This past weekend marked the famous Snake Alley Criterium in Burlington Iowa, which happens every year memorial day weekend. Along with "the snake" there are also 2 more crits which follow up on Sunday and Monday. Paul Gregory who is living in St. Louis for the summer decided to to take the short drive up and meet me for a weekend of racing.
Saturday
The snake lived up to its infamy without a doubt. It was 95 degrees and our race didnt start till 1pm so keeping cool was a snuggle in itself. Those of you who dont know the snake, its a 5 switch back one block climb that averages 12.5 percent with kicks of about 17-18% and a one block lead in that averages about 7% so its no easy roll in.
and it looks something like the pictures attached. The race was awesome and it was an all out sprint to the first climb I was able to wiggle a bad start spot into top 15 at the top of the first climb. I was able to say about 15th for the first 4 laps of 12 but the heat really got to me, and Paul. We both blew up to the point where pedaling in the little ring was a chore. Paul ended up passing me way late in the race but I was far to tired to grab his wheel. He ended up 22nd and I was 26th of about 55. Not a great result but an awesome race and would love to do better there in the future.
Sunday
The 34th annual Melon City Crit was an interesting course of a 1 mile oval with one 90 degree corner and a long grinding climb at the bottom of the decent there was a speed bump that every lap you hit at 30+ mph which was very interesting. The race started fast, and on lap 2 of 14 a crash happened in the only corner and it split the field. I was right behind the crash but able to sneak threw and stay with the group, Paul was not so lucky. But like a MAN he crashed back on solo in one lap and was able to sit in the lead group of ~20. With about
11 to go the first big attack came and a rider went solo for about 6 laps, him being solo it was no huge threat. In this time paul snagged a field prime and I could tell he was feeling good up the hill. I however was not. On the bell lap a good attack came from a michigan guy and with Paul on my wheel I went to the front to try to bring it back. I went to the last climb with an all or nothing mentality, I hammered as hard as I could to string out the field and took Paul up to about 500m to go. He was not able to catch to solo move but ended up 5th and I was 20th of 55. Not the best tactics on earth on my part but Im glad we got a top five. We dealt with the 95 degree heat much better this day.
Monday
Was the Quad Cities crit to cap the weekend. A flat 14 lap 8 corner crit in downtown Rock Island, IL. The race started off very fast and very windy and stayed that way, i had to work hard to move to the front but once I was there it was pretty easy to stay around the top 10. There were not many attacks being that we were holding about 28-30mph the whole time. On the bell lap no one really took control of the race which scared me, and I was right. I was able to stay toward the front and was sixth 7th wheel going into the last corner.
The last corner also had a huge crash which I was in-front of but it still cause the person ahead of me to react to the outside and I was literally inches away from nailing the barrier. When I gained control of my bike I looked back and there was no one in site that was still upright. I was happy to roll in for 7th still on two wheels. Paul was not involved in the crash but was unfortunately popped with about
3 to go in a big acceleration.
Overall, a great weekend of some fast racing with some very good fields from all over the midwest.
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