July 20/21 - Hellyer AVC Race Report

American Velodrome Challenge July 20/21
San Jose, Ca
Team: Rob Evans ("hooptie"), Andy Mondonca ("JAndy"), Giovanni Rey (me)
Results: 6th Keirin, 3rd Madison (Rey/ Evans), 4rth Madison(Mondonca/Nolan) 4rth in the Scratch race

There was a big money race at San Jose this weekend and all the big guns were out. Absolutely spectacular. Huge spectator turnout, lots of beer and BBQ sloshing around, and killer competition in town from every corner of North America to do battle against the best that the SF bay area have to offer.

My events were the Keirin, Scratch race, Points race, Miss-n-Out, and Madison. I was absolutely pumped for the Keirin and Scratch race. The Scratch because I wanted the 'W' and thought I was ready for it, and the Keirin because it is just so damn much fun. Especially cool was having Hooptie and JAndy in the field to work with. Aside from the tactical help, the additional motivation is incredible.

I'll get to my race report in a sec' but first a note about Hooptie's lady. Friday night we had many hundreds (thousands?) of screaming bike race fans to witness the races including the women's points race (podium shot above). Remember this photo. I don't know what Shelley's plans are. But I think this is very likely "THE" changing of the guard. Right there on at Hellyer park on friday night. The very best female track racers we have had in all the international races (world cups, world championships, and Olympics with many medals to there names) all got there ass handed to them by Shelley. Then Shelley did it again the next day in the scratch race to prove it wasn't a fluke. Damn.

Keirin

Ok, back to BPG. Just getting over a cold and recovering from an absolutely miserable morning I was all focus for my Keirin heat. Rough personal conditions may have actually help
me as it was a no-pressure situation when I lined up against Adam Duvendeck (US Keirin Champ, Athens Olympian), Matt Barlee (Canadian Nat. Champ), Steve Hill (US Kilo Champ), and 2 other scary fast guys. Since the big-meat was going to be nearly impossible to pass in the final sprint, the only thing to do was get to the front early and nail it ... I did, right from the motor at 500 meters. Dropping all but Duvendeck and Barlee. But staying in front of Duvendeck was a tall order and exiting the last corner he came thru, pulling Barlee along with him. Top 2 went straight to the final. I went into the 2^nd chance rides (aka Repechage). In my Repechage it was again top 2 advance, but this time everyone else goes home. My heat contained hard men Josh Weir, and Kevin Selker, Steve Hill again, Mexican Sprint Champion Angelo Martorel, and Texas rider Steen Rose. I drew a starting spot at the top of the track and had to try to wiggle and push my way into the line up behind the motor. Martorel jumped to the motor, Weir behind him. I first tested Weir, then dropped back one and went 9 round with Rose for 3^rd spot in line. 3 laps of head butting and ass slapping (ok no ass slapping). Finally it was time to stop flirting and I clobbered Rose into the infield. He dropped back and did not mess with me any more. I thought I was sitting pretty 3^rd wheel when the motor pulled off with 500m to go, just to see the maelstrom of feet and helmets as Steve Hill jump from the back. On the back stretch with 200m to go Martorel had retaken Hill and in the chaos of overtaking Hill I dropped under Weir and took up chase on Martorel. Weir fought hard though and we came to the line in a dead heat (Martorel won, but Weir and I both needed that 2^nd qualifying spot to get into the final). The officials were stumped, and gave us both the node, making room for one more in the final.

Keirin Final. Many of the same riders I had faced earlier. Duvendeck, Barlee, Martorel, Weir. Also, Kenny Williams, Bobby Walthour, and Josiah Ng (Malaysia, 5^th place in Keirin at Athens) and Travis Smith (Canadian Sprint Champ). Ok, now I had to admit that I was outclassed. I had a simple tactic in mind of getting a nice cozy spot in the middle of the field and follow wheels around to some sort of respectable finish... Long story short. 6^th place, and I was running hard on 5^th and 4rth. I had awesome legs and wish I had tried something more aggressive. Next time. Winner was Ng, followed by Barlee, Smith, Duvendeck, Walthour, and me. Good enough for some $$ :)

Miss-n-out

Not so much to report here. A huge field. 30 riders, which is tough for a miss-n-out where the last rider is eliminated from the pack ever lap. It can get down right ugly near the rear so many of the big-lung crowd just go to the front and drill it. I am more of a big-leg-er then a big-lung-er so I went to work at the back. This was fun and got a rise out of the crowd as I nipped off about 10 riders one at a time, each time nearly getting cut myself. Unfortunately I found myself in a bad spot with about 12 riders left and got cut. Still lots of cheers and attention for "playing the devil" for a while. I’m a sucker for that. Hooptie started this one, but it wasn't his bag either and he took an early exit. BJM gets second, Travis Smith wins.

Madison

For the un-informed, this is Tag Team bike racing. We had 13 teams, each with 2 riders who tag each other (or actually grab hands and throw) into the 60 lap (20km) race.

It was BPG team time. I partnered with Hooptie in BPG colors and JAndy partnered with Larry Nolan in Disco colors. It is hard to give a play by play for this one since I was blurry eyed the whole time. Somehow or other Hooptie and I made the cut and were in the lead group of 3 teams, lapping most everyone else. It wasn't pretty though. We were riding this one cold with no practice at all and it showed. A very technical race and the top 2 teams from San Diego and Colorado Springs were technically perfect and spending much less energy then us. We ponyed up with horse power to make up for all the missed exchanges and held onto the lead teams finishing 3^rd behind San Diego (Martorel, Selker) and Colorado (Lutrell and Suhr). A damn good ride. JAndy and Larry cruised through right behind us for 4rth. Score. payday #2. and BPG on the podium.

Scratch race

This was the top of the Saturday session. 33 riders, 15km. JAndy, Hooptie, and I were together on this one. A lot of the same players as the Madison, but with the addition of BJM, Kenny Williams, and most of the big-meat sprinters. The race started with a bang. literally. As Ng's rear tire blew in the first 20 seconds. Bad for him, good for us.

JAndy went long, and went long again, and again. That man is hard and I am glad to have in on our team. Rob cruised the front and controlled the pack helping JAndy get a good half lap... until the big move when BJM, Williams, and Hernando got a gap and took up chase. A quick consult with Hooptie and we elected to continue blocking and put our money on JAndy. Maybe an error. But my "Friday" legs were gone anyway, and my "Saturday" legs weren't real eager to go chasing after BJM.

Damn that BJM. The guy is just sick. Hernando and JAndy got dropped and BJM eventually pulled Williams around, taking a lap. Shoot. Now we were racing for 3^rd. I briefly considered putting a pump in BJM's wheel, breaking away style, but don't have one with me.

Somewhere in the last few laps when I was snoozing strong veteran racer Eric Hollenbeck from San Diego snuck away and the pack slowed down. 2 to go and I push to the front, checked my pedals and let Nolan take the wind before unleashing with everything I had left, coming back around Nolan to finish 4rth. (BJM and Williams had the lap, and Hollenbeck had the sneaky 3^rd place). Score. payday #3.

Points race

Toast, bacon, ashes, road kill, put a fork in me I was useless. I took a couple pulls and got dropped early. Hooptie and JAndy fought valiantly but didn't get many points when they missed a break with BJM, Williams, Selker, and one other. BJM wins again.

Flying Lap Record attempt

Kind of a fun event to close down. Still fried I did my lap in 20.8. Nothing to write home about. Official record is 18.8 seconds by Stephen Alfred. Josaih came closest with 18.9. Beer for all and I went home and crawled into bed. A really great weekend.