Jay n Dan were kitted up and rolled out with me and some 100 other hooligans. I was looking forward to 55 miles (25 less than 1/2's) and some solid racing...instead I got half the field washing into the grass on the first turn. It was pretty dicey from there on out, shouting, gesticulating, head shaking and swarming like Cat. 4's on the last lap. No sweat, first, second, third lap jitters...more like 12 laps of "I wonder if that guy is gonna take me out, or that guy or that guy."
Whatever that's racing, I get it, everyone wants to be 5th wheel. Well, to pour lemon juice into the gaping paper cut, we were neutralized on the 2nd to last lap with one guy off the front. Now, I am no walking USCF racing manual, but if a official tells you to slow down and move over till the 1/2's come thru...you do it. You probably shouldn't attack or yell back or ride 6 wide while the pro field is trying to negotiate the same corner at twice the speed. So, we pedal along talking, cursing and trying to figure out what the hell is going on...the officials roll up and tell us that they will re-establish the rider in the break and we will begin racing again. So, we wait for this to happen all the way till the last half lap of the race and the official once again rolls up and yells, "There is no break, you are racing for 1st place...go!"
So, one would expect for all hell to break loose and total mayhem to ensue...hmmm, nope. We looked at each other and basically soft pedaled the last climb, grupetto compacto, then were diverted off onto the pit lane where it was so packed and tight across the lane that the sprint started from almost a dead standstill at the top of the climb 50 yards to the finish...done.
Hmm. That was weird.
Yes, weird indeed.
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