I’m happy that the season is over, because there is no longer any heat on a brother. I can sit in the group and watch instead of having to respond to all the attacks. We are off, and I have no idea what to do because I don’t have an objective, nor do I have a rider to watch. The focus is totally off me, and it’s nice to be an unknown again.
I have decided that I’m only semi-interested in the green jersey for the 2nd series. First reason, I really don’t want to put in the effort. Secondly, I know my form is going to be running out towards the end of the series. I do know that most of the sprinters are going to get dropped at Vista View so that is going to put me in the mix. It’s nice to see Felix with his crew of Preferred Alliance workers; they’ll make a nice train for me like in Orlando. At the first sprint my legs felt good so I decided to get involved. Around the last turn I’m sitting in the top 10, and after the surge I’m in the top 3. Felix jumps and I go with him. I finished 2nd in the sprint and it was because I’m not timing it right. That’s ok, I got 2pts.
Attacks go up the road, but they keep coming back to the group because no one has stamina to really make it stick. I haven’t even started to pay attention to who is going to do something at all with the final sprint. When the second sprint comes, I’m in a bad position so I don’t even bother to dance all the way to the line. Attacks still keep coming, but all it is doing to keeping the pace high.
With 3 laps to go my only agenda for this series is to “Outright” win a sprint. The only race I won in 1st series was uphill race. My best finish was 3rd on two different races. So, I didn’t really dominate the races like a true sprinter should. This series I want to really establish that I’m one of the top sprinters. I guess Abdel saying that I won the series because of the uphill race left a question for me to answer. I guess I need to prove that to myself more than him. With 2 laps to go no one is looking for me (Wow) and I see all the usual suspects start moving to the front. With one lap to go it starts to get going. On the backside road before you U-turn to the finish line Felix takes off like the sprint is 200 meters from the line. I wait while Chris, Abdel, Raul start surging. I make my own move but we are spaced out very nice. Great! Everyone is burning a match, because there is no one to draft behind. Felix keeps going around the last turn like he is going for the sprint. But this time I’m sitting on the back of a 7-man train and I feel good. I swear Felix is drilling as if he has enough to go all the way to the line, but he is fading. I decide that I’m going to go to the left side when the riders wait for someone to go for it. It slows down, and as soon as Chris W starts to turn is head, I take off. I don’t even give him a chance to take 3 pedal strokes, I’m off. I’m not even sure if anyone is behind me, but I know I have the jump on the group.
I take another couple of pedal strokes and I have more than 2 bike lengths. I’m about 80 meters from the line, and I hit it some more, and at about 20 meters I raise my fist. Point proven! I am one of the top sprinters. I look down, and I got to 38.9mph. Chris came in 2nd, Humberto took 3rd, Abdel and Felix rounded out 4th and 5th. Now, I feel like I am one of the premier sprinters in addition to one of the best overall racers.
I talked to Felix after the race and I told him he went too early on the backside. He said he was not to win to day but to set up Humberto. I told him that Humberto was on my wheel the entire time. They didn’t really communicate, and Felix was riding like he was trying to win it. He didn’t even look back, nor did he sit up. I think he was secretly going for the win, but settled for the “Lead-out Guy”, once he didn’t win it. He is in 2nd place for the Florida Cup Cat 4 Race Series, so I know he’ll be a factor whenever he shows up. I’m going to take this win and place it high on my short list of race wins. I then went to Whole foods, got some colorful produce to make a “Victory Salad” with, ate it, and laid upside down to let the legs drain.
Pacer Out!
