This past weekend was the Salty and Tall Race for the March of Dimes up near Tulsa. Saturday was set to be a 60 minute criterium on a 2.5 mile looped course, and Sunday was set to be a 20.5 mile loop that we would race 3 laps for a 61.5 mile road race. Both proved to be very tough races in the end.
On Saturday we showed up 4 deep with Andy, Erin, Chad and Jacob starting the criterium. The course had a few rolling hills and quite a bit of rough surface and messy areas. Flat tires were abundant in the prior races, fortunately we had no such bad luck. The race was fast from the start, with many riders trying to attack off the front. A few small breaks were established early, but nothing could quite stick. We had a plan, and stuck to that plan as a team. From attacking, to chasing down attacks, to marking certain racers, we raced well together and covered all areas of the race as a whole. In the finishing laps it was evident that the race was going to come down to a field sprint. As we neared the last 1 mile of the loop, the DNA pain train started winding up. Andy was first in line and we wound up the pace to string out the pack and keep anyone from attacking around. Erin came next and he led Jacob to the bottom of the finishing hill. Jacob sprinted strong and was just barely nabbed at the line by Brandon Melott, by less than a wheel. Chad's line had been cut by another rider in the leadout train and he eventually had to fend for himself, which panned out nicely for him since he recovered and sowed up 4th place in the sprint. A stellar team finish with 2nd, 4th and 10th places taken by DNA riders!!!!
Sunday started cold and windy, and driving to the start/finish proved that the course would be a bit tougher than originally imagined. Each of lap would consist of 3 significant climbs, which eventually played a part in the break up of the race. The cold weather had racers energetic as attacks piled on top of each other during the first lap. Andy got in an early break with a BMC rider and they made a wrong turn at an unmanned corner. Jacob also got in a break and the minute his group was caught he flatted. The day would be filled with unlucky breaks. However, the team raced strong covering attacks, pulling riders back, blocking, and racing together as a core group. The beginning of the 3rd lap would prove crucial. Brady Schmiedeberg from OKC Velo attacked on the initial climb, and Erin was on his wheel immediately. Both ended up getting away. Our plan for the day did not include "working" in a break, so Erin sat on Brady's wheel for half of that last lap as Andy and Jacob kept the field in check. We had Chad set up for the finishing sprint so his goal was to reserve energy and sit in nicely in the pack. When the race came to a point where Brady and Erin could see that they might stay away, Erin began to work. Jacob, Andy and another rider from OKC Velo continued to keep the field in check, blocking and chasing down any attacks going off the front. By the 1 mile to go mark, it was evident that Erin and Brady were away for good, and Erin outsprinted him for the overall win!!!!  |
| Erin going for the sprint on his Velocite Magnus! |
What a weekend for our DNA team. Great race control and placing in the cat 3 field!!! In addition, we added another rider to our 3 roster. Aaron Highfill found great success in the cat 4 field races and earned his upgrade to the 3's!!! Evan Bybee held his own in the massively stacked P12 races and brought in some great results!!!! 
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