Cobb Park Criterium Race Report

After picking up Calvin and Newt, we headed down to the Cobb Park Crit hosted by the South Chicago Wheelmen. The 5's race was stopped for some rain, but then it cleared up and was a beautiful day.

First up, Men's 4/5 race. We had a strong field, with Nick from Vitaminwater/Trek, Chris from Pegasus, the guy from Mack (don't know his name), as well as a quite a few xXx'ers. From the beginning of the race, it was all about being in front and taking a nice line through the corner where the course funneled and the fast, final corner. About half-way through the race, I told Nick we should pick up the pace and string it out. He agreed and we worked together, along with my teammates Newt and Peter. We never drifted farther back than 5th or 6th, and it paid off.

Going into the final lap, we all had good position. I had to brake a little in the final corner as I was pushed out a bit, but not bad. Peter won, Newt took 3rd, Nick 4th, the Mack rider 6th, Chris 7th and me in 8th.


Next up, Masters 4/5. This race was a little tamer in terms of the pace and surges, but still full of some strong riders. Newt and myself were racing, as well as Chris and Bob, so we'd have some teammates to work with. Newt and I let some other riders take pulls for the first part of the race, trying to conserve some energy. A few riders went after a preme, and we let them go. After the preme, they attacked to form a two-man breakaway. Great move, and we hesitated just a tad too long. When we did get a chase going, it was Newt and I and a couple other riders. We chased down a SCW rider from the break, but not the other guy. He stayed away for the win.

The rest of us battled it out for 2nd, and going into the final lap Newt and I were up front with a Verge rider. We took the last corner nice and fast, with no braking. This allowed us to sprint it out to the line. Newt was in front of the verge rider by a bike length, and I was behind the Verge rider. I didn't want to move around the Verge rider and pull him with me up to Newt, so I rode his draft for a little bit, then powered around him. Someone must have been doing the same to me, and he passed me just before the line getting 3rd. Newt held on to 2nd and I took 4th, with the Verge rider in 5th. The Beverly guys also did well, taking at least one top-10 finish.

A great day of racing, and thanks to the Wheelmen for putting it on. Also a huge thanks for the chip timing. That made it so much easier for everyone, and results were up in literally ten minutes.