Last night I took part in the inaugural Milton Cycling Academy race at the Milton National Cycling Centre. Fourteen of us lined up in the A group which consisted of senior elite and master racers. I knew prior to the event I was in for a night of hurt but figured no better preparation for this weekend Track Ontario Cup than racing with the fastest.
The evening began with a 60 lap scratch race, first one across the line wins. Well it did not pan out as I had hoped. You come to the conclusion after 10 laps when your legs and lungs are burning that perhaps a 15 minute warm up on the rollers and 10 minutes on the track didn't cut it. I had no illusion of animating the race yet I did expect to finish it. I was dejected and the rest of the night did not look any more promising.
Up next was the kilo sprint, 4 laps of the 250 meter track following a neutral paced lap on the Cote d'Azur. Four to five of us were placed into heats with the first two qualifying for the final. Pretty simplistic event yet can be tactical. In my heat, it was a straight up sprint with us finishing in the same order drawn as we started. Unfortunately I drew last place. 5 more of these efforts and my legs may have begun to open up and feel better!
Following the kilo was the team chase. A single race with us drawn into equal teams of seven. The race is won when 50% of the team catches the other team or the team with 50% intact riders is ahead after 24 laps. Each of us were required to take one pull at the front in the same order we started. It was decided initially we'd take half lap pulls. I had the feeling it was going to blow apart when I overheard others talking about gunning it once everyone took their initial turn. Sure enough our pace yo-yo'd after 4 laps and gaps began to open. A gap I closed zapped my legs and once on the front for my second pull, I did what I could to maintain the pace, pulled off and out. Our team then began to fragment down to four riders and was eventually caught.
The final event for me as I did not qualify for the kilo sprint was the elimination. Every two laps the last rider crossing the finish line is eliminated until two remain at which time, a sprint to the finish determines the winner. I half expected to be eliminated early but finally found my legs and did reasonably well finishing 3rd.
The evening was not all that bad and I had a single takeaway... a proper warm-up.
Results - March 24, 2015
