Farewell D grade! .. apparently..

Final race meeting of the Port Adelaide Cycling Club's winter track series. This was my first full track series, so it has been an utterly massive learning experience.

The title of this post is a reference to being told (repeatedly!) that I'd get moved up to C grade next time.. <gulp!>.

There were a couple of people missing from D grade that have raced in past rounds, but we also had the return of Michelle who is a bit of a gun sprinter. From past races I know that if she starts her sprint before me, the race is as good as lost.

Heart Starter
As usual, the first race of the meeting was a short scratch race to get things into gear. The pace was fairly measured for the most part, with the group staying tightly together until just before the bell lap. I started the sprint a bit earlier than I normally would and managed to hold off a fast finishing Michelle and Meriel.

Heart starter - Strava data

Team Pursuit

Team Pursuit

For this race, D grade was split into 2 groups, with an additional rider Sarah from C grade making up the sixth rider. On the balance of things, it looked like the teams were pretty even, which I think is how the race panned out.

Off the start, my team got away pretty smartly, and for a while looked like we might make short work of it. Things rapidly turned as Miss V's team pulled back their disadvantage. Team work was key here, as there's no point leaving half your team behind!  The race ended up being a competition as to who could protect their slowest rider the best, which I think Miss V's team did much better.

So despite riding pretty smoothly, my team was beaten by Miss V's team by about 4 seconds..  well played

Strava data is interesting on this one as it shows just how consistent our pace was.

Team Pursuit - Strava data

Scratch race
A 15 lap race, which was also pencilled in as contributing points to the series omnium.  Unlike the heartstarter, this one seemed to have a few surges at the front during the course of the race, and a couple of longer turns as people tried to push the pace up a bit.  With about four or five laps to go, Michelle pushed off the front of the group with Meriel in hot pursuit. I had a bit of an effort to jump on from further back in the pack, but managed to get there. The pace backed off slightly until the bell lap, when Michelle bolted off the front and grabbed a decent lead. Meriel and I raced for second with me coming out ahead just slightly.

Scratch Race - Strava data


Elimination Race
I usually enjoy this race, though probably not for any logical reason. I wouldn't say I'm that good at them, and they hurt like hell with the constant sprinting!

The group rolled out and we had three free laps to settle in. For reasons I can't recall, I decided to stay on the front for these laps. I felt ok, so it seemed to be a good idea to be able to set my own pace.

The whistle went for the first elimination lap, and I went pretty much straight away. Heading into the final bend I noticed that Miss V had moved up alongside me on the banking..  not bad! :)  I crossed the line in the lead. Safe for now!

I'd barely got my breath back when the whistle went again..   Once again, I managed to make the cut.

Zoom!

 Rolling around, trying to recharge, and the whistle went again. The sprint started just a bit later than usual, which maybe indicated that everyone was feeling it a bit.  I entered the back straight on the front, by half way down the back straight Michelle went  past at some ridiculous speed. I could see Meriel closing fast. I got out of the saddle and..  well..   nothing.  I think my legs had given
up for the evening. I sat up, feeling pretty disappointed as I watched Michelle and Meriel battle it out for the race.

In hindsight, I probably should have kept pushing. In all likelihood I could have kept the inside line into the next bend and hope like hell that Meriel would tire before the line. Though from what I was seeing, the probability of that happening were similar to being hit by lightening..  5 times in a row..    

Elimination Race - Strava data



A big shout out should go to Lee-Anne for all her work in bringing these race meetings together, as well as the volunteers that come out week after week to make things run smoothly.  Thanks also to my Mum and Ian for coming out to watch, and helping out on the sign in desk :)

So with that, the winter series at the Superdrome finishes and we can look forward to some sun soaked evenings at the Edwardstown outdoor velodrome on friday nights..

Photos shamelessly stolen from Mick Young.