CRCA: SEASON OPENER
March 7, 2009

Fantastic turnout for the race today. The prospect of a March race in relatively balmy conditions obviously had many excited and we were all rewarded with a great turnout on Saturday morning. Some enjoying the warmth more than others, the hardiest of Team Setanta conducting himself excellently by opting to wear only shorts and a jersey.

The pace felt fast to winter legs and it was great to look down at the speedo to see the pack was zipping along at 25mph. Most seemed to feel pretty sprightly after the long holiday and breaks went off and were reeled back in with a pleasing regularity. Settling in near the front I enjoyed both feeling and watching Central Park go by for a couple of laps before figuring it was my turn for a blast. Thinking a post-rollers west side attack was a good opportunity, I tried to stealthily roll off the front before letting off a bit of a sprint. A small gap on the field opened up, then a Sanchez-Metro rider and an unaffiliated CRCA rider joined and we setup a small but determined paceline. Aided by our respective teams, we sat out in the wind for less than a lap before running out of gas on Harlem Hill. Pretty spent, I settled into a sheltered pack position, polished off my Gatorade and contemplated the sprint finish.

With the final lap bell, my sprinter’s role beckoned and it was time to go in search of teammates who’d been mixing it up whilst I rested. Settling in to enjoy the familiar view, we survived a bit of a battle round the west side before making it through to The Horse’s Alley in relatively good shape. At Carousel a 5 or 6 man leadout train ominously maneuvered up the left side of the pack, and as we were distracted the pack swarmed, boxed us in and we lost our well-won position. Fortunately further team mates came to the rescue; and with a flanking escort I was towed back up to the front in prime position. We yelled encouragement all the way to Cats Paw as our leadout man gave his all before swinging off. Aware I was starting the sprint a little too early and feeling form and legs rapidly fading, I rather cowardly abandoned plans for a salute, opting instead for a rather sheepish dip over the line. All in all a cracking start to the morning, the weekend and the race season.

- Alistair Siebert

Setanta raced smart, with guys in every break, counters, etc. Todd and Neil were active. Alistair was in the best break of the day. I bridged early to a break with John Cutler, a very strong break-mate, but the guys we were bridging to sat up and it was too early for a two-man break to stick. I also countered after Alistair's attack when people were tired, apparently too tired to join me, cause I dangled alone for a few minutes and then was caught.

At the end, Matt and Chris powered up to the front with Alistair in tow who sprinted early and won by a big gap!! Fantastic job Alistair! Great job to Matt especially who dropped Alistair off at the boathouse. Chris would have scored too, but got boxed in. Me too (boxed in earlier at left turn around carousel), got stuck, was about 30 riders back coming down the hill toward the boathouse, crossed over, thought "what the hell, why not?" and sprinted on the left. Took lots of air, but had air to sprint in. And that was enough to snag 5th, with Dave Duhan on my wheel for 6th. So Setanta with 1, 5 and 6. Foundation got 2nd. A CRCA rider got 3rd. Don't know who got 4th. Top placing of NYVelocity was 7th, I believe. No Metro. Good start!

- The Prof

My only addition to Dave's report is that Chris may have been in the top 5 as well but had a difficult line which I forced him into when I pulled off for Al. It seems though that we had all 10 of us at the front during different parts of the race which speaks well for early season fitness. I had a great time during our first race.

- Flounder