Midweek Crit Report May 26 2009, Kurzawinski (B race) and Veal (A race) win

Midweek Cycling Club Criterium Bicycle races, Mississauga, Ontario, 26May2009

Slightly less than perfect weather, a slightly smaller crowd, and a slightly slower pace. No successful breakaways tonight. Light rain, 12C, winds E@20kph. Not bad, but not perfect.

The Midweek gang consistently delivers a quality event. Happy Birthday to Michelle!

About 30 reported to the starting line for the beginners B race. The group stayed together until the bell lap, logging laptimes of 1:20 to 1:27.

At the finish, the camera shows last week's 2nd place (B race) Dawid Kurzawinski, riding for Kursawinski Coach, winning, and 2nd place was Independent rider Chris Kirk.

Figure 1. B race finish, Kurzawinski wins, Kirk 2nd.

Deja vu, was the Elite race. An early break started by La Bicicletta's Chris Freeland in the first lap, developed into a 4 man runaway train which included Freelands teammate Ed Veal and three others. By this time, alas, sans Freeland, as his wheel was literally screwed.

Figure 2. Chris Freeland's sheet rock screw, through the tire, through the wheel. Anybody got a phillips head screwdriver?

Some tape, and tube, tire and some air was all it took to get Chris back out there.

Meanwhile, the break, which contained Jan Zak from Mazur Coaching Senior 3 racer, Jamie Smith Ciclo works BMC, was reduced (deliberately, take a pull or you get sent back to the pack, break ettiquette) from 4 to 3.

Freeland rejoining the break, brought the break back to 4 until Freeland's knee issue reasserted itself, alas, the break was again 3.

The break was long lasting, holding a highly reproducible 15 second lead for many laps. Valiant efforts to bridge by Sweet Pete's Mark Palma, Midweek's Oscar Reinas, Coach Chris' Peter Kofman, Midweek's Tovi Heilbronn, and Midweek's Toni Fisher were observed. All these bridge attempts helped to bring the pack back up to the break. With 7 laps to go, all riders were one group.

After a few attempts to attack were mounted, it was clearly going to be a bunch sprint. The sprint was a ripping juggernaught, won by Ed Veal, a very close 2nd was the B race winner's father, Krzysztof Kurzawinski, riding for Kurzawinski Coach.

We present video of the sprint finish.

Midweek Crit Report May 19 2009, Cates (B race) and Veal (A race) win.

It was a 21C clear, perfect evening for a Criterium Bicycle race in Mississauga, Ontario. Craig Fagan, Andrew Paradowski, and the Midweek Gang, did not disappoint. We had a significant wind blowing downhill from the NW, making the climb to the finish line just a little bit more fun.

Breakaways were the theme tonight.

About 40 racers clipped in for the early beginner/intermediate "B" race. Duke's Cycle/Lapdogs Race Team S3 Captain, Philip Cates of Toronto, found himself in a very early, lap one break with two others. After shortly reintegrating with the pack, Cates then headed back out on his own. By Lap 3, Cates was soloing for good. He was nearly nipped at the end by Kurzawinski Coach's Dawid Kurzawinski.

Several efforts to catch Cates were unsuccessful. Kurzawinski's efforts, which brought the race to an exciting and unexpectedly close conclusion, were laudable. But Cates held Kurzawinski off and prevailed.

This was Philip Cate's debut race with us at Midweek. Good Job! Have fun in the "A" race next week.

Cates in dark, Kurzawinski in the yellow helmet.

About 100 of Toronto's fastest lined up for the Elite "A" race. An early breakaway formed with the lethal trio of Ed Veal, Chris Freeland – both of La Bicicletta/J. Lindberg – and Kevin Hazzard of Jet Fuel Coffee. This long-lasting break nearly lapped the entire field. After establishing a 1 minute lead, they came within 20 seconds of catching the back of the pack.

This was a fast race early as the lap times were nearly 1 minute (1km/1min = 60 km/hour average = lickety split). The unfortunate timing of a bothersome knee ailment removed Chris Freeland from the break, unavoidably slowing the remaining duo and after about 50 laps, the break was reintegrated. But not, it must be noted, until after a valiant 3 lap solo attempt to maintain the break by Veal. The wind from the NW helpfully slowed making it a tad easier for the chasers to catch the escapees. A few late escape attempts were mounted, to no avail. The race finished with a literally howling sprint by winner La Bicicletta/J. Lindberg's Ed Veal. It was a stellar performance, especially after spending the majority of the race in a breakaway!

Ed Veal sprinted himself out of the frame of this race-finishing shot. This is the race for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Forgive me, I was using an unfamiliar camera.