Summer Blunder....I mean Solstice Stage Race

The title sums it up...worst race ever that i have been to, whether it is cycling or running. The promoter dropped a huge chance to make it a great race but I may be getting a refund. Here is how my weekend went.

Friday- Left at 10:30 to drive down to Ohio and race
Friday night Criterium- Started at 8:35 PM, yes that late and immediately it was fast. The course was a straight away, 90 degree right hander, 200 meters into a 180 turn around 100 meters then a 90 degree lefty, straightaway, then another 180 turnaround then a a small chicane, then a starightaway. The race was very technical and I felt extremely good. About 10 minutes in a guy sits up 2 wheels in front of me and caused a huge gap. Then no one wanted to close it, so I spent about 28 minutes with 4 other guys trying to chase back into the group to no avail. I was pissed because for the first time ever I was cornering very well and jumping out of the 180's really good. We got pulled with about 15 minutes left, but shit happens.
Saturday- woke up early and rode out to the course, which was "5 miles away". How about 15 miles. We got there at 9 am when we were supposed to roll out for the 85 mile RR. After a bit I realize we are delayed again. At 9:45 the race started and I told Sven and Graham I would help them if they need anything as my GC plans were shot. The first 4 laps were so boring and nothing happened other than trying to stay out of the crosswinds and keeping up near the front. Lap 5 chaos insued. On the first corner there was a truck with a long trailer stopped and I got around clean, but then heard bikes clanging off the trailer and it was a massive crash. I knew Graham was behind me so I sat up for a second only to see him some out of the dust of the crash without going down, so I had him get on my wheel and killed it to get both of us back into the group. With 2 miles to go I see 5 guys go down in front of me again and it caused a small gap, with Mike House driving it on the front for his teammates to sprint. I got to within 3 seconds and another crash 50 meters from the line, which I narrowly escaped. I got the same time on GC as the 16 guys who finished and also took 14th in the race, so that was very good for me. Sven got 4th and Graham got 13th.
Saturday night- 5 mile TT. All I am gonna say is another Hour plus delay to the start and the course was an out and back with massive headwinds on the way out. I started out much to quickly and was a little tired from the road race earlier in the day. Still managed a 9:36, which was only 20 seconds slower than Graham. The course was not 5 miles, but about 4- 4.5 miles.
Sunday morning- We left early to go to the race and come to find out, it is not starting at 9 am, but 11:15. I got so pissed I turned in my timing transponder and asked for my license back. The wanted to shorten the race for 104 miles to 56 miles, all I said to the was, "if I wanted a race to end up in a field sprint I could have stayed in Michigan to do that." And with that I left my 13th place on GC and came home. I may have had a chance at a top 10 but I was sick of the bullshit. I am gonna talk to usacycling about revoking the promoters permit and getting my money back. As a lot of people were planning on doing. Regardless, I learned a lot. I guess we were averaging 410 watts for the crit, which for me is huge. I also learned that my work on riding in groups has improved a lot and my placement is doing well. I hung with some very good riders this weekend and am happy with myself, I just wish the race was not run so poorly. What can you do though. I also met a lot of people in Ohio and got some compliments on how I race. I even had a thanks from Graham for dragging him back into the group after the crash, so all in all it was a great weekend and a piss poor weekend. I have some pics from the TT, but will post them later. Thanks for taking the pics Tim and heal up buddy. OUT!