Matches, donuts 4 quitters

Stage 3 of the LSCC Memorial Weekend Cycling Series was the Cloquet Criterium. Held in a little town south of Duluth that looked pretty abandoned except for us cyclists, we had a fairly large four corner crit about one mile long. This was the Masters (35+) 4/5 race, which wouldn't have been any different if I were racing as a Category 5. Unlike Opus, this was a fast, 'non-training' race. There was a slight rise out of the 1st corner, then a long rise on the back stretch, followed by a fast, sweet downhill that swept into the wide main street back to the start/finish. I got gapped on the first prime, but managed to catch back on before the 2nd prime - a growler of beer! - wound up. Two racers were off the front as I was moving up through the field, and decided in the excitement of the race to chase. In the back of my mind I thought the worst that would happen is that I would get 3rd, but this wasn't a points race unlike Opus, so in the end the effort was wasted. Tired from my flyer the field swept past me again on the rise and spit me out the back. Although I struggled for a couple of laps to catch back on, it wasn't going to happen. With the next prime I was way off the back, so there wasn't much point in continuing. This was another humbling reminder that I only have one match to burn at this level of competition, so it's not a good idea to waste it. On the other hand, unlike last year, I can stay with the field if I race smart. A donut awaited me thanks to Sascha!
__My Birchwood roomies kicked some ass this weekend. No other Cat6ers came up, but future Cat6er/former Gopher Thomas raced and did well. Pics forthcoming.