Cherry Pie Criterium - Feb. 6, 2005
by Eric Walle

All right, here's how the 3s race all went down.  First off, let me say that I had marked this one off as one of my key races and was pretty focused going in.  I knew that with Allan, Doran and William up at the front and racing aggressively, I could sit in the pack and save some energy for the inevitable sprint up the hill at the end.  This plan was working incredibly well...

The boys were keeping things in check wonderfully as planned.  All three were taking turns at the front, with Doran getting in an early break which, unfortunately, came back pretty quickly.  Another break went away and we weren't represented, so the other fellers helped chase it down.  As they were coming back, I rode up to Doran to ask if he could attack again,  but he obviously had the same idea because he went to the front before I could say anything and  broke away.  Two others went with him and the first and only threatening break of the race was off and running.  dun...Dun...DUNNNN!  Doran did some ample work going up the hill and then had some trouble staying with the other two, no matter how loud I yelled at him from across the median as we passed in opposite directions.  Doran came back but the others were still out there, and the race was coming to a close.  I was starting to get a little worried as the 5 to go sign was already out.  With just a few to go,  Allan earns more than his 5 bucks of prize money by going to the front and drilling the crap out of it and making sure the break comes back.

With one to go, I crest the hill in third, all but assured of my fine victory kisses from the podium girls.  The inevitable attack occures but we run it down quickly and then...the big pause.  I got a little swamped in the sweeper but fought hard to stay toward the front and was looking good among the closely-grouped riders at the front into the last turn.  I turned on the sprint and was flying by everyone when a rider pulled right in front of me and comes to a halt.  I had to hit the brakes, turn hard into the rider on my right and then resume my sprint, which was still fast enough to keep my position.  The coveted 6th position was mine.  One lousy point, but a bunch of fun in the process.  The guys raced really freakin' hard, though, and I can't say enough about the effort.

As for the Masters race, Dylan is selling himself a little short, since his effort cut the only real break's gap in half in one crazy one-lap pull.  It was a tough, fast race, and we felt like we were the only small team that dared to go hard against Spine and Morgan Stanley.