Realdo and I were halfway to Biloxi when it dawned on me that we were running late. We were on our way to the first two races of a weekend omnium near Biloxi, Mississippi, and it was becoming clear that my calculations had been somewhat optimistic. I pressed a little harder on the gas pedal, though, and we arrived to find a long line still at the registration table. The race would clearly be starting a little late, so although we were rushed, it all worked out. I was riding the master 35+ race that had 34 or so riders and a very high proportion of horsepower, and although the course was not particularly hilly, I was expecting a hard race.
At the start, I was lined up near the back, well out of range of the referee's megaphone, and was relieved when the race started at a fairly civilized pace. The course consisted of three laps of a 15 or 16 mile loop, plus a four of five mile stretch to and from the finish line, which was not on the loop. The first lap went smoothly and I quickly realized that the combination of narrow roads and large field would make staying at the back a very risky combination, so I started working my way up toward the front. It took the better part of half a lap, but finally I installed myself up in the front third of the group where I would at least have a fighting chance to react to any action. It wasn't until the second lap that things started to pick up and about mid-way through I was in a 3-man break to which the pack had granted a brief vacation leave. Soon enough, though, were brought back and I found myself about 10 seconds off the front. I stayed out there for a while, hoping to perhaps stimulate some action, and eventually a 6-man break materialized and started putting some time on the rest of the field. Our little group was working well together for a few miles and as we started the final lap another small group bridged up to us making for a break of about 10 riders. There was some confusion for a while, but eventually one of the guys put on his director sportif hat and started getting the group organized. We soon had a fast, if slightly disorganized, rotation going that again started putting time on the pack. It wasn't until the final seven or eight miles that things started to slow down as the riders started to smell a sprint. As we rounded the left-hand turn for the final 4-mile run into the finish, Tom Bain attacked and strung out the group, but the response was quick and he was brought back quickly. A few minutes later, he went again but this time it seemed like he eased up rather quickly. As it turned out, he had a flat front tire and the wheel truck was minutes behind us with the pack. I think that about half the pack had been keying off of Tom, so his sudden loss was a little disappointing. The finish was at the top of a fairly long but not too steep climb, so although the pace picked up a lot at the 1 km mark, it wasn't until we were inside the 200 meter sign that the sprint really started. As I started to come around Ed on the left, I heard the moto-ref blowing his horn behind me and suddenly wondered whether the center-line rule might be in effect for the sprint. It would be unusual, but since I hadn't heard the instructions at the start, I wasn't sure. Rather than take the chance of being DQ'ed, I eased up and went around Ed the long way, on the other side. As we came up to the line I saw him glance over his shoulder, and when he saw me coming he made a last-minute lunge for the line, but it was too late and I got past him to finish in 2nd spot.
A while later, Realdo, who had been in a 6-rider break in the Cat. 1,2,3 race, won his sprint to finish first, ahead of The Great Balded One. After three cold caffeine-loaded Red Bull drinks, we headed over to the nicely air-conditioned Palace Casino in Biloxi for something to eat and to watch the Tour de France on the huge TV screen. We hung out there until it was time to leave for the afternoon 3-mile time trial which started about an hour late. I guess I did a respectible time, but certainly not one of the best. I won't see the results until tomorrow at the criterium.
After the TT, we headed back to New Orleans where I went straight over to my mother's house because my brother and his family were in town. I gave Gina a call on the way back to see how things were going at Superweek, and it sounded like they are going super. She said that in today's race she was 3rd in the pack sprint behind a small breakaway and had moved up to 5th or 6th in the overall standings with one race to go. She's won over $400 so far, and will almost certainly take home a chunk of change for her overall placing as well. Isn't it great when you can take home a little bit more than you spent?
As I'm writing this it's already past midnight and I'm waiting for my jersey to finish drying so I can get my gear together for tomorrow's criterium. There is a dull ache in my legs, but it's not too bad. Tomorrow should be fun! I expect there are a few guys who will have something to prove in the criterium, so that should make it lively.
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