Successful Team Tactics!

It was great to see team tactics actually play out successfully during the races this weekend - who would have thought!

On Saturday, Barney, Gordy, Mike, and I drove up near Eau Claire to do the Durand RR and take on the Minnesota teams (the race is part of their series). A few initial efforts here and there to try and establish a break, but nothing stuck early. Near the start of the second lap (of three), Mike attacked with a team Flanders rider, and they got a good gap. I bridged up a little later with another guy in tow, and the four of us rode together until we got close to the end (the guy who sat on my wheel then proceeded to sit on wheels in our group of 4, and as it turned out we should have tried to drop him). Mike and I tried a couple attacks/counter-attacks toward the end but we could not get away. Then hitting the final turn to the 2-tier uphill finish I attacked, and when I was caught near the last uphill Mike countered and took the win! (And Gordy took first as well as he was riding the 60+ category.)

On Sunday, the GDVC crit worked almost as well. Gordy and John van Susteren attacked early on and got a decent gap, then we (Curtis, Doug, and I) and LAPT covered every attempt to bridge (and I think frustrated several of the chasers!), and their gap grew. The pace overall must have been pretty hard as lots of guys were being shelled off the back. Unfortunately Gordy had 45 minutes of power in his legs today, and the race was an hour! So Gordy fell off from van Susteren, and with about 4 laps or so to go, I bridged to Gordy hoping he had some gas left in the tank - alas the gauge was empty! What was left of the pack (~15 guys) eventually caught up to Gordy and I, and then Curtis counter-attacked and soloed in for 2nd (in his first Masters race too!). Doug ended his race with a flat (bummer!) and I ended up in the top 10 (8th I think).

I know we also had some other good results today at the GDVC crit with Lisa winning (Women's Cat 4), Barney taking 3rd (M 3/4), Robert winning (Cat 4), Matt taking 3rd (Pro/1/2), and Amanda and Arrietta taking 4th and 5th (Women's Open). Nice work everyone!

Eric