Snake Alley Crit Race Report

I won 2/3 of this race, but lost the most important third.

- First third: Race for registration. I was numero uno. That's right, the very first 4 to register, so I got the coveted first row, farthest to the left. Sweet.

- Second third: The race to the base of the first hill and to the bottom of the snake. Won that, too. I had a textbook clip-in, led up the base of the first hill and was second going up the snake where it funnels just after the flat road that bisects it.


That's where things started to go bad, though. I was squeezed at the top, into that little hole on the left most top of the snake as it transitions into the downhill stretch. VOOMPH, VOOMPH, VOOMPH...! The sound of 4 - 6 guys as they fly by the right of me, while I'm screaming "Go, go, go!!!" at the guy who squeezed me into that hole and then slowed to nearly a track stand. I recover, but now I'm in about 6th position. The next time around, I loose about 5 seconds on the snake to the leaders. Repeat seven more times, and I'm about 12th or 13th position, right behind my teammate Brian and there's no one behind me for at least 20 seconds (a ton of racers were pulled, evidently).

I know I'll have my work cut out for me getting a top 10, but I also know I'll place in the top 15 (and therefore in the money), so I keep going as hard as I can.



On the 9th lap, about halfway up the Snake, "KAPOWWW!". My tube blows up, blows the bead of the tire off the rim and I come to a screeching halt (well, about as screeching as you can when only going 8 mph). That's it, it's over. No free laps, no hand-ups, nada. The rules of Snake Alley are clear. Once you're out, you're out. I can't believe it. The best crit of the year, 4.5 hour of driving to get there, over a $100 in gas and hotel, my epic starting position and clip-in, and I'm taken out by a flat. A huge "Ohhhhh..." from the crowd escapes, and then they all give me a short applause for my effort and in recognition of my bad luck. I stare at the ground, mouth a few choice words and force a thin smile as I stand up. William, who rode a great 5's race and placed 12th came over and consoled me with a handshake, so that was cool.


I recover by the next time the group comes around and cheer on Peter and Brian, who are sitting in about 6th and 12th place now. A few more laps go by, and I here the announcer call out the winner and second place, and then Peter's name. Peter gets 5th, while Brian gets 9th. An excellent day for xXx, a 5th, 9th, 11th (JT in the 3's) and 12th, and oh, my DNF. Oh well, I'll be back next year.