Fall River, MA
Industrial park criteriums rank at the bottom of the scenic-bike-racing-venue totem pole. Compare racing in an industrial park with, say, racing up 21 Alpine switchbacks, and you’re left with a feeling of emptiness. When you’re suffering on a scenic course, at least you can take a second to look around and dull the pain with some vague feeling of aesthetic fulfillment. When you’re suffering in an industrial park, there is only the suffering to confront; the visual landscape around you threatens a nihilism that saps your soul of the promise of beauty and leaves you almost enjoying the taste of regurgitated carbohydrate goo as you push your body into the red zone.
Spoiler alert: this is the way the race ends
That said (and with tongue removed from cheek), the Blount Seafoods Fall River Criterium happens to be a very fun and well-organized race. The course is basically a four-corner one-mile course, with a descent on one side followed by a fast and hard left turn onto a tailwind straightway followed by a left turn onto a gradual crosswind climb followed by a left turn onto a headwind false flat finishing stretch.
A Kenda/Raleigh contingent of Adam, Mukunda, and Jason Beerman put on their biking costumes and toed the line. The three held out hope for seafood primes until it was announced at the start that the primes would be cash and some equipment. The gun went off and the small field of around 35 racers made their way around the first turn. Mukunda was twitchy and began what was to be an endless series of attacks. The field chased and when he came back, Adam took a dig. Again, the field chased and Jason took a flyer. Seemingly, everyone was bored of chasing and let him build up a lead of 15 seconds or so for a few laps, during which he scooped up a couple primes.
Jason eventually grew tired and the field strung itself out and he was caught after his little adventure off the front. Adam sensed this and timed his counterattack perfectly at the top of the uphill slog, drawing out a strong group of three. The field seemed content to let this move go, and it looked especially good when Mark McCormack (Team Fuji) rocketed up the left side to bridge at the halfway point of the race. Unfortunately, this development catalyzed a hard chase from a few riders who buried themselves to bring it back. When the field finally made contact, the pace had been so hard for so many laps that gaps had begun to open. Jason saw this and attacked hard on the tailwind section hoping that one more go in the wind would snap the elastic.
A small group responded, inspired both by the widening gaps and the fact that the final cash prime of the day was on offer. After the prime sprint, the group was in disarray and Frank McCormack (Team Fuji) jumped and got a gap. Jason sensed the danger and went after McCormack with Ward Solar (Nerac) as company. Ward and Jason quickly separated themselves from the chase and kept McCormack at around 10-15 seconds for the remaining 7 laps, but they could not close the gap to the leader despite an inspired chase. With one to go, it was clear that McCormack’s strength would win the day and Jason and Ward began the battle for the remaining podium spots. Jason was caught in the front spot for the last lap and tried to ride Ward off his wheel on the uphill section, but Ward is (cue Phil Liggett-speak) “a very strong boy” and this attempt by Jason turned into more of a premature leadout for Ward. On the final stretch, the two played cat and mouse until Ward jumped with 100 meters to go and relegated Jason to 3rd on the day.
Full results are here.
Jason’s podium faux pas: he puts his hand directly in McCormack’s face and is quickly reprimanded