2014-02-08 Folsom Winter Criterium E2/E3 and P/1/2 Race Report by Kevin Tufts

So, with the weather looking horrible all day, I texted Will Brickler in the morning and told him we were going to lap the field. We were not sure who else would show up but registration looked slim. I set up under the team tent with the trainer, and waited to see who would brave the weather. Alex was taking pictures but the weather was enough to spook him off for the last 3 races of the day.  That says something.

Will pulled up underneath his girlfriends umbrella that she was holding for him. At the line for the E2/E3 race there were 12 whole racers. Yes, it was windy and yes, it was raining but it would have been nice to see a few more. The race started and a Marc-Pro/Strava guy took off. It went single file until right before the right hand turn to the finish on the first lap. I took off with momentum to hit the headwind first, and got a gap. Around the back of the course on the second lap I was joined by three other riders, and we never really looked back. We kept extending our gap and pretty soon we could see we were catching (lapping) the group. One of the guys in the break attacked, and reached the group, and then proceeded to put the hammer down. It took 4 or 5 laps for the three of us to catch up with him and the rest of the field. It was then cat and mouse with people attacking, and getting pulled back. Will looked after me, and chased back any significant breaks. He pulled me around in the group on the last lap, and I made up my position at the start of the last lap in the group to pull off 3rd.

I then spent the time before the next race getting my number changed, trying to stop shivering, and sitting in the car with the heater on drinking coffee until 5 minutes before the P1-2. I hopped on the trainer for 2 minutes and lined up at the line with about 20 seconds before the whistle sounded. The pace was a bit faster with around 23 starters, with Marc-Pro/Strava and Mike’s Bikes there to represent. My goal was to do this race for fitness, and see if I could finish. Nearly half the field quit, and Will got a flat tire.  I finished in the last 3 of finishers for 13th. The group I was in had the winner from the E2/E3 race and one of his teammates that had also done that race. It was miserable to be scattered all over the course in small groups but I felt that if I finished I would feel some accomplishment for not dropping out. My legs are now somewhat wrecked, and it was definitely a good workout. I’m definitely looking forward to racing with some numbers, and working tactics. It was really fun racing with less patience, and attacking more aggressively earlier in a race than I am used to.

Now I just need to get Will his $10 for his part in my $20 purse for getting 3rd.