Torrance Pro 1-2 Race Report

Torrance Crit Pro 1/2 Race Report by Adam Masters...
AND please check out the attached photo of Sea Otter U23 Road Race podium: Corey Farrell 3rd, Cory Greenberg 4th, Stephen Leece 5th! (and more shots from Sea Otter, photos by Dede and David Leece)

When: 4-18-2010
Who: Sergio Hernandez, Adam Masters
What: PRO 1-2 Torrance Crit (75 min race)
Results: 2nd, 28th
Written by: Adam Masters

After realizing I wasn't going to make it to Bakersfield, I settled to get a great workout at the Torrance Crit. I talked to Sergio and he mention it would be fast, but little did we know it would be fast from the gun.

One rider went immediately and 5 riders followed. I was still in the middle of the pack settling in. Then Sergio attacks and creates a 4-man chase group. I went to the front and slowed the field down with some La Grange guys. They all eventually lapped the field. I managed to test the legs and got 3 good attacks in but nothing would stick. I came to workout, so I did. I want my hurt box to be even bigger.

I noticed everyone who ended up behind me kept making remarks about my size or weight... but it didn't stop me from being present. From a quick glance others thought I was Sergio, but I'm still smaller then he is! I had hit a wall after taking one lap pulls and thought my race was done, but I suffered more and caught the back of the peloton where I caught my breath, ate and got water.

After the hanging out of the tongue session, I moved up feeling fresh and pulled back a 5-man break where I told Sergio to get on my wheel. Once I closed the gap I just went straight around them and took a one lap pull to launch Sergio on another move which had 5 guys in it. Sergio kept attacking them. (I guess when you're 120lbs (me) - 130lbs (Serg), this is what you do??) Anyway, they lasted for a couple of laps.

All together with 7-9 laps to go and instead of sitting up and getting out of the way, I pushed forward and pushed forward and pushed forward. I made it to the front right behind Sergio's wheel with 2 to go but couldn't turn the legs to make it up in front of him for one last effort, but I didn't need to as Sergio positioned himself for a mad dash sprint for the line and he gets nipped by Chris D. of Amgen. Sergio takes 2nd and I roll over in 28th. Great learning experience for my first official PRO 1-2 race. I definitely didn't want to JUST SIT IN.

Thanks for reading!
Adam Masters