Squaw Creek Crit Report

One of the early laps, as the Cat 1,2 field crosses the start/finish area.

 A fantastic day of racing was enjoyed by cyclists who participated in the 2011 Squaw Creek Criterium, near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  I woke up early that day, not being able to sleep thinking about how I seem to be using a higher cadence this year... so at around 5am, I woke and went internet shopping for a 12-25tooth cassette (yeah, road cyclists are a strange breed). 

MASTER'S 30+

My early awakening also allowed me the opportunity to particpate in the Master's 30+ race that started at 9am.  I wasn't completely sure it was a good idea to enter this race, wanting to be my best for the Cat 1,2 race later that day, but had a good feeling that I could get one of the three payouts. 

I felt extremely confident about my chances in this race... my legs felt good and the field seemed vulerable to my game plan.  I was going to take it easy the first couple of laps of this 8 lap event that included a noteworthy hill up to the start/finish.  Unfortunately, Lee Venteicher's blue/white striped socks clashed so severely with his orange shoe covers and yellow jersey that my adrenaline started to boil over.  I couldn't stand the thought of enduring this visual assault, so changed up my agenda as he launched off the front from the start.

The first lap up the hill I found myself rocketing up the hill... I looked behind and was surprised to see a huge gap.  I felt great so kept rolling it up and over the crest.  I was soon joined by Chris Eastburn.  He was racing the 50+ event, so this was a nice situation, potentially.  So, with basically the entire race left to go, it was up to me and Chris to see if we can fend off the field for the rest of the race.

I rode hard, and Chris wasn't really helping much, except on the downhill, but he was much more confident in our gap.  I just wanted to make sure to get 'out of sight, out of mind'.  Not so much to psychologically deter the chasing field, but so that I didn't have to glance across the course to see Lee's orange shoe covers clashing with his blue and white striped  knee highs.

Towards the end of the race I let up, and started thinking about the main event.  I won the race and was happy that I decided to make the trip up early.

I am rolling up the hill, staying attentive as one of my
 teammates was up the road.

CAT 1,2 RACE

JJ Bailey and Lou Waugaman joined me for the 18 Lap Cat 1,2 event.  Team Zealous out of Des Moines brought a large team, with 6 guys in the Cat 1,2 race and a few more in the cat 3.  Our team vowed to make sure we were represented in any breaks, and  I promised myself that I would tear myself inside out to chase down anything that didn't include our American Equity squad.

Brandon Krawczyk made the trip from Minnesota.  He is a great racer who has a track racing  background, and can totally rip it up at races such as the BBQ Blue Crit in Clear Lake.    It became apparent that he was here to win, as he followed every move.  Lou launched off first as a sort of tester attack.  I countered this move once it was brought back, then I believe Lou went again, forming yet another nice group.  Brandon and Team Zealous were in each of these moves, but it was a bit early for the field to let anything stick.  Then JJ went up the road and got in a break with Jared Osterloh (Zealous) and Brandon K.  Ok, this might be the winning break.  Lou and I were able to relax a bit (sort of), and let that move develop.  Lane Anderson (Zealous) bridged up during the next lap on the hill.  His effort was explosive and no one else tried to catch his wheel.

Unfortunately, as we went up the hill on a subsequent lap, the field saw JJ get popped from the break.  I didn't even blink, rather launched up the road, not interested in chasing Jared and Brandon down.  This ended up being a critical point in the race.  When things settled, Jerome Rewerts (Zealous) had marked my wheel and a 5 man break emerged.

The 5 man break (left to right).. Lane Anderson, Brandon Krawcyzk, Jared Osterloh, Chad Bishop, Jerome Rewerts.

As you can see, Zealous Racing had three guys in the move so this presented some tactical decision making opportunities.  Brandon committed early on to not working, and assertively suggested that I do the same, mentioning that they would 'work me over'.  Perhaps, but I really didn't want the rest of the field to join us, so I eventually worked into the rotation.  I didn't have to get too frantic about it, because I knew Lou and JJ were in the field, and felt specifically confident that Lou would be able to win this race if they slowed down enough to let the field catch up.  Brandon ended up rotating through a bit, but seemed to be saving his legs.  I had a pretty good feeling that he was going to win this thing.  For a lot of reasons, he was in a good situation.  He earned it, however, by following every single move early in the race to be in this position.

Lou attempting to bridge up the the break.

I scaled back my efforts as the laps ticked away and the field seemed to be long forgotten.  Our pace slowed each lap.   Very strategically, Lou Waugaman had launched a solo attack with about 6 laps to go, hoping to bridge up.  A great move, because it didn't bring any other guys up, and would have given us even better opportunities in the finishing sprint.

During the last lap, I was expecting Zealous to use their numerical advantage to set up the win for one of their teammates.  Nothing seemed to be transpiring as I heard someone shout something at Jerome who seemed to be incorrectly executing their last lap intended tactic. 

Brandon winning the sprint, with me and Jared right behind.

Jerome kept the pace brisk coming into the last corner leading up to the finish area hill.  Perhaps I should have been a little more patient, but I attacked the group as soon as I straightened up from the corner.  I had no idea how this move would pan out.  Brandon and Jared got on my wheel and were able to pass me prior to the finish line. Congratulations to Brandon for doing what needed to be done to win, not to mention Team Zealous for getting three guys in the break.

I looked over my shoulder earlier in the move to verify that Lane and Jerome weren't able to contest my position.  I eased up a bit and ended up on the podium, with my third place finish.

Finishing the 2011 Squaw Creek Cat 1,2 Criterium.

Lou finished close behind our group.  If we would have had another lap or two, he would have made it up to the break... that would have been a complete shock to the Zealous guys, and made for an even better result for American Equity. 

JJ Bailey beat out the rest of the Cat 1,2 field to finish 7th overall.

Another picture of the break away working its way past the start finish area.

This was a great race put on by HBA Racing.  I think everyone will admit, that they enjoyed competing here. 

Results - Senior Pro/1/2
1 Brandon Krawczyk WAUKESHA WI GrandStay Hotels
2 Jared Osterloh DES MOINES IA Zealous Racing
3 Chad Bishop MUSCATINE IA American Equity Racng Team
4 Lane Anderson ALTOONA IA Team Emu
5 Jerome Rewerts NEVADA IA Zealous Racing
6 Louis Waugaman WAUKEE IA Velosport Iowa /American Equity
7 J Bailey DES MOINES IA American Equity Racng Team
8 Brendan Kealey IOWA CITY IA Mercy-Specialized
9 Christopher Eastburn CEDAR RAPIDS IA Mercy-Specialized
10 Lee Venteicher WAUKON IA Bikes To You / World of Bikes
11 Ryan French DES MOINES IA Zealous Racing
12 Finn Kolsrvd Iowa City IA
13 David Lippold WEST DES MOINES IA Zealous Racing
14 Steven Robinson DES MOINES IA Zealous Racing

I am now looking forward to the Zealous Race Weekend in Des Moines.