I’m trying to wipe yesterday out of my mind. Actually, it wasn’t that bad a day. Like I’ve stated here many times, a race day is always better than a non race day.
I don’t have a read on what was going on last night. I don’t know a lot of the guys racing here. The misc. riders that flew in from the East and West coasts. That being said, the race was sketchier than shit.
A huge thunderstorm moved through Tulsa right at the end of the 1/2 race, that just proceeded the Pro-1 race. Crazy lightening, etc. The postponed the start 15 minutes and it was nearly done raining by the time them fired the gun.
Like I said, I’m not sure what was the cause of all the crashing. Early on, it was definitely the wet conditions. I hit the pavement about 10 laps in when a Fly V guy came through the 2nd corner on the inside at a completely wrong angle. Brad Huff, maybe Ken Hanson and a few others fell here too. I casually asked the guy when I was getting up if he thought he thought there was even the slightest chance that he was going to make it through that corner upright. From my perspective, he had close to a 0% chance of completely that corner vertical.
As the course dried up, the race got faster and faster. And, I thought, safer. But, that all went out the window with 5 to go. People were getting launched everywhere. Straights, corners, it didn’t matter. It seemed like everyone was protecting their positions and moving like it was the last half lap of the race. I was using this time to just get as rested as possible. I had a few places on the course that I could move up in big chunks, 10-15 guys, so I wasn’t worried about getting back up to the front. It is always nice to have places like this on a sketchy criterium. Not all courses have these places, but because of the wind direction, there were plenty of opportunities here. But, when the crashes started, I tried to stay towards the front.
There was a group of 5 off the front with 3 to go. Fly V put their team on the front and I was just roving in the field a few guys behind. I was good with 2 to go. 10 guys from the front, completely rested. Then it went to shit. I didn’t exactly see what happened, but Sterling Mangell and Rahsaan Bahati got hooked up and fell. Jason Waddell went over the top of them. I thought I made it by riding on my front wheel, but someone maybe hit me from behind or something, I got twisted up and my rear wheel came completely around and landed hard. I was instantly on the rim sliding, but kept it upright. So much for those new Shimano C35 carbon wheels.
So, the field was shattered. A small group of 9 or so sprinted. Joseph Schmalz, local Lawrence boy, was driving the break and the group at the end. He was riding crazy good, even though he finished 9th. Jonathan Cantwell came out of the last corner 5 back and still won the sprint. Pretty amazing. Results.
Okay, I have to go look at my bike. It is dirty and broken. I brought two sets of carbon wheels with me just in case. Maybe I jinx’d myself packing?
Velonews-Race notes:
Among the riders who crashed were Danny Heeley (NOW MS), U.S. elite criterium champion Steve Reaney (Cal Giant-Specialized) and Chris Winn (V Australia).
It would have been more appropriate to report on the 3 guys that didn’t fall.
There is a big woman's field here too. Their race seemed pretty fast.
Dinner. Those are fresh shredded carrots though. I had a couple beers too.
I was walking around downtown Tulsa at 2 am trying to wind down. I love doing that. It was my favorite part of the day.
We're staying in the Hyatt in downtown Tulsa. The best part of that is the location in relation to the Blue Dome Dinner. A couple block walk. Awesome breakfast.
The course yesterday was on Route 66. It runs right through the Blue Dome district to California.
“had a few places on the course that I could move up in big chunks, 10-15 guys, so I wasn’t worried about getting back up to the front”
I raced the 3’s. Where on the course did you make this work? I found the incline (going south) and back side (going east) worked for me.
Thanks for the reports!
They showed your wreck last night on the velonews live coverage. Not sure how you managed to stay up on that that, impressive.
BTW, the velonews coverage was very well done I thought.
A different kind of crash- Zajicek’s life time of doping in cycling and rest of his life ban from cycling:
By sanctioning masters riders, and now “old” Phil Zajicek, 32, for doping, the USADA can help cycling look to the future. I like the sentiment and even the strategy, but I don’t believe all the young guys are clean so it seems like a bit of a ploy that is kind of like age discrimination.
Velonews reported Zajicek immediately made the following insensitive, insulting and myopic, “statement:”
Today, I have accepted a lifetime ban from the sport of cycling. I have had an enjoyable and successful career which has taken me to all corners of the of the globe and I’m grateful for everything cycling has given me. It’s time to walk away from the sport and begin the next chapter of my life with the tremendous support of my wife, family and friends behind me.”
I don’t think cycling “has given,” the riches, fame and opporunity to travel to “all corners of the globe,” to Mr. Zajicek, but rather, he stole it. Again where he says he is “grateful to cycling,” Mr. Zajicek states the obvious were his career a clean one! He attempts to provide a victory retirement speech that forgot it was an admission to doping speech.
When Zajicek says he will walk away from cycling that depends- if I were a clean pro I would either sue him or hobble him in some other way.
Zajicek sucks!
Ted