New Britian Crit: Mad Dog Unleashed

The Assassin's Smile

 

 

Yesterday Joe Lynch, Jeff Dixon and I (Hank Pfeifle) traveled to New Britian, CT to race the New Britian Crits conducted in Walnut Hill Park. The locals tell me that Walnut Hill Park has been used for criterium racing for over 100 years, and one can see why as the course safely winds around the ball fields that provide an unobstructed view of the whole venue. Spectators can fully watch the excitement as it unfolds. Joe signed up for the 45+ and Cat 3 fields, Jeff the 45+ and Pro-1-2 fields and me the 55+ and 45+ fields. The common denomenator for us was the 45+ field and that was our focus for the day. The goal was to work for Joe so he could garner some valuable upgrade points in the 20 mile (20 laps) race. 

 

We Downeast Racers brought but one item in our strategic tool kit and that was our bludgeoning stick as we came to race and go hard from pedal one. With the crack of the gun Jeff got things going by going on the offensive at the first corner. In the blink of an eye, six guys were off the front with Jeff nudging them along, which was quite shocking to see as Jeff's MO is sprinting wheelsucker do as little work as possible. But there he was going gang busters at the front. The hungry pack gunned them down two laps later and the "get" was the springboard for Joe and two others to leap away.

 

Joe in escape mode

 

Jeff and I gathered at the front of all chase efforts and worked to twart the many attempts to absorb the three. Eventually the chasing field divided in to groups of ten here and ten there due to fatigue produced by the multitude of attacks. There was never an even distribution of power in the chases and that contributed to Joe's escape succeeding as they stayed steady and fast. So, it was left to Joe to see if he could win this thing and, of course, the other two were thinking similarly. In the frantic sprint to the finish Joe came in third - always disappointing when the winning opportunity is there, but still very satisfying knowing you had performed with panache.

 

Happy guys after a hard effort

   

It must be expressed that racing with the guys, going full gas and bagging a fine result makes for a fine, fine Sunday.  Come watch the team in action next Sunday morning at the Yarmouth Clam Festival circuit race. The full team will be there in sparkling blue kit ready to go. Hope to see many of you there.