Vigo, Spain Results
In the final it was Prokop, Gee Atherton, Joost, and me. I was in lane 2, Prokop in 1. I got a good start, but pulled my foot out of my pedal straight away, so I immediately was passed by the other two on the outside. So out of the first turn in 4th and took a different line than the rest going into turn 2 which pulled me right up onto the wheel of Joost who was in 2nd. I had to get on the brakes hard not to hit his rear wheel as he was about to go off the rock drop into the turn, but he was going so slow that he rolled off instead of picking up the front wheel and went over the bars. Gee went around the outside of him and was in second with me in third. Gee had 3 bikes on me and I tried to reel him in as there was one last place if I was close enough I thought there might be a chance to pass, but I couldn't get close enough to try. I figured I was finishing 3rd, but Prokop over jumped this table top on the second to last straight and shot off the course allowing Gee and myself to get by him. So the final was Gee, myself, Prokop, Joost.
In my semi final it was Roger, myself, Joost, & Saladini. Roger had inside and I was in lane 2. Roger was first through turn one and I was on the outside of him. On the second straight away there were 3 different jump lines. Most of the guys were taking the far right one to set up for the rock drop into turn 2. This left the inside line open, but didn't set you up for the turn good. I could see Saladini coming on the far right of Roger and since I was to the left of Roger I took the middle line, opposite of Roger, and gained on him a lot. As he turned in for turn 2 I had to get on the brakes hard not to hit him and I just slide on this huge rock slab, clipping his rear wheel, causing him to crash, myself to crash, and somehow Saladini crashed. I never let go of my bars and got up fast and was now in first. After I got going I looked back to see Joost in second and I had a good lead on him so we just cruised in to the finish from there. I had no intentions of hitting Roger's back wheel, but I was coming into the turn much faster than him and when I tried to brake I just slid.
Anyways, it was a strange night and you had to be ready for anything. The course dictates the racing and when they build courses that don't allow for passing, riders have to take chances. The first straight away was also very short and with only room for maybe two pedals, it is hard to establish positions.
The small final was won by Saladini, 6th was Graves.
Girls was won by Anneke, followed by Jill. Jill had a bad start and Anneke took advantage of that.
Brian Lopes
Posted by Brian on May 12, 2007 02:32 PM