Karl Wurzbach, Martinez Crit 4/5

Alarm is off at 7am and getting breakfast ready for the kids b4 I go to the race. I was on the wait list but first in line so I was pretty sure I would get in and I did. Warmup was short b/c line for check in was long and then had to go back when reg. was closed. Maybe 15 min. but legs felt good and was able to ride the course which was very similar to Davis Crit but a few slight hills. Very narrow streets. Did I mention we had 4 crashes in our race?

I started in the back and planned to hang out for 5 or 6 laps of the .9 mile loop. The pack was strung out over about 300 yds and I started moving up on 1 of 2 straight-aways and got to the front 5 in about another 6 laps. Back and forth in the top ten and then in 2nd with 3 laps to go feelin' good. Just passed the finish with 2 laps to go they neutralize the race due to a crash.

6 neutral laps later they stop the race for 15 minutes while the ambulance comes. Crap!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the guys that were down but the sprinters who just grabbed the last prime with 4 laps to go got their legs back. They re-started and gave us 5 laps to finish and it was a frenzy the first lap, slow the second and then someone took off and me and another caught his wheel after a couple hundred yds. The field caught up and another guy took off and I was in second and gave chase with 2 to go and caught him over the next 300 yds. but took a bit out of me. I sat on him the rest of the way as he was pulling strong. Coming off the last turn is 200yds+ to the finish and I went right around him and gunned it. 100 to go I shifted into a harder gear (mistake) got passed by 1 with 50 to go then another and 3 about 5 yds from the line.

I know what you're saying Fred (gotta stop gettin' swarmed at the line!) It'll come with the consistent training. My speed comes from my strength which hopefully gets better as the season progresses. If the race hadn't been halted I really feel that this was one to win or at worst be top three, but it is what it is and I'm happy with the outcome as I'm learning more and more each race. I really want to hear about Ward's Ferry and what happened there with the team. See you guys soon.

Karl