Niko’s Race Report, 3-1-08

The thermometer showed 28 degrees when I left the house for Cat's Paw hill.  Given the temps I was surprised to see big turnouts for all the fields.   Most of the CRCA teams had good representation.  A few teams from Long Island and NJ brought like 12 guys. 

The race got started a full 20 minutes late and people who had dressed for racing were shivering severely.   They were short two pace vehicles and had to start the 5's with the 3/4's!! - Luckily they were only doing 2 laps and so were gone quickly (after only  one crash).  I felt like the pace was brisk for March 2, but then again my legs were shot from the Battenkill Roubaix recon ride we had done the day before.

As much as it would have been nice to have a teammate or two there I am actually kinda glad nobody else was there because there were no less than 5 crashes (if you count Kevin Brubaker going down on final sprint up Cat's Paw) and many were the radiating types that involved large groups of riders.  Ultimately, many of the good riders had to stop and unclip after getting caught behind crashes (Peppo, O'Malley many others.)

In the end I was happy to ride in with a group caught behind the biggest crash of the day...

I don't even know who won the 3/4 ( I asked everyone and they all said I "I was caught behind someone, I have no idea") but Rashad won the Pro 1, 2 3 and looked strong as an ox.

Can't wait to hear how our women (and maybe men?) did in CT this a.m.)

Neeks