Every year since McKinney Velo sprang to life at the outset of the ‘08 racing season, the “King of Crits,” the Matrix Challenge (2 full days of criterium racing near downtown Dallas), has been a race the team targets. The MC organization is impeccable; the support, race purse and primes supplied by our sister club Matrix and the sponsor we share, Richardson Bike Mart, is superb; and the venue, a super technical 8 turn track run under the shade tress of the Meadows Foundation’s campus, never fails to produce a worthy victor. Unfortunately, in the 40+ field at the ‘10 MC, that worthy victor wasn’t an MV racer either Saturday or Sunday. Instead, Kentucky resident and 23 time national champion Curtis Tolson of the Texas Roadhouse team took the W both days. But not without a fight from MV.
Saturday, 11 MV racers lined up for the start of the 40+ race determined to leave their mark. Sure enough, within the first 10-15 minutes of the 50 minute race, Oz (Steve Weber) and Bling (Patrick Burke) powered off the front with Tolson and Park Place racer Shaun Bonavita. Although their lead fluctuated as their cooperation periodically broke down, their break was never seriously threatened. After Oz nailed back a dangerous move by Tolson – a move Oz desperately wanted to counter, but his stomach didn’t cooperate – and Bling brought back an attack by Bonavita, it was obvious the victory would come down to a 4 man sprint. As Bling powered down the back stretch heading into turns 7 and 8 with Oz tight on his wheel, Tolson took a sharp inside line and slipped ahead of Bling and Oz. Oz responded, but the finish straight at the MC is so short, it’s almost impossible to pass anyone. As a result, Oz ended up 2nd and Bling held on for 3rd.
To some though, the most impressive effort of the day was put in by Seabass (pictured above practicing his standard pre-race ritual... in his dinosaur race socks, no less... the resemblance to his son Jack is uncanny, huh?) just behind the break. As Oz and Bling worked to keep their 4 man break up the road, Seabass, CP (Chris Powers), and Richie Rocket (Rich Miller) put in some monster efforts patrolling the front of the field. After CP neutralized a particularly dangerous effort to bridge to the break by fast finishers Jorge Merle (Park Place) and Richard Lamb (Sun & Ski), Seabass took off after a strong move by an Austin Nationals racer. But instead of just being satisfied with shutting that move down, Seabass launched his own effort to bridge to his 2 teammates. And on the bell lap coming down the back side stretch, Seabass made it across. Sadly, he wasn’t able to help Oz and Bling battle Tolson because Mirage’s John Eder, a lapped rider who had been catching a ride with the break for 20+ minutes, eased up just as Seabass latched on the back of the 5 man group. Fortunately, Seabass still held on for 5th, while CP managed 8th. No win, but 4 in the top 8 and 2nd to a 23 time national champ is a decent consolation prize.
MV’s contingent on Sunday was significantly smaller as only CP, Brownie (Mike Brown), Seabass, Bling and Walt ‘Disney’ Megura returned for a 2nd day of racing. The 40+ field was clearly determined not to let Tolson and any MV racers get away for a 2nd day. As a result, our boyz endured a super hard, super fast and super frustrating race that ended in a field sprint. Tolson took that win too, while CP secured a spot on the podium with a 3rd place finish. While MV is never really happy unless an MV racer wins, we still enjoy a hard fought battle at a high quality race. And the 2010 Matrix Challenge certainly provided that. Thanks to Matrix and to Jim Hoyt and the rest of the folks at RBM for another fabulous weekend of racing.
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