Trish Black for the Win, Chris Black for Third in Somerville NJ
This was a four corner criterium in Somerville with a small hill; uphill between turns 3 & 4, downhill between 1 & 2. Trish was up first today with the open women's field. There were 20 starters (there were 10 cat 4's who were picked separately). Trish rode smart and stayed near the front the entire race. She was sure to cover all of the attacks from Team Type 1 and let the TT1 riders close the gaps from other attackers. The race came down to a bunch sprint with TT1 setting up the leadout. Trish was smart and followed the two rider TT1 train; she popped out with 50 meters to go and pipped Monique Hanley (TT1) on the line for the win!
I was up next in the 45+ men's event. I sat near the front for the first lap and attacked on the hill on lap two. I was caught on the back straight but went again when Dirk Cowley (SBO) attacked on the hill. Dirk and I kept the gas on and were off the front in different groups for most of the race. Patrick Gellineau (Unattached) took a prime and kept going. There were two away but we caught them with two to go. Dirk set a high tempo but pulled off too early. I ended up second wheel when a Liberty Cycle guy went. He died on the back straight and Someone jumped on the left side. I went around on the right and the guy who jumped first swerved violently to the right, into my front wheel. I stayed up but it set me up for a crappy line into turn three. I hit a big pothole and heard a loud crack. I thought I flatted my front tire but was not sure. I sprinted hard up the hill and was first into the final turn. I was unsure about the pressure in my front tire so I backed off in the turn. I hit it again when I straightened out, but I slowed too much in the corner and two guys got by me in the sprint.
-- report by Chris Black
