Fine Wine gets another scalp
Colby and I decided to race the masters race and then later in the day race the category 2 race for the state championship jerseys. Most of the fellas, being on the younger side, opted to race the cat 2 race and then the pro-1-2 race in the evening. Both Colby and I thought we had a shot. In the masters race I was in the 40-44 age group and Colby was in the 35-39 group.
The course in Macon is great. It is a big perfect fast square with slight hills on two opposite sides. The race started out fast and stayed that way for the duration. Last year the field was lapped by a small breakaway in both the masters and the pro-1-2, so the field was very attentive to groups trying to escape and get up the road. There were steady sharp attacks, many led by the Peachtree Bikes duo of Tony and Igor, the big Russian. I simply could not go with every move so I chased the ones that looked the strongest. Ultimately, the race ended in a field sprint. On the last lap we rounded turn three and I was trying to figure the best time to launch. It was best to sprint right out of turn four and up the hill to the finish. On the approach to turn four Tony got the first jump and hit the outside line through the final turn at full speed. Damn, too late! I was stuck on the inside behind two guys. We made the turn and I squeezed between the two riders and gained some ground for 3rd place. Some monster from Florida out muscled Tony for the win. I ended up getting the second place podium spot for the Georgia riders.
Great work Benjy, way to keep getting on the box!