Criterium Udpate from Devin

The following update comes to us from Devin, our very own Cat 5 Criterium State Champion. He raced this past weekend in Grand Rapids and did great!

Greetings Team Active Racers and fans,

It was a beautiful day in Grand Rapids for the 2nd Annual Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic. Last year, I missed the inaugural event because I was in Florida for my father's quadruple bypass surgery. This year, as I was warming up around the course, none other than the Battle Creek Bicycle Club's Wayne White showed up. It was good to see Wayne and after talking some, I continued my warm up. The course itself contained several stretches of brick pavement, a la Roubaix, although not as bad. During the race, though, it was rather disconcerting to have tires skip over pavement. At around 10:20 am, we gathered at the start to hear a short speech from the Grand Rapids mayor (who was wearing a green sprinter's jersey), and a rousing rendition of the national anthem by a local a capella group (Brian Clissold would have enjoyed it), and then we were off. Like the Ada Crit, the 4s and 5s were running together, with prizes paid out to 10 places.

The race was scheduled for 35 minutes, and the first ten minutes were hectic as the racers sorted themselves out. I was almost taken out on the third lap by someone coming in on me in turn 1. Fortunately, I handled the bike well enough to keep us both upright, and I tried to stay more to the front, although there was a lot of yo-yo effect. In the fourth lap, there was what sounded like a pretty nasty crash in the little chicane section near Van Andel arena, and again, I was lucky enough to be up front. There were 4 or 5 primes, and I actually led a lap, but no one ever got away; we all sat up after each prime, and clumped up again. I could occasionally hear Wayne cheering me on, and I can't tell you how much it means to have some support from the sidelines. Fast forward to 6 laps to go and the positioning started. Since I was able to catch my breath each lap, I was feeling pretty good.

With 2 laps to go, there were some serious separations in the making, and I accelerated to be at or near the front. Coming into the final lap, I felt I could at least make a top ten finish. We wound it up with 200 meters to go, and although I was not at the front, I did accelerate past a couple of riders to claim the 10th spot and a share of the cash prizes paid out in the Cat 4 races.

My lovely Polar cyclocomputer/heart rate monitor purchased from one of our sponsors, Team Active, indicated a HR average of 178 and a 23 mph average speed. All in all, a good day at the races.

While we were waiting for the official results, Wayne and I visited the Hopcat, a local watering hole, and I can say, if you are ever in Grand Rapids, it is worth the trip. Wayne also took several pics which I believe he will post on the Battle Creek Bicycle Club web site.
Well, that is it for my 2008 official racing season. Next Saturday, I'll compete in the Cereal City Corporate Cup 10-mile time predict sponsored by Team Active, and then on Sunday, I hope to see EVERYBODY out for the Cereal City Century. Until then, ride safe and ride strong.

Devin