By John McKee
Velo Allegro was thrown a strong right cross by the Bahati Fountation racing team. A number of members went across to Bahati leaving fewer members to work their event. None the less they decided to do the entire race themselves and despite having trouble with the flyer and payouts and the 50 % rule they are off in the right direction. The payout to the top 55/60+ racers was totally merchandise and to only 3 people. No payout for 60s. The race course is the popular Hughes course. Wide and seemingly safe with 2 soft turns and wide turn areas to turn into for the other 2 corners. Fast course. Overall the race was a huge success with racers. 758 race entries including 2nd and 3rd races by riders. The course is in Long Beach near the 405 and 710 freeways. Central location.
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| Start line with the 55/60+ racers at the Velo Allegro Criterium |
Signups for 55/60+ racers went slow before the race but their were 32 before pre reg ended. In the end there were 53 racers. 35 55s and 18 60s. Good turnout. Mark Hoffenberg and many of his Rokform/Rock N Road teammates were not there. Taking a break between the Tour of Murrietta and Sam Dimas Stage Race. As mentioned this was a flat fast criterium course and should be safe. LOL.
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| Another start line picture |
I predicted a bunch sprint but after the race got going there were a lot of break attempts. Once one got caught, another would get going. No grouping got much of a lead. Mike McConnell was super active. He definitely takes the "Energizer Bunny" award. Mike Birditt was quite attentive. Sizing up efforts and getting in some breaks and chasing others. Even Robert Paganini got in on one break attempt. One break that I actually got in had all the teams in it with about 10 riders. Sometimes though you have a few maverick/independent riders or someone from out of the area like this Webcor guy. He chased this group and closed the short lead down. "Blue Boy" also likes to chase but he has been racing in a white jersey lately so I guess I should jettison his nick name.
The thing to do with them is isolate them when they are the front. Create a little gap to their wheel. Subtle blocking is in order here when your teammate is ahead. Pretty soon they look around and where is everyone. Make the other riders come around you if they wish. Nothing dramatic. Blocking seems to be a lost art.
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| Bruce Hartley having a go with "Blue Boy" pulling the pack |
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| Cleave Law and Don Denegal off and away |
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| Even sprinter Cyril Hunte tries his hand at getting away with Guido Quezada |
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| Brain Carrico and Mike Birditt with Don Denegal chasing on |
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| Mike McConnell with Deogracias Asuncion |
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| This is the big group break thing falling apart. I am looking around like "Am I suppose to chase the 'Energizer Bunny'"?? |
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| McConnell applying the pressure late in the race. Ron Mallory is pulling everyone back to Mike |
None of the efforts you saw stuck. The lap card soon came up with 5 to go. Without Rokform/Rock N Road who was going to keep the speed up late in the race? It was a mismash as to the pace and who would be at the front. This is where our all category race can get us in trouble. You see promoters actually can't restrict the 55/60+ race to cat 1-4 like in other lower masters age categories. The race would not be eligible for Socal Cup points. Plus national championship races are all category for 55+ and up. I am pretty sure that's why the SCNCA made it such. We can try for a rule change next year to exclude cat 5 racers. Their are plenty of venues around(El Dorado, Great Park, Fiesta Island weekly crits, etc.) to hone their group racing skills.
Their were a number of riders that tried to help at the front including Mark Planellas and Cleave Law but the pace was not very feisty with the laps counting down. The bell lap came and the Swami's train hadn't kicked in yet. Birditt was near the front with Fred Hoblit, Dale Luedtke and Mike Marotta. I was a little further back behind Mike McDonnell who was behind Peter Allen who was behind a "new guy". A cat 5 racer with what looks like 2 group races under his belt. He is a former triathlete and pretty strong but his group racing skills were lacking. At turn 2 with the pace picking up our new racer found himself over his head and that wouldn't be that much of a problem usually. Riders would just go around him when necessary but our new rider took a bad line through the corner. He leaned his bike way over and kept pedaling. Bannggg, zooommm! Down he goes. Peter Allen was right behind him and you can see from the pictures what happens to him. Craig Jones, Tom Herman and I believe Mike McConnell went down. Tom had a very sore back but no one from later reports had any broken bones. I went way wide left to get around and just made it before the door closed there. No exit left as riders piled up there.
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| Rider down alert! |
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| Peter Allen tries to fly over the rear wheel of the downed rider |
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| Gravity took over Peter's flight. Wayne and Dale ride by on the inside |
The pace set ahead wasn't that fast so I chased back on. The riders that were able to get through on the inside also closed the gap. I was breathing kind of hard and tried to sit on and catch my breath before the sprint. Lee Romans moved ahead and passed many riders on the outside. Fred Hoblit was in the lead and Mike Fleming was right behind him with Marotta and Birditt stacked up right there. As we rounded turn 3 Fred soft pedaled leaving Mike Fleming in the lead and scratching his head as to what to do.
Mike Marotta got out of the saddle and started a lead out for Birditt. Cyril Hunte was on Birdy's wheel. As they rounded the last corner Cyril took a shorter radius in his turn then Mike and overlapped his wheel. Mike started his sprint right after coming around the corner and moved to his right to get clear of Marotta. Cyril did a shuffle and came out of his right pedal to avoid Mike's wheel. Mike got clear and sprinted toward the line almost uncontested. Mike Birditt the 55+ winner. Cyril had to reclip and then sprint. In the mean time Dale Luedtke came flying around the corner and showed some of his old form sprinting for the line. Dale was 2nd in 55+ with Cyril taking 3rd. Lee Romans who used some of his matches getting to the front on the back stretch finished 4th in 55+. Mike Marotta had enough left to hold off Wayne Rosenkrantz and Kirk Freeman in 60+. I came in behind Kirk for 4th. This was a crash marred race that didn't have to be that way. A shame all the way around. All the photos are courtesy of Maki Yamazaki and Lee Romans. Lee did a video cam for the last 4 laps. Here is a link to it on You tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6nC6Cb5VWo
Full results below for those that were able to roll across the finish line. That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!
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| Birditt rolling to victory! |
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