[Special Note: I have a "Music Player" gadget, 4th down to the right. You may run audio from it or the video as you see fit by pausing the music player or muting the embedded video. Enjoy!]
Hello and here's my condensed analysis of the Missouri State Road Race that was held in Ste. Genevieve on May 23, 2010. The course was 87 miles on a rolling course with a couple of good climbs. Pretty good temperature around 90 degrees, but a large sudden jump from weeks of 50-60 degrees and rainy. The field size was relatively small maybe 35 or so riders, and predominately 3 large teams consisting of Dogfish (largest numbers, and with defending champion), Tradewind (very powerful team), and Mesa.
Several break-a-ways were attempted early. I found (as usual) that whenever I would jump into a break that was allowed to roll away, suddenly this break was pursued quite heavily. This occurred repetitively and without exception.
My main goal was to try to win the State Championship, and not the overall race (I considered it nearly impossible to win against the out-of-state team Tradewind). By my estimation I mainly needed to mark Austin Allison (defending state champion) and his teammate Justin Maciekowicz.
As it turned out, Justin did a long solo suicide (nobody bridged up) attempt and was indeed brought back. Allison escaped into the final break-a-way, which had other riders that I knew where not in contention for the State Championship. The break had the major teams in it and because of team tactics, I could not reasonably pursue. This did not worry me too much for at least 2 reasons. 1., Allison was the defending champion, a young rider and by my estimation a good Missouri Champion, and 2., I thought he might crack in the heat. He is a very fair skinned person.
Guess what...... he did totally crack (sorry Austin)!
So as my chase group road past Allison, who was barely limping along, I then knew that I was racing for the title again. My group had only four riders including Jim Vandeven (he told me he was not from Missouri) Matias Mendigochea (he told me he was not from Missouri) and that left Oreste (Rusty) Pesselato (who told me that HE WAS FROM MISSOURI).
So as we approached the finish, we left the country roads and started making unknown turns into the town finish. We didn't know the roads and the corner marshals were critical for us in making the correct turns.
Unfortunately as we approached the final intersection/corner marshal, we saw the corner marshal STANDING IN THE ROAD (initially) and then as we continued our rapid approach she moved out of the road and pointed LEFT to the street that she was supposed to be securing for us from vehicles!!!!
It turns out that the reason that she was pointing left was to point at a spot in the road that she thought was dangerous. UGGH!
The rest is in the video. Rusty had a mis-shift and I was stuck in my small chainring on the final sprint. No biggie.
Question: who was the first Missourian to cross the line?
Answer: See below.
can't believe everthing you read on facebook, next time check the registration list before the race
ReplyDeleteDon't you have to make the break to win? You clearly under estimated Austin; after he won herman. Also I made my state champ jersey into a cape. The ENTIRE Dogfish team knew I was licensed in MO, guess you missed the memo.
ReplyDeleteDear anonymous: I predict that there won't be a next time like this for me personally. Currently, I am lobbying for USA Cycling to require an identifying mark on the race number (anything including a magic marker swipe) for open Championship races. This could prevent "trickery".
ReplyDeleteMatt, you are unarguably the current Missouri State Road Racing Champion. I was just surprised to hear about it.
ReplyDeleteSorry dude, I don't live in face book land.
ReplyDelete"The break had the major teams in it and because of team tactics, I could not reasonably pursue. This did not worry me too much for at least 2 reasons. 1., Allison was the defending champion, a young rider and by my estimation a good Missouri Champion,"
ReplyDeletePretty sure if the defending champ got in the break with 2 trek riders (including Brian Jensen) who slaughtered everyone the day before, and a former d-2 pro from Italy. I would be a little worried.
"I predict that there won't be a next time like this for me personally. Currently, I am lobbying for USA Cycling to require an identifying mark on the race number (anything including a magic marker swipe) for open Championship races. This could prevent "trickery"."
ReplyDeleteSo you like racing for 5th place, and then think you deserve a jersey claiming your the best in the state? That kind of seems like a disgrace to the MO cyclist and jersey.
Johnny: Point of fact: Oreste Pesselato is from Missouri and he finished ahead of me.
ReplyDeleteAlso I better school you as to the definition of the word "disgrace"
1. the loss of respect, honor, or esteem; ignominy; shame: the disgrace of criminals
2. a person, act, or thing that causes shame, reproach, or dishonor or is dishonorable or shameful.
3. the state of being out of favor; exclusion from favor, confidence, or trust: courtiers and ministers in disgrace.
Using this definition of the disgrace, and the other facts of the matter, I don't quite see your point.
To get 5th and say that rider deserves a jersey is a disgrace to MO. There were 4 riders better then that MO rider. If 4 non MO riders finish in front of a MO rider that rider doesn't deserve a jersey. He deserves a new training plan.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't sound like you're schooling anyone at anything getting 6th and 10th the day before.
"Several break-a-ways were attempted early. I found (as usual) that whenever I would jump into a break that was allowed to roll away, suddenly this break was pursued quite heavily. This occurred repetitively and without exception. "
ReplyDeletehonestly i think you're just loosing your kick. you cant accelerate away that's why you're not getting away solo. your attacks are so slow that they just bring you to the front and the whole group gets on your wheel and you just tt everyone up to the break.
also, maybe if you got to a race and got ready more than 5 minutes before the start you could find out some pertinent information.
You guys are cracking me up! I think we simply have different realities. I'll see ya at the races.
ReplyDelete"By my estimation I mainly needed to mark Austin Allison (defending state champion) and his teammate Justin Maciekowicz."
ReplyDelete"As it turned out, Justin did a long solo suicide attempt and was indeed brought back. Allison escaped into the final break-a-way, which had other riders that I knew where not in contention for the State Championship."
So clearly you need to be (schooled) on the art of marking.
Marking in cycling terms means staying with the riders you are marking. It is NOT letting them in breakaways while you watch them get 5 minutes up the road.
Dude, there were so many Dogfish riders that I literally lost Allison in the shuffle. My bad.
ReplyDelete"I thought he might crack in the heat. He is a very fair skinned person. I'm not saying he's an albino, but he's the closest of anyone in the field!"
ReplyDeleteHow do you lose the whitest guy in the field? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he attack on the KOM climb? I don't think you could miss that unless you are completely oblivious to everything. Hmmmm maybe that's the case.
Pretty sure I finished 10 minutes in front of you Dave. The registration sheet, and my license say MO. I have been living in MO since January, and plan on staying in school for the next 4-5 years. So I am sure I'll be dropping you a lot soon.
ReplyDeleteI'll tell ya something that I didn't miss... and that was Matt Brandt saying that he wasn't from Missouri (right before the Championship race) when in fact he was. Hoe do you like them apples.
ReplyDeleteNow apply this FACT plus the definition of disgrace to the Missouri Championship and see if your brain can figure it out.
Would you have "marked" Matt Brandt the same way you marked Austin and Justin if you knew?
ReplyDeleteMatt, good luck with that. By the way, what was the average speed of that race, since you're sooooo fast!
ReplyDeleteDon't bother answering, because only a Goddamned idiot would believe a word that came from your mouth.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like the smack talk about me. I'm sure Austin doesn't like you saying stuff about him and his abilities on the bike. It's really unnecessary at our level of the sport; which you claim to be at.
ReplyDeleteYou should really learn to play nice with the top guys you race every weekend. This post made friends with neither myself or Austin. You contradicted yourself several times on how the race played out. It makes you seem like a joke instead of a top amateur USA cyclist you say you are.
I don't keep speed our heart rate; such things aren't relevant in races where the only thing that matters is crossing the line first.
"Don't bother answering, because only a Goddamned idiot would believe a word that came from your mouth."
ReplyDeleteReal mature cry baby.
Looks like you've discovered what everyone is the MWCCC knows: Brandt's a dick.
ReplyDeleteAwe it's one of those collegiate kids that failed at real bike racing.
ReplyDeleteJohnny: I tried several times to be nice, but that's not the way several people wanted to play. Don't forget who's blog this is. You can talk shit about me ALL DAY LONG on YOUR blog, but I'm not going to allow it here.
ReplyDeleteLOL, seriously!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy because you don't look very smart when no one agrees with you? Maybe you should save yourself, and delete this whole post. No one agrees with you; you like look a huge baby crying over spilled milk.
ReplyDeleteAnd i'd remove the pic of you and Floyd, not gonna win any arguements with him as your idol!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Floyd's not my idol (I do like him though), but that little picture makes some folks check out the ole' blog.
ReplyDeleteLet me say for the record, that I feel fine with this post. I think most everybody has said their piece.
Also for the record, I think Matt's a fine bike racer. I wish him well. I simply disagree with his "trickery" (his word, not mine). That's not to say that he wouldn't have been State Champion anyway. Fact is.... Matt is the State Champion.
It's my opinion that his "trickery" wasn't the best judgment. I don't need you to agree with me on that, but I think most people would.
(for perspective) If that's the worst thing Matt ever does, then he's a better person than me. I'll say that.
Concerning Austin: here's what I write about him: http://myworldfromabicycle.blogspot.com/2010/04/hermann-road-raceconclusion-of-omnium.html
I VERY much look forward to our next races, as I would assume you all. Should be fun.
Listen buddy...I don't give a shit who you are... Dave Henderson...All I care about is who the state champion is:Matt Brandt...
ReplyDeletethis means the guy that won the bike race, not the guy who came up with all the excuses possible of who he marked or didn't mark or how shit went down... everybody takes their own road to the podium...and that road unfortunately is paved before the race in training, not in preparation by reading a startlist... if you've got a number on you can win, that also goes for anybody else...
Next time you talk shit about anybody else...or make excuses of why people beat you... look in the mirror and take a number... But be ready to lose, bc thats gonna happen more often...
Dear Anonymous, since you care who the State Champion is.....the current state champion in both Time Trial and Criterium is the writer of this blog......just saying?
ReplyDeleteWhat do Criteriums and Time Trials count for in the world of cycling...How many criteriums are there on the UCI calendar? How many TTs are there? How many road races are there?? Just saying... Last time I checked there were no grand tours, nor classics raced in the US... US Cycling is getting better but real cycling happens in Europe. If you can't win the local state champs, then your not ready for Europe... and... Not a real cyclist.. have fun at your local spandex party, I'm going to watch the Giro
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous: Thanks for visiting my blog. I agree with you that the Giro is indeed a great event to watch.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with most everything else. First, more than several riders in my videos HAVE raced in Europe, one of which is a former World Champion (mountainbike).
Second, this site not called "UCIracing.blogspot.com". It's all local,but occasionally I bump into big pros like Carlos Vargis, Floyd Landis, Danny Pate, Chris Horner (even Lance himself).
Third, all great Professional riders are produced by exactly the kind of races I show, and describe.
Lastly, you may have missed one of my goals, which is to share some of my knowledge from years of racing. If you are a highly experienced cyclist, then this blog's not for you.
Dear anonymous:
ReplyDeleteMan... I wish I could be a real cyclist. I have a race next weekend that i thought was a real cycling event, but its not in Europe. Oh well, I guess I wont bring my road bike, I'll go buy a tricycle instead.
To say that only real cyclists race in Europe sounds pretty ridiculous.
Anonymous. Shave your legs and ride your bike to work on tuesday, then you'll do yourself a favor and stop wasting your money on bike assemblies. What is better than a US Cat 2 national champion?? A spectator at the Tour de France, at least then they know what real bike racing is!
ReplyDeleteDavid: Great blog. if your goal is to share your experience, talk about how you weren't the strongest at the race, how you'll train harder next time, but not how you got confused if Matt Brantt was from out of state or not. Professional riders are produced in Europe.not in Crits here in the US