John & Matt after the Road Race
"Rip their legs off" has been our road riders mantra for a few years now. Of course our legs seem to be the only ones in pain after the races. With limited exceptions, we rarely did well collectively to feel we made an impact. However, this weekend was a pleasant change for the boys.
We traveled to Rock Hill, SC (just below Charlotte, NC). It was a long drive. We left Columbus on Friday morning around 10 and reached Rock Hill around 5 PM. We did stop to pick up Darren in N. Atlanta and had lunch, none the less - it was a long drive. We then had races to do Friday night. Friday night were "match sprints", we weren't sure what to expect - we had never done a race with match sprints. They were fun!!
Friday night's "White Rose Sprints"
The course was a closed off street in downtown York, SC and it was 500 meters long. Each heat had 8 riders line up and the first one across the line wins. The first two finishers advance to the finals and the next two advance to the next level. We had two riders in the category 5 sprints. That was Matt Ragan and John Stowe. They did their first heat and each advanced. The next round found John qualify and Matt missing by inches. John raced the semi-final heat and did not make it to the final. John was 10th overall in the category 5's - Good job John & Matt! I raced the Master's 35+ field. I raced my first heat and won, so I moved to the finals. Scott Matty's raced the Master's 45+ group and they only had 8 racers - so they all got an automatic birth to the finals. My final was first and I started out fine, got a little jumpy about 150 meters in and started ramping it up for my charge. I should have been patient like the guy who sat on my wheel and used my draft to launch around me for the win. I placed second. Scott's final was next and after waiting 3 hours to race - he put it on the old fellas - Scott won the final's for the Master's 45+ field!! Darren Sorrells didn't race the sprints, but was kind enough to take pictures and video of everyone else. Thanks Darren!!
Saturday Rock Hill Criterium
The category 5 boys started the day off with their crit. Their field was around 65 riders on a fairly technical course with 6 turns, a fast decent into a tight corner and an uphill climb to the finish line. Matt and John were in good form and raced well. John took the lead in the race and pulled the field a little too long and could not hold the pack after coming off the front. He raced from behind and started catching the pack towards the end of the race, but just missed a pack finish. Matt stayed in and worked with the group and finished 11th. Scott and I were in the combined Master's 35/45+ field. We had around 65 riders too. I had good position on the start and the announcer started the race with a prime (pronounced pr-eem), a prime is a race within the race. Prizes, cash or goods, are given to the first racer to cross the finish line on the next lap after the announcer calls the prime. I started near the front and took the sprint for a $25 prize right off the bat. I dropped back into the field for the rest of the race and moved up slightly near the end. I finished 10th. Darren was in the field racing well when the riders in front of him lost control in the fast turn on turn 5. Darren left the race course to avoid the crash and when he was back on - he had lost the field and his race was basically over. Scott kept good position in the front and stayed there through the race. He did it so well that he won the race in the Master's 45+ field!! At this point Scott has won both events in a three event weekend. He was the dominant racer in the 45+ field.
Sunday's Patriot Trail Road Race
The weather rolled in Saturday afternoon and rain poured across the Carolina's. We traveled to the road race in a light drizzle and prepared ourselves for a day of miserable riding. Shortly before our race began the rain subsided. We even got some sunshine near the end of the race. The course was flat to rolling terrain with no real features to separate the pack. Scott, Darren and I were in the combined Master's field and rode the first 30 miles of a 45 mile race with nothing of note to report. At 30 miles, Scott and Darren moved to the front of the pack to assure themselves of good position if any other riders attempted to charge off the front (known as an attack). I stayed mid pack until about 5 miles to go and began edging my way up. I saw Scott go to the front and pull the field several times and each time Darren would go in front to keep Scott from working too much. Darren would cover Scott's pull at the front to allow Scott to save energy for the end. Scott had two 1st places and he was the prime contender for the overall Omnium title for the Master's 45+ group for the weekend. Well, the field's speed really picked up around 3 miles out. We stayed around 26 -28 mph straight to the finish. Scott got on the front and really picked it up in an attempt to shatter the front group, but was not able to make it stick. By the final 1000 meters I edged to the top 10 and the pace had really picked up. We hit the 350 meter mark and I was afraid I would get boxed in and made my move. It was far too early, but I hoped I could hold my sprint longer than the rest. I almost did, but was passed in the last 40 meters. I held on for second place. Darren was spent from all the work protecting Scott and settled for a pack finish. Scott got his handlebars hooked with a rider who quit pedaling in front of him, but managed to avoid a wreck, by the time he cleared it and started sprinting again, he crossed the line in 10th place. Scott was a marked man from his first two days wins and no serious rider was letting him take off without a challenge. This made his road race a real testament to his overall speed and power.
Overall the weekend was a smashing success for the Green team. We all made our presence known. Due to the miss queue with the other rider, Scott's 10th place made him miss the overall weekend title by a point.
Summary of results:
White Rose Sprints
Category 5
John Stowe - 10th or 11th
Matt Ragan - 16th
Master's 45+
Scott Matty - 1st Place
Master's 35+
Steve Murray - 2nd place
Rock Hill Criterium
Category 5
Matt Ragan - 11th
John Stowe - pack finish
Masters 35/45 +
Scott Matty - 1st place
Steve Murray -10th place
Darren Sorrells - pack finish
Patriot Trail Road Race
Category 5
Matt Ragan - top 20 finish
John Stowe - top 20 finish
Master's 35/45+
Scott Matty - 10th place Master's 45+
Steve Murray - 2nd place -Master's 35+
Darren Sorrells - pack finish Master's 35+
Omnium - overall
Steve Murray - 1st place Master's 35+
Scott Matty - 2nd place Master's 45+
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