Bike racing came to Olympia the first weekend of July for both the state criterium and circuit race championships.  Located just 10 blocks north of my house, I headed down in the morning Saturday to try for my 3rd win in the Masters non-championship event.  With a gauranteed $110 for the win and the odd prime to be won, how could I refuse?  Well, win #3 was had after another ride and I broke the back fo the small field and dueled it out for the closing laps.  I was hoping to win alone so that I could pop one of my baby's pacifiers in my mouth to dedicate the win to her, and while I wasn't truly alone, my rival got loose in the last corner to allow my winning margin in the sprint to big enough to reach in and pop the binky in my mouth.

Later, in the pro/1-2 championship race I made a point of riding near the front and jumping on all the attacks I could to avoid missing the break.  I repeatedly covered attacks just as they were being made, but they never had enough riders from different teams to sucede.  With 30 of 80 minutes remaining I drifted back to conserve energy and change tactics for the inevitable field sprint.  Unfortunately, the lap board went from 5 laps to 3 in one lap and the pace went ballistic at the same time I was making my way to the front.  I never got there, and ended up with no result.

The next day I set out to do two more races in one day at the Boston Harbor circuit race course I designed a few years ago.  First up was the warm-up Masters event that I didn't care too much about, but still wanted to win.  The racing was dissapointing, with riders chasing attacks and offering no counter-attack, and also following the every move of the championship series leader rather than trying to do their own race.  The frustrating pattern repeated itself for the duration of the race until an breakaway lacking the series leader and myself was allowed some room.  All the riders in the break were caught, barring a strong Master B rider who held on to cross the line first, taking the B title, while I was able to take the field sprint which netted me the state Master A circuit race title.

After a picnic and nap with the family at a nearby park, I headed back for the pro/1-2 championship race.  After a fast but ultimately uneventful first lap, and winning break fo the race was established after the course's main hill, even though the pace was not high and the field was not stretched into a line.  Enough riders from enough teams simply rode a bit harder and were allowed to roll by their teamates.  With the Garage team out of the break, they eventually took the initiative to chase, and after seeing that I had better contribute, gave them a hand occassionally.  With 10 riders in the break, there wasn't much to race for as the break held the field off.  Into the last hill, the teams that had gotten a free ride in the pack attacked left and right, but I was able to follow of keep the attacks close as we approached the finish line.  I was able to pass one of the strongest sprinters in WA to take the field sprint not for 11th, but for 9th, as two riders in the break had crashed in their sprint right before the finish line. 

So, though I missed the break on this course again, I didn't quit, and due to circumstances, ended up with a top-10 in a championship event.  So, for the weekend, two wins and another top-10.  The reason for the race volumes was "why not" as well as trying to get some fitness for the upcoming Cascade Classic.