Outwit and Outplay: A Sad Lost in Amari

• April 3, 2007, Wednesday morning in Amari mid-week criterium race
• Racing with a new 7-man team
• The team: 5 newbies (Lloyd, Baler, Hardin, Hualda, Me) and 2 sprinters
• Total distance: 70km 35 laps, 2km/lap

Lloyd started an early attack during the first round, followed by a series made by Baler and Jardin, then Lloyd again until group was split. 7-10 cyclists formed the first group. I was in the bigger second group. When I saw a rival attacking, I immediately checked him until we reached the first group. As we reached the first group, I decided to further split the group to increase the chance of the team to win, so I started the attack. The same rival checked me, so Lloyd made another attack from the back. But the group was still fresh so it was hard to break away. During my second attempt to break, the rival tailed me and one of my team’s sprinter. The three of us managed to break away a few meters from the group. The rival was convincing me to continue the break at magpalitan na lamang kami. Since mahaba pa ang karera, katamtaman lang ang trangko ko.

A few moments later, while I was looking back to check the second group, I saw my team’s other sprinter, who managed a gap from the second group, chasing us. Agad ko syang inatrasan para makasama namin sa break away. We were now 4 in the first group: me, 2 sprinters, and the lone rival. I thought it will be an easy win, so I decided to sacrifice in leading the group to a wider gap from the bigger group behind. Ako na muna ang gumawa ng lahat ng trangko so the sprinters can recover and reserve their energy in the sprint finish. Last 21 lap pa kami nagbreak away, kaya mahaba-haba pa ang bubunuin. Paminsan-minsan pumapalit sila so I can take a rest. To my disbelief, one of the sprinters told me ako na lang ang magsprint.

In the final round, I lead the group and started to lead the sprinters after the U-turn. But, kauumpisa ko pa lang sila ibwelo ay inilabas na agad ng first sprinter from my right. He was immediately tailed by the lone rival, followed by the other sprinter. I was dumbfounded as I watched them helplessly. Outwitting the two sprinters, the lone rival won the sprint. This is a hard lesson learned.