Melon City Criterium 2010

Ahh, my hometown race, put on by the club that I am president of. Lots of people cheer for me at this race, and I have added incentive to try and do well. The announcer revealed that there were74 starters... man this is going to be a challenge. (ABOVE: Mike McKim took some great photos including the one above that shows me riding around the switch back with fellow Iowa racers Brian West leading and Ryan Jacobsen following)

I started in the front row and let everyone go around me... seriously, I think I was in dead last place for a couple of laps.... I just wasn't feeling the groove yet.

 I didn't want to get in the trap of chasing down breaks, so I tried to stay in the middle of the field, which is not a comfortable place to for me.

I led a lap in the middle of the race, to sort of test out the field and get a feel for some good lines. Later, a break of about 5 formed, but I was so far back, that I didn't know anything about it.

With two to go I was in good position, right near the front about 4 or 5 back... Ooops, with one to go I was leading the field... sort of soft pedalling, but fast enough to try and discourage the inevitable swarming that takes place as the field accelerates around. I really didn't want to be leading the field, but this race is all about position, so I took my chances.

Luckily, there was a guy sort of leading out, so I hit the bottom of the hill of the last lap in second wheel...not ideal, but I was locked in and just nailed it up the hill. Sort of to my surprise, no one came around, I got to the hairpin turn still in first... I heard some crashing going on behind me...

I kept pedalling hard, but could feel myself fading, I looked to the right... no one... ah hah, I am going to win... just then I heard the announcer say "It's going to come down to the wire"... wtf?

 I already had my hand in the air celebrating my win as I looked to the left and I nearly got nipped at the line... nope, I got it...mission accomplished, I won the Cat 3 Melon City Criterium!

Thanks to the club/volunteers, race director Greg Harper, and the local guys who train with me on Tuesdays. Also, congrats to the Iowa riders... we ended up with 5 people in the top 10 of this race:

Elite Men Cat 3 (top 15 of 74)

1 Chad Bishop MUSCATINE IA Harper's Cycling & Fitness

2 Julio Jacobo LAKE FOREST IL PYOC

3 Chris Creed BARNHART MO Mesa Cycles Racing Team

4 Nicholas Frye MADISON WI Team Wisconsin
5 vaughn pierce GRETNA NE Team Kaos-Alegent Health

6 Andrew Buntz WESTDESMOINES IA University of Iowa

7 David Reyes NORMAL IL Bloomington Cycle Racing Team
8 Ryan French DES MOINES IA Goodtimes Racing

9 Steven Robinson DES MOINES IA Goodtimes Racing

10 Brendan Kealey IOWA CITY IA Mercy-Specialized
11 Austin Turner IOWA CITY IA Colorbiotics
12 Michael Jenich SHOREWOOD WI Team Pegasus

13 Ryan Jacobsen IOWA CITY IA Atlas Cycling

14 Ryan Zook NAPERVILLE IL Club Bicicletta

15 Jonathon Schilling GROVER MO Big Shark Bicycle Company