Club Race Report April 24

[Chris Helwig]

A very big turnout for the Exeter Road Crit. The race started fairly quick with Craig Browne and Charlie putting in some early attacks. Breaks were going up the road fairly frequently. Mike Forsdike, Tony, Ivan, Tom Fernandez, Marty Mann, Vedova, Charlie, Brandon and Steve Meyer were some of the main animators. Groups would go off the front and get a 10 second gap, but there always seemed to be plenty of horsepower in the bunch to bring things back. Charlie seemed to just want to put in hard intervals doing monster pulls but not really attacking. With 10 to go it was all togehther and it looked like a bunch sprint was inevitable. In the last 10 laps some moves went off the front including Dean Lowrie and Andrew House but they were brought back with about 4 to go. Brandon did a hard pull with about 2 to go and Vedova also put in a hard effort. As we came around the bell lap it was all together as I led on the right and Steve Meyer led on the left. It stayed this way until the second corner as the pace ramped up. Up the right side Charlie came flying with Forsdike glued to his wheel. The hit the turbo down the back stretch and around the second last corner. Just before the corner Forsdike came off Charlies wheel with me on Forsdikes wheel. Mike put in a good sprint but I had good momentum through the corner and managed to take the win. Tom Fernandez got third. I need some clarification and 4th and 5th. I think It was Tony and Ivan but I am not sure of the order.

[Jellybean Teacher]

Good work on everyone's part in making this a fun night! There were a lot of vehicles coming on the course and everyone did a great job in moving safely over. Good communication in the pack to let others know what was happening. The crash tonight was because a lack of concentration while talking to a fellow rider beside him. This rider was looking left and talking while his bike was moving right. While moving right he ran into Craig Brown and then fell down. This was no fault of Craig's actions as he tried to move over and out of the way. The rider that went down admitted it was his mistake and thankfully he is OK. Please be aware at all times of what is going on and what you are doing.
I heard some concerns regarding riders that are still jamming up the final corner while trying to sprint for 7th or 10th spot. Please be very careful, there is no points or money for these positions. :eek:
Good work to all of the riders that were in breaks and making this race interesting. ;)

[the Superstar]

Last night was fun. Very hard to get away, even if you go with 3 or 4 fast guys, that leaves 10 fast guys in the bunch to chase you down. I figured pretty early it was going down to a bunch sprint and so it did. I hope Pat Shea can ramp up pretty quickly, he will be a powerhouse in breaks later in the season.

Overall, lots of new/emerging good quality engines this year to shove the old guard aside - Throop, Meyer, de Jong, Fernandez (even though he's as old as the hills, he's still a newbie), Mann- I know I am missing a few. Vedova is stronger than I think I've ever seen him and Helwig is back, much better than the last two years. Looking forward to getting the Gonclaves bros. back and Browne up to speed after exams - those three are the most aggressive and will light it up and shake up the races and get breaks going, that's what we need.

Alas, you're all going to eat my dust next week at Scotland. I am going to attack on the rollers on the 2nd lap so you know where and when, but it still isn't going to help you. MMMMMHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!