Santa Cruz Criterium Race Report

Date: Sunday, April 15
Team: A/J Mendonca, Christian Kearney, Sean McBride, Rob Evans, Papa Paul and BP Buchholz
Results: BP 10th and Christian Top 15

After the stormy conditions in Monterey, the sun came back and brought his mischievous cousin from the other side of the tracks, The Wind, with him. The Santa Cruz course is really one of the best crit circuits in the area. It has it all: A quick, stair-step dimple to the finish, a 90-degree right hand bend and even speed bumps.

A strong 6-pack from Sierra Nevada was out to make up for the previous day's thumping at Laguna Seca, while Berries brought a double-wide clamshell of riders as well. We didn't have a Team discussion before the race, but A/J, Christian and I knew to trade off some attacks and get something to stick.

Well, that's what happened. A/J got the throwdown train outta the station and, when the pack coalesced around him, I went. I got a nice gap and looked back to see Roman Kilun from HN coming up to me. Sweet! Good legs to have. Also, a pair of Sierras were up with us as well. Eric Wohlberg bridged with a guy from Vitamin Cottage and it was surely game on.

The laps clicked off in an uneventful manner. All I can say from this part of the race was that I won a PB Prime; yup a tub of Skippy Chunky Style. I did it for Mikey!

Eventually the presence of Sierra Nevada broke up our cooperation and certain breakaway companions were skipping their pulls. A large group of 6-8 riders bridged up with 30 of 50 laps remaining and this squarely put the nail in our collective coffins.

Back in the pack, Christian, J/A and crew were patrolling the front and Christian also scored two primes, neither of which involved peanut butter.

So, I thought that Someone Else had my back. I swore at Someone Else to pull through. Man, this ship was sinking and I was trying to plug the holes in the hull with At this point, it's good to follow the advice of the Beatles and "Stop, Look Around..." or else you may be punk'd. Roman made a great attack midway up the hill and brought Jesse Anthony from Sierra with him. Alas, I never went. I thought Someone Else would pull it back. Well, Someone Else is one Lazy Mother-F*&ker, because Someone Else never did. Eric W. also attacked with the Vitamin Cottage guy and they got away. Again, Someone Else should have covered this!

So, dejected and firing the dirtiest looks at Someone Else, I was caught by the main pack. Roman and Jesse lapped the field and were in the main pack. Sierra took this opportunity to organize a train. With one to go, I yelled at Christian to get on my wheel and try for the field sprint. Coming into the right hand bend before the finishing hill, Christian came in a tad hot and lost my wheel. I rolled in for 10th (last place for t-shirts). Jesse Anthony won it with Roman in second.

Well, my Personal Yoda was obviously not perched on my right shoulder like always. Instead, I relied on my fake teammate Someone Else, who obviously was relying on Someone Else's Else's Else. In the end, No One from our group came out on top.