RATL Munroe Falls, Ohio, May 09, 2009

From CRCycling

Cat 4 Race

By Chris

Max and I carpooled down to RATL. I did a quick warmup prior to the CAT 5 race and then watched that race prior to the 4 start. The CAT 4 race had 21 riders for the last RATL, the turnout was likely affected by the threat of rain. The race is 15 laps and almost every lap had the same rhythm to it: sprint after the hill, moderate through the parking lot, slow after the S curve, moderate up the hill. There were riders that jumped off the front at times but could only stay there for a lap or 2. Summit threw in about 3 primes at the hill which changed these up a bit but for the most part it was uneventful. The group had probably 18 left coming to the bridge on the last lap. My position was about 10th and my legs were feeling strong for a uphill sprint. I was thinking in my mind how to get a good but SAFE position for the sprint. I was never able to find that position and ended up boxed in on the left. I finished somewhere between 6th and 10th probably as the sprint finish was packed and it was hard to gauge my placement. Another race where tactics caused me to place lower than I would have liked but it was fun.

171HR AVG, 190HR MAX, 23.2 MPH AVG, 18.5 Miles