Wayne Elliot Memorial Circuit Race
May 26, 2011 By jdevarennes
We’re a bit light on actual reports but can’t wait forever. More important than the reports it was great to have 5 of us line up at the start, and all of us finish in one piece. As the course in Merrimac is relatively flat (though the hills hurt more than they looked like they should) the speed was fast, at least compared to other recent races. Cat 5 was OK except for one small crash, the larger fields had some problems and ended with an entire field getting the DQ for yellow line infractions. Nothing quite as exciting as that in our race. Well done to Chris and Jonathan for hanging with the youngsters.
Results
49 starters
23 Christopher Cugini
25 Jonathan Sainsbury
32 Doug Aker
33 David Green
34 Patrick Carr
Reports
David Green – Men’s Cat 5
Last week at Sterling I knew I would struggle up the hill, and I did. This week the course looked better suited for me with 2 small inclines, not really worthy of being called climbs, so I was more optimistic. Other than a crit, and perhaps Jamestown, this course is as flat as they come. Misplaced optimism.
Unfortunately it appears some youngsters joined the cat 5 group and as soon as we turned right onto 110 after the neutral start they were off and the pack got stretched very quickly. The early pace was much faster than last week and with hindsight I was too far back at the first turn , but I managed to fight back onto the tail of the group ahead and tried to recover along Birch Meadow Rd. Unfortunately getting back took more out of me than most and then on the pull up Hadley Rd with people pushing the pace up front a few of us got dropped again. Very frustrating to not even make the first lap with the lead group. Pat, myself and another (older) guy who missed the split formed a little group and worked together reasonably well but could not make much progress at getting back to the main group. I think we held the gap for a while but then I got re-dropped on the 110 hill again. Somehow I caught back up on Hadley Rd, but it hurt.
On lap 3 the other guy in our little group dropped off as we went up 110 and Pat and I pushed on. We then did the next lap together but could not close much on the people ahead. On the last lap after passing the cat 4 crash scene and after taking my turn on front and turning onto Highland Rd for the last time I looked back and Pat wasn’t there. Apologies to Pat for not checking earlier, not intended. From there it was just the false flat and then down hill to the finish so I rolled in 33rd out of 49 starters.
A friend who rides for MRC, and who I consider a strong rider, said it was tough up front even for him, fast with lots of attacks, so if he hurt it makes me feel better. He said this race was tougher than Blue Hills or Sterling because of the pace. Road conditions were OK, probably better than I expected, a few bad spots but organizers had done a reasonable job of marking them so for us off the back it was easy to get round. It was great to see 4 other NEBC shirts at the cat 5 start line, and more importantly at the finish. Finally a special mention to Noah Epstein who came in 23rd in the cat 4 race which from the reports I have read was fast and hard too. Well done to Noah.
Jonathan Sainsbury – Men’s Cat 5
Finally made it to a race. I miss NYC races. Didn’t need a car. Anyway…
Rode to the start on nearly empty country roads. The fog was dense. A bank sign reported 46 degrees. This concerned me some since my asthma is more of an issue when it’s cool. But it warmed a few degrees and didn’t hinder me.
NEBC racers started near the front. When the pack funneled down to a single lane, we lost our position and drifted back. Mistake number one. There was a attack off the front after a 90 degree turn, we couldn’t respond. This split the field in two.
The group dwindled down to about six or so on the third lap. We didn’t work well together. I spent too much time on the front. Kept trying to get off the front, but couldn’t. At one point I fully turned and ushered the guy behind to pass. A CCB rider patted me on the back and said something like, “good pull.” A backhanded compliment. Another guy asked if I was ok. Sure I was ok, just wasn’t planning on pulling everyone for so long. It proved fatal on the final lap of the 5% hill on route 110. Someone attacked. Chris Cugini and the CCB guy were able to respond. I tried, but didn’t have the legs. At the top of the hill there’s a right hand turn, which is followed by a long, slight slope. They gained too much speed for me to bridge. No one was behind me, went solo to the finish. Although I was caught just before the line. Mustered enough to not let him have the line. 25th place. 24 seconds behind Chris.
I think my third mistake, was that I should’ve made a plan to work with Chris, being teammates and all. I could’ve raced smarter with a similar effort.
But it was fun. It was great seeing so many of NEBC kits in the same field.
