Day 3: Ripon (your legs off)

This was a short (1K) course with no flat spots. There was a hill similar to the DMV at the East and the West end for double your pleasure. 3 of the 4 turns were slightly off camber for added fun. It took me about half the race to finally start taking them right. I struggled the first half, the start was hard and it took me a while to open up. Eric was on the front attacking, he is riding so strong right now. I felt a lot better the last half of the race and was holding position near the front. With 2 to go, Eric again had bad luck and rolled a clincher. He kept it up and had no damage to bike or body, but it hurt to go out like that sitting about 3rd and looking strong. I held on for a 5th place finish. Good enough for $60!

The pros did 100 laps. Ouch. They have a feed zone in their crits. With the field as big as it was on such a short technical course, it only took about 10 minutes before there was fodder all over the back of the field. Riders were getting pulled left and right by the dozens. Then, unfortunately, a rider let a gap open in front of them and Patrick was about 8 back. Before he knew it, he was in the final group off the back that ended up getting pulled. These races are hard.