Race Report
University of Maryland
President’s Criterium, March 12
By Ryan terMeulen

Racers:
Jed Bader
Ryan Bloom
Peter Bolster
Brian Cohee
Nathan Coleman
Ryan terMeulen
Toby Weatherall

Cheering Section: Cliff Smoot – props for giving us valuable help despite your concussion!

Significant Results: Peter Bolster, 10th, Mens C / Toby Weatherall, 3rd, Mens B

Legs were still aching from Elkridge as our small group got up at the crack of dawn for the 2nd day in a row for the early UMD crit races. This 2nd day of unusually warm weather was still a shock to us all – as we had barely broken sweats while redlining during the near freezing Navy and WM races.

The course was a 0.7 mile lap on the UMD campus. Basically a square circuit, with one leg leading up a significant hill and around a tight chicane by the president’s house, this crit was flush with 90 degree turns. That chicane would end up being a real problem for more than one of us…

MENS C: Bloomer having recently cat’d up to B’s, Old Pete and I were left to fend for ourselves. However, we had some unexpected company from Jed, who we practically ran into on site right before our 8:30 a.m. race. Jed was impressively strong for his first race and did quite well – he was one of the last riders to be pulled in a very fast paced race.

Pete was held up at the start, and I bolted to the front for a good position. I have trouble staying off the front of races, and it takes its toll quickly – I have much to learn. That and it’s hard to convince anyone in a C race to share your pull without slowing down and compressing the field. Pete fought his way up front a few laps into the race, giving me some time to rest. At some point a breakaway of 4 riders escaped – don’t even remember how it happened (no oxygen?). We started rigorously chasing them – NOW the other riders were willing to share our pull. The whole entire field was splintered, and although we didn’t even know it, nearly all but the breakaway and 12 of us followers were pulled from the race.

With 2 laps left, and the breakaway hopelessly gone, I was about to pop from the chase. It was here that Pete – after swearing to me he was useless – took me on his wheel and mashed up the hill in an amazing effort, keeping us both from getting consumed by the pack. It was enough to let me rest and lead the pack all the way through the last lap. I was becoming hopeful about leading it to the finish, when my rear wheel popped while taking a tight turn in the chicane. I recovered and sputtered to a stop, watching our now tiny pack buzz by. I felt so defeated having to walk my bike back to the finish, but it’s fuel for next time. Pete was definitely the hero of the day – or at least our C race – the man is nearly twice my age and boy can he pull!!

MENS B: Unlike in the C field, which had completely shattered, barely anyone was pulled from the B race. Our 4 Hopkins riders all took the front right off the start in near-picturesque imagery. The plan was for Brian and Bloomer to take pulls off of the front and stretch the field out for their teammates. They put in very impressive efforts that undoubtedly led to the end result. I even saw Brian on the front in the 2nd to last lap for one final pull before the finish, after I had thought his efforts had been spent.

In what looks like will become the classic ‘Nathan style’, Nathan took a solo pull off of the front for 7-10 laps in the middle of the race. This is where we first started to see the field under real stress. They caught Nathan with about 4 laps to go, but from what I understand, he let himself drop back in after taking his whole pull under 100%. After resting in the pack, he was poised to bolt out of the front in the final lap, but was taken down when the man in front blew out his tire in the chicane (I could hear the pop from across the field). Nathan went flying through the air, and didn’t finish. However, he picked himself up, trued his wheel, and came back to take 2nd place in the Cat 3/4 USCA race a few hours later. Toby, who had consistently held at the front of the pack throughout the race, had a nice sprint to 3rd place at the end of the race.

Overall, a good day, though a little sobering. We are becoming more acquainted with our strengths and weaknesses. Stuff happens beyond our control, and it sucks, but respect and self-confidence are still won in the end.