Gainesville UF Criterium

Let me start by saying the only time you will find a UK supporter(me) in Gville, FL is when the BB team is there to reclaim it's place at the top of the SEC and nation....ok ok this is cycling I know but just had to slip that in. So back to the race. Well at the start I am looking around and noticing the number of teams with 6 of more guys.. total of 3. Obviously I think there is nothing going up the road with at least 2 of these teams represented. So we head out for the 65 min crit that takes place on a rectangle course with a brick road section in turns 1 and 2. The race then turned totally negative after a group is allowed to go up the road due to the big teams slowing the race to a crawl. After several attempts to bridge with no luck due to guys representing the big teams sitting on wheels and not pulling through(where are my CTM boys). Another move gets off while I am sitting about 10 guys back. I jump HARD to the move where one guy is able to hang on to my wheel. Once I made it to the move, attacks and counters begin. Due to the disruption in the momentum we are brought back by the field. I jump again thinking the teams would let one guy go that poses not threat. This works for about two laps and I look back to see a guy on the front of the field bringing me back...(scratching my head) this guy has no teammates in the race. Once is gets to be he pulls over behind me again (scratching my head). We then come around to see 5 to go. I sit for two more laps about 20 deep. At 2 to go I move up to about 5th wheel. This is where the the fun really begins. Going into 1 to go and the brick turns some guy sitting in front of me does not like the bricks and hits the brakes.....we go back about 20 guys. Great!! Down the back stretch a guy that needed a pick up truck in front of him with flashing yellow lights and a wide load sign on top come blasting through the field. About takes me out and puts another guy into the gutter. He does open a hole that I follow but going into the last two turns, he is going too hot and comes up out of the turn and pushes another guy across the road. That leaves 6 guys going through the turn with a 5 bike gap to my self. I jump hard but was only able to get two guys by the line for 5th in the field sprint and 12th overall. OH well, after words there were some words exchanged with the WIDE LOAD fella but old WAD DELL was not involved.( no really I wasnt!) AHH CRIT racing at is finest! Can not wait for CTM to be in full force.

On a more positive not....the better half of the WAD DELLS was the top women 4 finisher in the women's open race that featured several pros. :)