Course: A one mile flat oval.
Course Description: I'll use the track convention of an oval course having four corners. Turn one goes into the first oval, turn two comes out, etc. Turns one and two are flat, smooth and no problem. There's a slight uphill grade going into turn three and the inside of turns three and four can be a little rough. Especially watch out for the transition between the cement curb and the asphalt road. If it has rained a lot recently there could be some mud left over from puddles. There's another slight lump coming out of turn four and then the road makes an "S" to the left about 150-200 meters before the finish.
Distances: 45 to 75 minutes depending on your category.
Road Surface: Mostly pretty good pavement. Watch for rough sections on the inside of the final turn.
Gearing: Flat criterium gears.
Facilities: Bathroom and porta cans. Various restaurants, grocery stores, etc. on Freeport Blvd.
Weather: Generally cool, rain is possible. The grass in Land Park is invariably wet. Watch your step if you don't want to get muddy shoes, cleats, or wheels.
Feeding: N/A
Rules Specific to this race: The Sr. 1/2 race has been a points race for the last couple of years.
Race Advice: This criterium is somewhat notorious for its crashes. You'd think that a course with no real corners and wide roads would be a fairly crash free course, but those are the main reasons behind the crashes. The problem is that it is WAY too easy to sit in the pack and not expend any energy at all. When you get to the last few laps everybody is fresh as a daisy and ready to fight out the finish. That coupled with a big wide road to pass on can lead to trouble. What makes it worse is that about 150-200 meters before the finish the road makes a slight "S" to the left. The best line to the finish takes you right past the left curb where the road bulges out. The problem is that if you are on the left half of the pack you can easily get pushed into the curb at full speed when the leaders (who might be in the middle or right side of the pack) take that line.
Having said all that, it's still a pretty fun race and it's one that I do every year. Successful break aways are very rare in this race. It will usually come down to a field sprint. The sprint will usually start from a long way out so don't get over anxious. If you take an outside line in the sprint try and make sure that you get towards the front before the bulge so you don't get pushed into the curb.
The Pro/1/2 race is a points race with sprints every five laps worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 point for the top four. Mid-race and the final sprint are worth double points. I think running this race as a points race makes it a little bit safer.
This race is also the World Sacramento Criterium Championship. It's kind of like Sr. nationals in that other riders are allowed to race, but only Sacramento area riders can win the championship. But you actually have to win the race for bragging rights, not just place as the top Sacramento person.
Lodging: John Elgart lives about two miles from the course. He said that anybody that wants to can stay with him. Okay, not really. Lodging should be easy to find in Sacramento.
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Kevin Metcalfe
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