In Your Travels

Unexpected Success at Carl Dolan Classic

The Columbia race course has been around for as long as I have raced in this area. I first raced it in 1993 or 1994. In all those years, the best result I can remember was 7th place, in 1994. I made the breakaway in the Pro/Category 1/2/3 race and hung with some of the toughest guys out there, including a former Olympian. Other than that this race has always ended in disappointment for me, until today.

It had rained in the morning but it stopped raining about 1/2 an hour before the race, and the wind was totally calm. Usually there is a cross headwind on a very difficult section of this course, right after a tough sharp climb. So, without the wind today it was difficult to force the pace consistently, and though I tried once or twice to get away, there was really nothing doing as far as a breakaway goes. Likewise in the Masters 30+ and the Pro 1/2/3 race there were no breaks despite frequent attempts, so our Category 3/4 race was always going to be a field sprint.

When I checked in to get my number, they said the race was running 1/2 an hour late, but in fact the race started on time and therefore I nearly missed my start, as did some others. Notable Seaford criterium winner Jon Raley was left on the sidelines, leaving me one less person to contend with!

The last lap included lots of jockeying for position as we approached the last corner, which is about 800 meters from the finish line. The corner is fast and open, and then you descend at well over 30 miles an hour for about 400 meters before you hit a tough fast climb to the finish line.

I was on my teammate Vic's wheel, but I didn't like the body language of the guys in front of him so when Seaford winner Evan Fader jumped hard near the bottom of the hill, I kicked it hard and followed him. He cut hard to the left to shake people off, but I clung to him as he wound it up the hill. He was looking strong and he is certainly 'z bizness, but he had gone way too early, and at about 150 meters to go he was starting to slow down.

At that point if I didn't jump I would cede the initiative, so I jumped, and I immediately thought I had gone too soon, but as we crested the hill and transitioned onto the plateau I was holding my lead and saw no one out of the corner of me eye. Thinking I might have it, I looked over my shoulder to see Bo Lee coming out of my draft and closing on me fast. I gave everything I had as we dueled our way to the line, and as we reached it we both thrust our bikes forward, poking at the finish line.

I thought he had it, and as he extended his hand right after we started coasting he told me he thought I had held on. It was so close neither one of us was sure who won! After I cooled down for a lap though, I asked the officials who won, and they said although it was so close, that Bo had beaten me by "the width of a tire." About one inch in old money.

But before I could feel down about losing, Jon Raley spoke to me and told me to remember that this is about having fun, and I'll tell you what, I wouldn't have had a bit more fun if I had won. I'm really thankful that Bo was there to make it such a close and hard fought sprint, and I'll always remember this day as the day I disagreed with Vince Lombardi. The spirit of the competition is the most important thing, and a closely contended well contested race is all you can ask for. If you win that is great but if you know that you left everything you had out on the course, and were given the privilege of competing in a fair and wonderful race, that counts for a lot more than the simple ego gratification of being able to say that "I won".

posted by Mark @ 4:40 PM