Yesterday was my first race back since April. I decided to do some low key races (Central Coast Circuit Race) just to get started again. When I got to the start line, it wasn't exactly low key. There was a lot of talent from all around northern California. I was in the P/1/2/3 race which was 90 minutes around a 4.3 mile course that had a little bit of everything. There was a flat section, some rollers, one decent little climb, and of course wind. The race started with the ~20 man field setting a moderate tempo through the first flat section. Once we hit the little climb, a few riders attacked to get things going. I followed wheels until I thought there was a strong enough break to go with. On a little roller into a crosswind, Billy Crane from Webcor made a solid attack. Cal Giant rider Brandon Trafton was on his wheel. I decided that this was a strong group of guys to go with so I tried my luck. A rider from McGuire's was able to bridge up to us just before the descent, and by then we already had about twenty seconds on the field. I noticed the McGuire's rider started skipping pulls so I decided to set a hard tempo on the little climb to get rid of him. It was down to just the three of us. Well for a little awhile at least. Steve Reaney from Cal Giant decided to bridge up to us to make it four. The gap was at about a minute now. The moment he bridged he attacked us and went right on by. It was a full on Cancellara attack. I must admit, it was a pretty spectacular attack. Billy didn't look he was able to chase so I made the move to jump onto his wheel. Brandon and Billy were able to make it back on so the four of us rotated for about a quarter of a lap until Steve decided to attack again. I followed his wheel, and it was down to two, and there were four laps left. We each took our pulls evenly until about 2 laps to go when my legs started burning.... a lot. Steve was driving it pretty hard on the slight uphill to the finish every time we went by. And due to the tail wind he was able to hurt me quite a bit. I had the advantage on the little climb, but my legs were just not having a good day at this point in the race. On the final lap he attacked on the little climb where I should have had the advantage, but my legs were not able to get the job done and follow his wheel. He got about a 10 second gap and it stayed there for the remainder of the lap all the way to the finish. I would have been happy to lose to Steve if it came down to a sprint, but he was able to do it the harder way and come in for a solo win. Second place isn't too bad considering who I lost to, and the fact that it was my first race back in two months. After the race Steve came up to me and told me that he had to use every trick in the bag today to get rid of me. It doesn't matter who that's coming from it always nice to hear. It also shows a lot of respect when someone tells you that. All in all I had a lot of fun and met some really generous people. It was a good way to start of the 4th of July weekend. Next race will be tomorrow afternoon for the 4th of July Davis Criterium. It's going to be a hot one. The harder it is the better it is for us. Thanks for reading.
