Don't forget Vlad.

Totally missed Vlad

First, Vlad.
     Not only did he hang out on his way home from a ride, but he rolled out later on a Niner MTB and watched the final races.

Second, the video.
     It made the race look too easy.  Maybe that race was.

In the pro/1/2/3, I was not expecting such a placid roll.  In years past, the winning move  has gone as early as twelve minutes in, as late as three laps to go. And with several deep teams pinning on numbers, I figured it was going to be the right combination at the right time.  the major players were Weather Channel, which was all in for Mike Margarite, last year's winner.  Zipcar, which seemed to have several riders capable, Lupus, which had several riders for a break and a likely race winner in a bunch sprint--provided he (Scott Savory) could finish.  There were enough other hammers riding with a single teammate or solo that they were all wildcards.  Warm weather, at least half were in short sleeves and most without leg or knee warmers, just about everyone was in the mood to be fast.

It took me about two laps to feel right with the pace.  The turns around the church were so fast, I barely noticed the hill. The "tough" section was from the u-turn to the finish line.

I felt my only chance of success was keying off of others.  So once I attacked just as a break was caught.  And a few times to bridge up to a move ahead.  Everything was coming back.  A move would get ten seconds, dangle, and then get pulled back.  

I was feeling pretty good.  the race was sizzling fast, hard, but manageable.  The laps ticked down really quickly.

Around ten to go, I went after a disintegrating move.  I thought it was smart timing...until a teammate of Margarite's came blowing by with Margarite on his wheel.  I chased for a lap, but I was swept up, and everyone was hot to close down Margarite.  

5.5 laps to go.  It looked like Lupus was in position to control for a field sprint. I even remark to a friend, "you think Lupus is all in for Savory?"

4.5 laps to go.  A small move is dangling off the front.  It's hard to tell the composition as the blue race numbers are huge, the light low (we're minutes from sunset), and so many teams have so much black in their uniforms.  But Lupus isn't pulling, and the five guys at the front have stopped pulling.

I think I have three choices.  Sit tight and hope for the best.  Attack this very moment, try to get up to the break and hope I have the legs for the next four laps.  Or roll up to the front, keep the momentum, get off, position well, and attack at the next opportunity.

I chose option 3.  I kept the pace going.  But I spent a few seconds too long, and got blitzed.  Lost any semblance of good position.  That felt like I blew the entire race.

On the next lap, Lupus ratcheted up the pace and that was that.  Savory won.  I was too far back to sprint (10 paying places).  and got 33rd.

I felt pretty good overall, which was nice.  for the average speed of 25.8mph for 31 miles, I had a 245w average power, 285w normalized power (IF of 1).  27 minutes of coasting, 21:22 above 350w.  It might have been the fastest GT I've ridden, but not the hardest.  Thanks to the magic of WKO, I've had at least three GT's with similar power numbers, and one a good bit higher--the year both the course and distance was shortened due to near hurricane conditions.  

Fun.

Exciting reports all.

Ladies, remember if you're in wind (I mean on the very front) and you're not either closing a break down, attacking or setting up a teammate for a sprint you're wasting your effort.

It's great to show up together and race in the same field but it's freaking awesome to work together in a race. Here are three things to practice in your next race (pick one)

1. help a teammate move up - you're near the back and want to burn a match to move up. Find a teammate who isn't at the front and help ferry them up with you.
2. ride together and tell your teammate that you're going to attack next and make sure they're going to be ready to counter
3. find someone on another team and attack with them (because you know that #2 above will happen if/when you get caught)

CAT 4 race

Yang and I did a pretty good job of executing our plan for the first 20 or so laps. Which was simply to stay somewhere near the front.  With about 4 to go the pace started to pick up. With a lap to go I was on Dave's wheel, but as he mentioned he had to check the brakes, so I went on through and did my best to sprint, but just didn't have enough left. All in all an awesome race, so much fun, just wish there would have been more of us in the field.

CAT 3/4

This race was noticeably faster than the 4 race. Would have to check my computer for exact speed of the 4's but the 3/4 averaged 26.5 for about 48 minutes. Held on fine for the first 15 or so laps. Then with maybe 6 or 7 to go there was a crash ahead of me. Somehow escaped and weaved through the bikes and limbs, but had to give it an all out 1 min to catch back on. I was pretty much toast by then and did all I could to hang on for the rest of the race. Which I did, there was another crash going into the sprint, and after I saw that I was just happy to make it home with myself and bike in one piece. No doubt the hardest 50 consistent minutes of racing I've ever done.

Jules, is it ok to attack or lead the field if you think it will result in an awesome photo?
#askingforafriend

always know where the photogs are...that is all

That was the prob, the photogs were everywhere! But really, it was a stupid move and I blame the NyQuil. It was fun, but I won't make that mistake again!

Victor Chan always takes great shots. http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cycling-Races/2016-Race-Season/Grants-Tomb-Crit-2016/

I'll try and shared mine this week, I'm not used to the digital work flow. It took me a while to get into the swing of it but I've got some decent pictures (alas not too many Kissena shots). 

So here are my few shots from the Cat 4 Women's race....
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=23FFF703C5AB5603!10192&authkey=!AA1hwO-Ai98-fpQ&ithint=folder%2cjpeg
I'll put others up when I sort them out.

Oh man wish I could have caught up with you after the race. Thanks for the great photos, I always wonder how my number pin job looks when I'm on the bike, haha.

Sweet pics James, thank you.

Also, totally forgot to give @David Yang a huge shout out for pinning on two numbers to my skinsuit for each race. Couldn't have done it without, well i could have but getting arrested for indecent exposure isn't on my to do list.

One of the many perks of racing with teammates.

Registration for the 2017 edition of CRCA Grant's Tomb Criterium is open, with nice discounts for early and multiple-field registrations. 

To my fellow Cat 4s, we are lucky enough have three options to race: Cat 4/5 (40 minutes, beginning at 10:00 a.m.), Cat 4 (45 minutes at 11:25 a.m.), and Cat 3/4 (50 minutes, 12:50 p.m.). Let's get a team and a plan together. I'd like to race twice, one of those definitely being the Cat 4 race. What are y'all thinking? 

I'll most likely be in for the 4 race.  Maybe 3/4 if I'm feeling masochistic, but probably only just the one.

I'll be there for 5 and 4/5!

I'm doing 34 might also do 23

I'm so there. Any thoughts / advice on whether I should do the 4/5 in addition to the 5s? I feel like I'll probably be destroyed, and am likely not fit enough to compete with the 4s in the first place?

Ben, fitness shouldn't be a problem for you, but you might do well getting familiar and comfortable rubbing elbows in a pack.

I'm going to wait another couple weeks to sign up, but am thinking of 2 different approaches. Do the 4/5 and 4 if I'm in good shape and think I can have a decent chance of finishing on the podium/ getting some upgrade points if I race smart and have some teammates. If I'm not in the shape I want to be I'll probably do the 4 and 3/4 to get get in shape. From last year's experience the 4 isn't easy but the 3/4 was like riding a bronco as a bunch of 3's who were a couple points away from upgrading beat each other up on the front ad nauseum.

For the 4 race, let's formulate a team leader/plan.  Last year it was just me and Sean and I failed him miserably, but even with one or two more guys we could have put him in a much better position for the final sprint.

For this and other races, it would be helpful to gauge everyone's strengths (and weaknesses) ahead of time so we can formulate a cohesive winning team strategy.  Would be pretty pretty pretty pretty awesome to get Sean or anyone else on the podium.

Earlier today I registered for the 4 and the 3/4. I'm all-in on team strategy for the Cat 4 race. Let's put a Kissena on the podium. (I registered for 3/4 because I'm curious to experience higher-level racing and want the extra fitness.) 

I'm reg'd for the 4 race. I'm also considering doing the 4/5 race, as I would like to get some more upgrade points. But I'm going to wait on that to see how my fitness is come March.

Reg'd for 5 and 4/5

I'm racing based on consensus.  I'm game to work for someone's podium bid in the 4/5 and 4.  I'd love to support someone in the 3/4 race, but doubt I would be anything more than pack fodder.

Aight I'm registered for 5 and 4/5 

i really want to win grant's tomb, and not just to follow in the honorable footsteps of Mr. Malcolmson but also to undo the ignominy of the year when i waited too long, boxed myself in, braked behind some guy and got myself in just off the podium as a result of poor tactics.  so i'm targeting the 3/4

i've begun stalking my competitors on race predictor.  unfortunately, i don't know what any of them look like.  and if the 3/4 doesn't work out, i registered for the 2/3 as well