Mixed feelings about this year's Mengoni.  It was very uncertain, and there were lots of attacks, and a break took it.  all good things.  I missed the break, and the field was stacked in favor of Foundation.

It was a small field, 78 riders.  But some big squads.  Foundation brought 13.  Weather Channel 8.

Attacks from the gun.  Foundation was big enough they could have four guys attack, five block, and four ready to counter.  I think they did this, too.  

It was hard to pick out which attack to go with.  Whichever move would have at least four Foundations, and then another five to ten guys.  And it was certain that a third to half of the guys would be passengers only.  

I got in several aborted moves.  It was tiring, even if it wasn't super fast.  Positioning was difficult as a result as well. There were moments when it seemed like I was in a group of 20, and the numbers and composition was enough to ride away to the finish.  But there wasn't a commitment to go.

I was talking with someone about the race today, and he told me there were moments when the field was broken into four groups.  I don't think I was ever further back than the second group, but that is still not enough to do well.

Eventually, around four to go a group got away, and then we pretty much brought it back to the point that it was dangling.  

Around Harlem Hill, with the group within sight, a few guys bridged, a few fell back, and the gap started to go up again.

30 seconds, then a minute with two to go.  And a minute with one to go.

Weather channel put someone in the move, but he flatted out.  With seven guys in the field, they should have taken charge.  And there were a few teams with four (Jordan, Brands) who missed the break who could have contributed.  But they didn't.  

So, we went for position.  I was doing well on the curves, but got chopped on the last turn onto Cat's Paw.  That cost me several places, which I didn't make back.

35th.  The field was sprinting for 16th.

The field came in at 2:00:17.  27.3mph average speed.

My hardest minute was a bridging effort on the second lap of the race.  My hardest five minute effort was in the fight for position in the final 2.4 miles.  

Last open race in Central Park for the season too.

I am still on the fence, 4:00 am wake up got me like, maybe a few Cunningham laps might be better Will decide last minute.

will decide last minute, depending on the weather

i'm racing

Giacomo's last-minute decision was to race.

3rd Place, but still very good, happy!

Will and myself representing Kissena.
During this past week, we have been practicing a surprise move to put on stage on the last 500m, consisting on jumping out at 85th st traverse with Will leading out trying to fool everyone with the surprise element. (...don't really stand a chance in pure sprint otherwise)
The race started pretty fast in the first lap, wet slimy condition, dark, not exactly hot, legs felt good spinning with ease.

Me and Will tried to stay always covered, except for a little stretch in order to catch a potential breakaway at the 2nd lap, but it died there.

Finally, as predictable, full group for the final sprint. We were at mid pack, exterior side, Will did the perfect move and before the straight part of EGate we were in front with decent speed. I continued pass will's wheel catching up with the first guy, 5-6 meters ahead, lost a bit of speed right at the finish, a guy passed me but preserved the podium still. 
Beside the classification, it feels really good to see this is the successful result of a strategy we planned and made it happen.

@WillKalbacker, I'll return the favor in the next one. Thanks!

We also saw the finish sprint with Ulrike taking 2nd! Congrats.

Congrats Giacomo!!!

feels good to actually have had a strategy and executed it. podium was the reward. 

race definitely started fast. we caught the women after harlem hill on the first lap. then sanity prevailed and it was business as usual most of the rest of the way. positioning was tricky in the last kilometers but it worked out. 

Ulrike looked a right locomotive on her new steed. Awesome!

I learned to not ride 75 miles the day before a race. Here's a picture of Ulrike and I prior to the mandatory 60 mile post race ritual. 

mugwump said:

Classic race.  

We seem to have had a few threads on this.  Hoping we can combine them into one.

Moderators can merge threads. Find the different threads and email me (or one of the moderators - Johny Wrongway?) the links and it'll be taken care of.

Merged!

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted here before, but's a pretty bit of NYC bike history, and a GP Mengoni race report to boot. Written by Adam Myerson.

http://web.archive.org/web/20020105025628/http://members.verizon.net:80/~vze2thhi/therealstory/Mengoni.html

Mengoni is, for reasons yet revealed, a MARCH Race this year

https://www.bikereg.com/crca-mengoni-grand-prix

Central Park is a great race course.  Flowy, winding, you always need to pay attention to get a result.

I registered for the 1/2/3

results?  Bros?

Richard and Adam raced.

I was in the 1/2/3.  Got in the first move up 110berg. Was crashed out of the race on the next rise.  

It was my first race! Ended up getting 31/45 as a final standing (+53), which I'm pretty happy with - all things considered.

The Cat 5 group was together for the first three laps - no breakaways, no drama. I stuck to the back far more than I should have. Halfway through the third lap, I saw an opening near the front and bolted for it; the gap I was aiming for closed, and I figured, well, I've come all this way. So, I sped to the front and led a solo breakaway that lasted 10-15 seconds (probably fewer). Tactically, it was a stupid move and ended up burning matches for nothing. But it was my first time at the front, so it felt like an achievement. I was quickly caught and dropped to the rear.

On our final lap there was a nasty crash at the descent before the Harlem Hill; a rider went right into the orange barriers before the concrete construction. The front of the peloton sprinted with the descent and the field separated into two groups, plus a few stragglers in the rear who slowed because of the crash (myself in included). I never caught the main group again. If we'd been smart, the 3-4 of us caught in the rear would've worked together to at least catch the second group, but we kept competing with each other. 

My biggest takeaway was to increase my group-riding comfort, which with plenty of things, will hopefully come with experience. Fitness-wise, I felt great and regretted not taking a few calculated risks earlier in the race. All in all, I'm addicted now, and I can't wait my next race.

Met with Michael and Adam briefly after the race. Saw JP who was heading home from his crash; hope you feel better soon! 

Ouch. @mugwump doesn’t crash often. Hope it’s not bad.

Jules said:

Ouch. @mugwump doesn’t crash often. Hope it’s not bad.

(you can read about it in the broken bones thread) .broken 5th metacarpal in my left (dominant) hand.  Bruised ribs.  wrecked helmet (dimpled, not shattered).  Last nights' sleep was hard.  

Sorry to hear about your crash, JP. Good luck healing!

I had an interesting morning. First time racing Cat 4 and it did feel less surgy and fairly fast. I got dropped the 2nd time up Harlem Hill, but managed to get back onto some wheels, eventually. That was a first for me so I was pleased with myself for chasing the group solo. But I was mostly lodged in the back again and going into the descent before 3rd time up the hill, I paid for my positioning. This now seems even more important than usual, due to the concrete barrier and narrowness of the road. So, starting up the hill I just couldn't manage to hold on and said farewell to the peloton again. This time I couldn't manage to chase things down. It's not completely surprising as my fitness is not fully there yet, especially when it comes to VO2 efforts. Nonetheless, I rode through to the end of what turned out to be a nice adrenaline spiked training ride. Latched onto the 1-2-3s for half a lap along the way and felt as cool as JP...until they hit the hill and left me in the dust. Also latched onto Cat 5s for a spell (saw Rich at the back and the crash he mentioned). But I let them go at the hill (yet again) and rolled the finish line solo. Michael C. gave me a fist bump and I rolled home to take a nap. 

CRCA added some photos from Bicycle Racing Pictures. Spotted pictures of Adam in a pretty dramatic crash-shot, a photo of my derrière, plus JP making a post-crash cameo. 

@AdamYaffe glad you had a good race. Just an FYI it's considered bad form to latch onto a field you're not racing in. Unless you're absolutely tail-gunning a few meters off the last rider. 

If you get popped, just solo it in or find some guys from your own field and work together.

@AdamYaffe

"But I was mostly lodged in the back again and going into the descent before 3rd time up the hill, I paid for my positioning."

Sorry I didn't write anything about this pre-race.  I was pretty certain the road going down to one lane for the descent by the pool would impact the race in some fashion.  Any team could string out the field before the descent to set up an attack for 110berg, and those at the back wouldn't have a chance to respond, and might even barely see the attack.

Reg closes tomorrow for the race this Saturday.  Anyone in?

https://www.bikereg.com/crca-mengoni-grand-prix

In general, I highly recommend racing in Central Park to everyone.  It's a great rolling course that can be fun to race.

And, because of all the rises, dips, and curves, it takes a good sense of positioning to do well.  It's easy to get churned from front to the back of the field almost without realizing it.  

Personally, since my last two outings in Central Park races ended in the ER, I've been loath to return until the road is back to normal at the north end.  No, my crashes did not occur there, but I'm still feeling a bit skittish all the same.

Anyone in for this on Saturday? I can't make L&C Sunday so think I will be signing up for the 3/4 race

Would love to but have fam plans out of town. Highly recommend since it's one of the few open central park races.

I am in for the 3/4.  Embarrassingly, I have never ridden in CP, let alone raced there.  Any tips?

MaxBucksbaum said:

I am in for the 3/4.  Embarrassingly, I have never ridden in CP, let alone raced there.  Any tips?

https://forum-archive.kissenacycling.com/discussion/968-p5.html#Comment_120580 

• Do a lap first to familiarize yourself (20 mins easy riding, 17 mins if you cut across by the fountain missing the Tavern on the Green etc).
• There's still construction at the top (North East ~ 110th) so going down that hill will be single file or two side by side max
• Start moving to the front along the long straight at Engineers gate will get you good positioning coming up to the aforementioned downhill then in turn to Harlem Hill
• Harlem Hill will be a ~ 1min effort & it's steeper than the PP hill, don't gas here as there is another hill not long after
• Half of the roadway has been recently repaved = smooth but there are no lines as of yet to separate joggers & riders so be careful. As of yesterday there are a few areas that still had to be finished so expect a few bumps (though they may have finished this already)
• Cat Hill climb (up to the line) is ~45sec uphill - Patrick mentioned a good sprint point is the Panther sat atop the rock on the left 2/3 of the way up
• Good luck!

Note: I've only done it a couple of times so I'm certain there are more nuances and others here have a ton more experience.

Look to move up and when the road opens up at the Tavern to start getting in position for the sprint.  

I would treat the bottom of the hill like going through GAP.  Be in a similar position.