Last year in the WCA 45+ races it was the same old story where JW Miller would walk away after the first lap and win, Greg would chase and finish in second solo, and third was up for grabs. This year after the first 2 races, the race has been up for grabs with 2 to 3 guys together going into the last lap. Estabrook was no different, but for the 6th time it has ended the same. Ferguson wins.
I have been around racing of various types most of my life. There are some people that know how to win and Greg is one of those guys. He has the knack. It’s been great experience to race with him this year and to see him make it happen on so many occasions. That has really been fun and motivating for me.
The following is my race report on the 45+ race at Estabrook. Greg and I have been employing team tactics or at least attempting them in cx this season. Our pre-race conversation was the same as it has been all season. And it goes something like:
Greg – Mike, I think we should try and get you the win this race.
Mike- sounds good to me.
Greg- I’ll get the hole shot, you be on my wheel.
Mike- sounds easy enough (not)
Greg – I’ll need to slow down after the first lap, you take over if you are there; if you are not, I’ll make JW work to catch me
Mike – ok
Greg, you understand that you need to be on JW’s wheel or whoever is chasing me down?
Mike – understood, I’ll be there don’t worry
Greg – thinking to himself – wonder how many crashes he’ll have to recover from or if he’ll get clipped in at the start, or have air in his front tire, …..
Greg - once we get to 2 laps to go attack / counter attack until the end
Mike – ok
Greg – be in front before the corner on the ball field.
Gun goes off, Greg gets the hole shot. I’m not on his wheel but I’m sitting 4th going into the first corner … until some other really tall dude cuts the corner and pushes me into that mud hole on the outside of the first corner. In a heartbeat, I was sitting about 10th place and several sets of groups behind Greg and his chasers. After a couple of laps, I eventually caught up to JW in second place and sat on his wheel until he caught up to Greg. Greg with 2 laps to go (I think) attacks. It takes JW the entire lap to close the gap just at the start of the last lap. I counter attack just before the first left hand turn and get a good gap with Greg’s help.
JW pulls me back and passes just before the spiral and gets around lapped traffic coming out of the spiral that ended up in our way briefly. Had to go like hell to get back on his wheel just prior to the barrier in the woods but my left cleat didn’t release and I found myself on the ground. I thought it was over and was settling for 3rd. I also thought Greg would not get to JW and our streak of winning all the 45+ (except the one neither of us attended) was coming to an end.
Well, Greg had other ideas and bridged up to JW and attacked him and dropped him before the corner on the ball field to win his 6th WCA 45+ race this season. His experience and knowing what to do is part of it. But there is a huge gap between knowing and doing. He just knows how to find a way to make it happen. Impressive to witness up close.
Greg, thanks for ANOTHER learning opportunity.
Thanks Mike!
ReplyDeleteAnother fun race.
Try to have a plan, and understand it won't necessarily work out exactly as you plan it...someone will run you into the mudhole/tape, someone will not make lapping them easy or smooth on the bell lap, but, have a plan, and try to make it happen.
Thanks for "being there", Mike. And for being willing to "play"...
Bike racing is very educational, as I'm fond of saying.
I'm almost positive this photo is of the bell lap, entering the spiral.
ReplyDeleteI was a little gapped already coming out of the u-turn barriers, closed it, and only more so after we lapped that one rider, coming out of the spiral. I really wish she had not made it so hard to pass her, as JW pulled away, beyond her. Good move by JW (to get around you before the spiral [don't let him do that again!], and to get away, after lapping the other-race rider). Hard to close it to him, with half a lap to go.
I think we were both "pressing" when you had your misfortune before the barrier/run-up. Luckily I had enough left in the tank to close it to JW on the backside pavement after the run-up, and then attack - before the u-turn on the infield...