State Roads, 2003

by Greg Andrews

The 4/5's race was pretty sedate. I think we averaged less than 24 mph. Mark Harms, Steve Balsley, Andrew Gardner, Evan Blanchard, Joe King & myself represented BD. I was watching Dave Rogers from Belin - - who once dominated Wisport and recently raced 3's at the GDVC crits.

There were a few dangling flyers -- both Mark and I took a turn at it, and I vigorously blocked when he was out there, but nothing stayed for very long. Alomst everything was a solo attack. Andrew took it out once, hard, with about 5 miles to go, but no one could break free.

Rogers was just playing a waiting game -- along with all the other sprinters.

I didn't know the finish very well, not having paid attention to the map before going out for my warmup. The single time we went through the finish on the first lap didn't leave very mental road marks for me. Near the end, I tried to stay close to Dave Roger's wheel, but kinda chickened out, I think, with the pair of RR tracks and hard corners coming. Mark and I were both about 10th - 15th into the final corners when I saw him more or less sit up. I figured I had a shot for WCA points and picked up a couple of places in the final 100 meters to land in 10th. Rogers was 5th, I think.

There weren't much in the way of team tactics, although as the BD 4/5's get to know each other's strengths, we should be able to work together more effectively. Mark and I are strong on the hills, so a hill attack might have been the way to go, but there weren't enough hills to make a difference, and I don't think either of us can hold a 25+ mph TT pace.

JoeK got tangled up in a crash mid-way through the 2nd lap -- ruining a rim, but landing off the road, thus keeping his skin mostly intact.

I got done and thought I had enough energy to do it all again. Maybe.