Madeira Centennial Criterium

June 24, 2011

 Rider Team Place Field
Backroom Coffee Roasters Cycling Team 
20th 
Cat 3 
A World of Pain Cycling Team 
Field 
Cat 4 
  Tony "Mini Deal" Viton: 20th, Cat 3
Tony "Mini Deal" Viton
 
First race back from the shoulder injury. Stuck it out to get fitness back. It hurt. Over half the field dropped out, so the race was fast.
  Jeff Blodgett: Field, Cat 4
Jeff Blodgett
 
Crazy. Arrived to greet the rain that thankfully stopped at race time. Course was tight with two 180 degree turns (3 mph) that caused havoc. The Cat 4 group numbered 50+ and included the 15/18 yr old Juniors. They lined us up in one big group and sent us off (200 yards) to the first of two hairpin turns. Needless to say, it was ugly as everyone fought for position. On the first right turn a rider tried to undercut my line and mis-judged the corner grabbing his brakes and sliding in front of me. I avoided the crash but the next dozen didn't. Unfortunatley my 17 year old Jr. son went down hard. The race regrouped and it was a sprint-fest down the straits and into the hairpins, back and forth. In the end remained about 25 riders trying to get up front. I picked the wrong wheel and found myself boxed in for the sprint. I finished in the field about 15th. Tough race, lots of out of saddle sprinting.

After the race we made the trip to the hospital for x-rays on my sons wrist. A few hours later we left with him in a cast. Follow-up with an orthopedic. His season most likely over.....??