpful as I hadn’t raced here in many years, but it was exactly as I had remembered it. Double-checked bike. Registration and all the prerace prep went smoothly. Felt fully energized and was well hydrated if a little nervous before start. I was motivated to do well. Had family and friends at the race.
How it unfolded: Downers Grove is one of the those big events that you have to be ready for—that is, ready for the race before the race, waiting strategically by the barriers to get to the start line first. It’s a frantic scene most years, and this year was not very different, though not as bad as I’d remembered. I got lined up first behind the barriers about 15 minutes before the start time, on the west side of the start, and easily got into the first row of riders. Getting there early pays off.
There were about 70 riders lined up at the start; 50 finished.
The start of the Men's 4/5 35+ race. I'm thrid from left, in the blue-white-orange kit.
On the whistle I clipped into my pedal fast and rode into the first turn fourth wheel, which was perfect as this was a short race of just 30 minutes, meaning it could be fast depending on the quality of the field. As it turned out, and as I’d predicted, there were a dozen strong guys, and they went right to the front and sat on there for the rest of the race, riding a moderately hard but not crazy pace.
Lap after lap we in the first 10 wheels or so kept things single file or in a double-paceline rotation. This whittled down the bunch soon enough, and by lap three or so it was 50 guys or so, with the bulk of riders sitting in behind the lead 10. In the early and middle parts of the race there were two crashes that I counted—or that I heard happen behind me.
I was fairly impressed with the lines that lead riders were taking, as there are eight turns on this course, some of which you have to take pretty fast. I felt comfortable and safe staying no more than 10 deep. I got the impression too that at least a half-dozen guys were sandbagging this weekend’s races to get some good results before upgrading. You never know.
The pace was never super high, and along with one or two riders I jumped off the front a couple of times, looking to start a little something. Nothing doing, though. Pace was just high enough to pull back everybody who attacked.
The minutes ticked away steadily, and I decided to wait for the sprint. In the last four laps or so a really strong-looking guy jumped hard and dived into a turn on the slightly downhill section, in turn 5, and immediately got a gap. He time trialed for a lap on his own and looked like he might stay away, but he faded and was caught with two to go.
I sprinted right out of the final turn and passed two riders—and avoided a crashing rider on a soon-to-be destroyed Cervelo—to take fifth in the fieldsprint and eighth overall, two places out of the money. D’oh!
There were a few guys who then got a gap going through one of the turns with one or two to go and stayed away. I got caught up behind a few riders. My mistake.
In the final lap I noticed the field had blown up and that there were gaps everywhere, riders totally strung out, with about 10 men duking it out in the last turns. Going into the last three turns I kept moving up and was about seventh wheel going into final turn, turn 8. I sprinted right out of it and passed two riders—and avoided a crashing rider on a soon-to-be destroyed Cervelo—to take fifth in the fieldsprint and eighth overall. Two places out of the money. D’oh!
Personal performance: Though I got a top 10, right after the race I was kinda bummed I didn’t get a top three or five. I should have. I was able to. I just didn’t have my head in the final for some reason. I think I was subconsciously trying to save something for the much tougher Cat. 3/4 race an hour after this one. Looking back, I should have gone all out for this win, instead of going only 80 or 90 percent, as I think I did.
Carnage at the National Criterium Championships Men's 4/5 35+ race. I was able to safely swerve around the mess, up the road in the blue-white-orange kit.
At any rate, it was great to have lots of family and friends out cheering me on. After we headed to my brother’s house nearby for BBQ, beers, and BSing about racing. All in all one of the best weekends of racing all year.
Race notes: Saw a rider in a GS Mengoni kit at registration; it was David Wiswell. I was in my Kissena kit and introduced myself; we had a quick chat. Wiswell was in for the Pro-Am race and, I think, the big race the next day. He might have been thinking, What’s with the Kissena way out in Downers Grove, Illinois? I explained I was from the area and home for a long weekend.
Me, my rig: 6’2″, 185 pounds; Merlin Agilis with Dura Ace 9 speed, Easton Circuit wheels, and Continental Grand Prix 4000s (at 120 psi). Complete bike: 19 pounds.
Results:
Masters’ 35+ 4/5 Criterium
1. Jaggi, David, Flatlandia, Oak Park, IL
2. Bryant, Bob, none, Wheaton, IL
3. Widoff, Ben-Jamin, Hawaiian Cycling Club, Woodstock, IL
4. Miner, Paul, Spin Doctor Cyclewerks CC, Bartlett, IL
5. Good, Ron, Endure It Racing, Naperville, IL
6. Fielder, Bobby, Tower Racing, Westmont, IL
7. Simon, Craig, Vision Quest, Chicago, IL
8. McMahon, Daniel, Kissena Cycling Club, Brooklyn, NY
9. Fuller, Bryan, Bicycle Heaven, Geneva, IL
10. McCarthy, Brian, South Chicago Wheelmen, Lockport, IL
…
(50 finishers)
Results by D and L Tech
***
Second race: 5:10, Men’s Cat 3/4, $1,000, 45 mins. + 1 lap, $25, 175 rider max.
Second race report to follow.
