Ride YOUR BIKE - Barbados Independence GP track events! by jackhammer sports

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Barbados Independence GP track events!

Posted by jackhammer sports on December 05, 2006

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Saturday Nov. 25th

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">Wake up early and head off to the races. Good thing our van was still packed from the night before’s attempt as we had a fun time trying to fit extra wheels, bikes, food, and gear bags for four riders.

The velodrome in

Barbados

 in very nice as compared to others in the Caribbean

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">.

500m smooth concrete with 25 degree banking.

The first event was the 200m TT. I don’t even consider myself a sprinter in local Colorado races – much less down here.

My time 13.38 about 2 seconds slower than Colorado State Championships.

No worry—I can get out of the sun and rest while the big boys do their thing.

I was a little sad to see the Elimination and 5km Scratch Races dropped form the programme—but time had to be make for recovery as this would be an all day track meet.

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">My second event was a 1000m Scratch race. A little too short for me—but I know how to ride these on a big track. Stay out of the wind—but keep the pace rolling. When its time to go….GO with everything you have and hope to place well.

OK.

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">The race goes according to plan—but I didn’t have the juice to hold off some hard-charging West Indian boys.

 I place 5th.

Next event after a couple hours is similar. 2000m Scratch race.

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">I line up first and get the pace rolling right away. 

I realize that these boys can finish better than I can—so I am very aggressive but smart. Chasing down attacks and getting ready for more. Caribbean Cycling Championship gold medalist Philip Clarke (

Barbados

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">) 
made a very strong move halfway. 


I bridge up to him and work a little – but was really trying to save something for a sprint. I have read about Clarke on the internet so I know he is “the goods” as they say.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2006/oct06/carribean_champs06
http://www.bvicycling.com/artman/publish/article_172.shtml

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">Coming into the bell we have about 300m lead as no one else was able to chase across to Clarke. I sit on out of the wind as we hit the backstretch. At 250m to go—I make my move…FULL GAS! 150m to go we are shoulder to shoulder sprinting it out to the line.

Clarke may be a roadman, but he is still an island boy with a fast finish.

At the line Clarke gets the win by a half wheel.

After I catch my breath, I realize that I am back 

I gave everything I had against the Caribbean Cycling Champ and lost by a foot.

The other events for the day included a Keirin—which I didn’t make it to the final.

But my Trinidadian teammate Haseem McLean won the Keirin with Jonathan Rollins in 3rd. McLean also won the match sprint over my good friend Ako Kellar (also from T&T).

Time for me to rest and think about how to beat Clarke in the last event for the day.

10km Scratch Race (Perfect distance for me when I am on form.)

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">I sit in the fist half of the race letting Clarke control what he wants to do. Everyone was watching the white guy watch the big man.

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">With 2km to go—Clarke let an attack from another Barbadian go. Young Quincy Jones placed 3rd in the 2006 Jr. Pan Am Championships in

Venezuela

. Jones also took Haseem McLean to the line for the Keirin at this event.

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">If we leave him out in front—he could ride away. If I try to go across I would take Clarke and maybe another rider—that would put me against 4 riders. I could sit and wait for Clarke to make his big move—but then he could be letting his countryman have the win.

What to do?

I decide to sit until one lap (500m) to go.

Clarke is marking me and everyone else is watching Clarke as rides away with the win.

I realize we cannot catch Jones – so I hit it as hard as I can with 300m to go.

I lead out the sprint and get to top speed with just inside 200m till the finish.

Clarke and another guy pass me before the line.

I place 4th.

Times like this I really with I would’ve had two other Americans in the race.

I do really think I could’ve either won it for myself or at least helped someone else.

Time to pack up and go back to the house.

After a shower, the T&T boys and I head out for some fish.

<SPAN ;="" black="" arial="">Long road event in tomorrow – I really don’t plan to do well – but if I could get Clarke to force an early breakaway—I could hold on.

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