Four Square
March 27, 2010
A few weeks ago I traveled to Columbia, SC for a road race and a crit. Joining me were Curtis, Eoin, Walker, and we had a special guest that weekend, Kevin McDonnell, Eoin’s younger brother. Kevin was our DS for the weekend. First up was the road race in Blythewood, SC which is a few miles north of Columbia. The course was deceptively difficult with a turn into a strong headwind after the longest hill on the course. A few moves went during the first couple laps of the race, but everything was pretty much together with 3 laps to go. A rider attacked solo with 2 laps to go, and was able to hold it until the end. 2 more guys went off on the last lap. Coming into the last hill Eoin and I talked and decided that I would try an attack and he would wait for the sprint. So I went on the hill but got caught. I was countered and the field tried to chase down the guy, but it didn’t work, so I attacked again. I was able to catch and pass him and finished 4th on the day. Back in the field Eoin was waiting for the sprint, but he misjudged it and started his sprint a little too early. He finished 13th on the day.
We then headed to the hotel. This weekend we were staying in the Microtel, and told them there would only be 2 people in the room. We had 5. So we had to sneak in the back door so that we wouldn’t get charged extra.
On Sunday we had a crit in the Columbia suburb of Forest Acres. The course went through a neighborhood and by an elementary school with one decent sized climb on the back of the course. All of us started on the back row, so the first order of business was to move to the front. Once at the front I was able to get into a break with 3 other riders. About 10 laps later another rider bridged up to bring the group to 5 off the front. We came close to lapping the field, but it never happened. Coming into the final laps there were some attacks but nothing stuck. So it came down to a sprint for the win, and I finished 4th. So 4th place in the road race and in the crit. It is a coincidence that I got the same place both days because last year at this race weekend I finished 9th in both races.
