Just Warming up the Track at Dick Lane
This past Wednesday I traveled to Atlanta to race in my first Omnium as a track cyclist. I have raced road bikes for 16 years now on Road Races, Crits, TT, and Fondos....but this was a new experience. Track racing in mass starts contains closer drafting than most road races and higher speeds than most crits. While i didn't talk about it, I was a bit nervous and a bit intimidated. The first time I've really felt that in a long time. I arrived with Zero expectations other than to learn. My event was to be four races beginning at 7pm.
There were Pro races for men and women and my field was to be a combined all Amatuer categories. In addition, it was a different track, longer at 320m and less steep banking, only 33 deg instead of 45 deg. I knew it would be different and it did not disappoint!
I arrived a bit later than anticipated thanks to my miscalculation of Atlanta traffic :) but with just enough time to register and warm up. Once I finished warming up it was time for my first race.
The Snowball. Named such because beginning on the 5th lap the first place rider gets a point. Every lap after the points to 1st place rider increase by 1 until 15 laps ends. So..... chaos to ensue as there are no points available for second place! 16 of us lined up and I noticed for the first time we had a crowd spectating. I was later told about 250 came out to watch! Away we went. I went for the second sprint lap and realized I had a gap on the field. I kept away for 4 more laps and eased off to conserve less i overdo the first race and blow up later!!! Once caught I managed to take several more laps. Thus winning the first race by almost double the points of the second place finisher. It was den of noise from the crowd. Truly a surreal experience!
Super excited and a short break later we lined up for the Tempo race. This was similar to the Snowball, but it is only 1 point per lap for the whole race. I challenged another strong rider for the first sprint, but he edged me out. Looking back, he and I had formed a gap...again!!!! We just stayed on the power rotating pulls for the next 15 laps. With one lap to go, I did the quick count and I thought I needed to win the last sprint to win the race. So I attacked with 150m to go and solidly rode away from him to take the last sprint lap and securing the win again! I entered the night unsure of my strength compared to the field. But I quickly was learning i was there.
Now I was starting to feel the efforts accumulating, but I reminded myself...so was everyone else! Next up was what I think might be the most vicious race. The Win-n-Out. 4 laps neutral and the a sprint every lap. Except here, the winner of the lap is placed and out of the race. Therefore, the higher you place, the less laps you have to do. The lower you place, the longer you keep reaching. For this one I managed to secure a 2nd by taking the second sprint lap.
Finally we were to end of the evening and it was time for the Unknown Race. This is a race where only the official knows the number of laps, between 1 and 20. When they ring the bell, only then do you know you are starting your last lap. This was the most chaotic race by far. High speeds from go and a large amount of bumping shoulders to stay near the front. 4 laps in they rang the bell and i was sitting third wheel back and slightly boxed in. One guy got a jump from the top but he cut someone off dangerously and was relegated. Next thing you know I am side by side another rider surging to the finish. I don't recall hearing anything specific but i remember the crowd was quite loud. Pushing with every last watt i had, I managed to get just enough power to finish a half wheel ahead to secure first in the final race. I never expected to take 3 out of 4 races.
With sometime to catch my breath, they soon posted the results and it was confirmed, in my first omnium I took First Overall in the Amatuer field. It was an exhilarating experience and I was stunned to say the least. I have never raced mass starts before on a track. I was hoping to maybe place in at least one race.....i never expected to take the whole omnium! As great as I performed, I learned a whole huge amount of lessons.
For those thinking about trying this track racing thing, you definitely have to try Dick Lane Velodrome, it is amazing place!!!
