Two days of Bensenville (Tuesday & Wednesday)

Tuesday and Wednesday the crits were held on the same course, and both days the field was whittled down to a mere 40 riders by the finish. Breaks had been successful the past couple days, so both Tuesday we went in with the objective of getting in one ourselves. Tuesday saw a group of around 8 go off the front really early on (like 5 or 10 laps into the 80 lap race), and none of us were prepared or in a position where we could follow it so unfortunately they escaped without us and lapped the field. Later that day, starting with about 20 laps to go, Oscar and I moved up to hang around the front, looking for another move to go. A group of 4 or 5 got away without us, but as soon as the next person jumped, attempting to bridge, I went with him. The two of us gained a little time on the group we were chasing (which never got out of sight), but after only a couple laps we were swallowed back up again. With expert timing, as soon as Oscar saw me surrender to the charging field, he jumped off the front, and within the next lap or two he joined the group already off the front. Nearing the end, another group of around 7 caught up to Oscar's group and they all rode it out to the finish. Because there had already been a group of 8 to lap the field, Oscar's group was battling it out for 9th place through 20 something. Oscar managed to get around 10th in the sprint, securing him 19th in the race.

The next day not much happened. After making the mistake of not coming to the front until the break had already escaped the first day, I made sure to stay up in the front for maybe the first 15 or 20 laps until it was clear that Rock Racing didn't care to get in a break that day. Unlike previous days or any other teams, Rock had 7 riders on Wednesday and were just sitting on and chasing attacks. As the field got whittled down to around 30 or 40 riders again, I waited until the closing 20 laps before I came back to the front. Attacks had started once again, and I was only jumping on the sruff that had Rock guys in it. Nothing stuck except for a really awesome solo effort by a member of the Columbian National Track team who will be going to the Olympics very soon. He escaped by himself and put 45 seconds on the rest of us by the finish. I didn't set up for the sprint very well and got a little held up by a couple guys in front of me that weren't contesting. I think I ended up placing about 30th.