Master’s Districts Crit Race Report from Hussein S (2021)

I raced the Master’s Districts Crit this morning in the 50-54 age group. This is the field that everyone whose name is not Larry who is or has been a national champ is in. I am not one of those. And no my name is not Larry.I drove down last night to make sure I got a good night’s sleep and didn’t get tempted into staying up and watching a movie with my wife and kids. Unlike the last time I stayed at a motel in the Central Valley the night before a race, I brought my overnight oats, which made for a better breakfast than the gas station coffee cake I had that last time. I was also well rested and feeling strong - unlike that last time.The course was at an old decommissioned airbase. It looked like a stretched out letter U with a line closing off the top. Two very long straights, a fast sweeper on one end and two 90 degree right turns at the other end. There was a meaningful cross wind blowing across both straights slightly tail on the back straight, slightly head on the finishing straight. It was hard to hide.I kept Nate’s advice in mind to be patient - but still jumped into a move about 15 minutes in which had someone from every team in it. But I guess Nick from Peet’s didn’t think he could win from the move and so did a good job messing up the dynamic and we got caught - and sure enough Jay Newton, Nick’s team mate countered with Rick Reinhardt from Folsom Bike. And they were gone.But Scott Giles from Schnur racing in Monterey - who is seven feet tall and cruises at 400 watts - wasn’t going to let them stat away for good. He drove it at the front, and I hung on for dear life. Just following the wheel - totally lined out - hurt. There was little shelter from the wind. And Giles, with  a bit of help from R4R and San Jose pulled back two up front after 20 or so minutes of pain.We then settled into a series of attacks, chases and counter attacks. A brief respite to catch our breath. And then more attacks and counter attacks. I just followed, because it looked like nobody was going to get away. It really felt like if a move didn’t have Giles in it he would pull it back. Then he would go, and Peet’s would pull him back. And so on and so forth. Then Giles got tired and Nick attacked again and got away. A half lap later Giles went back into locomotive mode and my eyeballs started bleeding again. With six laps to go the field split from the effort. I was sitting too far back and found myself in the back group. I felt like I had no choice but to do some work to get back to the front group. So I went to the front and with a few others rotated for a lap until we caught back on. They had caught Nick and had eased up, which helped.So, four to go and we were all back together. I decided I wanted to be on the wheel of David Allen for the final - he’s a very smart racer with a great sense of timing. He knows when to be and where. I found him, slotted in behind, and sharpened my elbows to stay there. And I did until the bell lap.But things got a bit messy going around turns one and two after the bell, as we navigated past a lapped rider occupying the inside of each corner. I lost Dave’s wheel, but got on the wheel of Dean LaBerge who was on the wheel of Sean Smith - who in turn had taken Dave’s wheel. This should have been fine - after all Dean is perhaps the most decorated sprinter in the District - and had team mates who would likely be leading him out. And - sure enough - with 600 meters to go, Kyle Glerum, Dean’s team mate (and current Crit national champ) hit it. Dave and Sean were right onto his wheel. Two riders jumped on from the other side of the bunch. And uncharacteristically- Dean let the gap open. There was a split second - go around him or let him get across? I mean heck it was Dean LaBerge - and his team mate was doing the lead out - I knew he had not been racing much - but I was sure he’d at least get on the wheel. All this happened in the blink of an eye. And when that eye opened the race was up the road - Dean was chasing and I was on his wheel with a gap that was too big to get across.As we rounded the sweeper into the finishing straight Dean fully blew and sat up. I went around him staring at a very long 300 meters of wind to the finish and three guys on my wheel. I settled into a seated track sprint - all I had left (which seemed to be the case for most at that point) - but two of the guys on my wheel came around me - and I held one off, taking eighth.Dave Allen - the wheel I wanted - won. I would have been attached to the front five but for one bad decision - being on Dean’s wheel - and not going around him right away. But then again - 9 times out of 10 that would be a good wheel in a sprint. The mistake rankles. But I’m pleased with the result in the field of hitters and given how hard the race was.Afterwards I did what Nate always recommends after critstering - and went for a 50 mile ride through the almond groves and vineyards before driving home.

Race Report from Hussein S.