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Podium at the Chicago Criterium

by Andrew Yeoman

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Golz at Velosnaps.dotphoto.com (Thanks!)

I know for many racers, this was supposed to be the biggest target race of the season. A huge Pro race in the afternoon, deep prizes for all the other fields, and perhaps the prettiest setting for a criterium in the midwest. While my excitement had for this crit had been high when I signed up way back in mid June, it had begun to seem more like a burden than a race to be exctied about. A start time of 7AM! No payout for the Cat 5's! An engagement party for two dear friends with the tequila flowing a night before! A few times on Saturday I had considered just skipping the whole thing, but some taunting from Aaron made me decide to go home early, get some of the worst sleep of my life, and get up at 5AM to ride downtown.

I left my house at 5:45 and was at the course 15 minutes later, the sun was just coming up as I looked around for registration. After getting my numbers, and taking several practice laps, it was suddenly 7AM and I was lining up with 40 or so cat 5 riders, waiting to begin the inaugural race of the Chicago Criterium. The race had sold out more than a month in advance which made me concerned that there would be a couple riders trying to get off early to make a big impression, and more than a few new riders who might not have figured out how to handle their bikes yet. I decided the best strategy was to get to the front few riders early and stick with them. XXX was out front early and at one point 4 laps in I looked up and saw 3 XXX's blocking me up front and two more on either side, they're tactics were in full effect. A couple laps later one of them made a jump and got about 50 feet away, but I swung out front and was able to pull them back in about half a lap, I stayed out front and took a pull for about half a lap before dropping back in. After seeing Dave Moyer get off the front and win a couple times during superweek, I didn't want to risk the same from any of his teammates.

With about 3 laps to go the pace suddenly eased and people started to crowd the front, but everybody was too nervous to make a run for it. Nothing much happened in the next 2 laps but I was slowly begining to fall back in the group to maybe 10th off the lead. I stayed there until we reached the Congress "hill" on the final lap and then came around the outside and hung out at about the 4th wheel mark and was inside on the 2nd to last corner, setting myself up for the Balbo "hill". As we went up, I saw Tom Briney from XXX stand and begin to go, I stayed on the outside to keep a couple more XXX's at bay and then gunned it at the crest to sit about 4th wheel coming around the final turn. I was able to pass one more rider by taking that final corner a little sharper and then I immediately shifted up and stayed low for the final 200m. I was pedaling down harder and harder to get up to the front two, I could see that Tom had gotten out of the saddle again and was too far away but the rider in 2nd place was beginning to lose it. This was all the motivation I needed, and I began to work furiously to pass him at about the 75m line. From there I never got out of the saddle, and I focused on the fast approaching finish line, hoping I had enough to hold 2nd. I stole a quick glance with about 25m to go and saw that I had it. I then watched Tom cross the line about 15m in front of me and raise his fist in victory. Seconds later, I found myself crossing the line to enthusiastic cheers from Pete and his friends, I rode up and congratualted Tom and XXX, took a couple seconds, and then began to realize that I'd just gotten my first podium result ever.