Tour of Elk Grove preview

Photo by Luke Seemann

In a proper world, fans would line for all our races. High-value primes would shower down like candy from a piñata, and the prizes would come close to matching the prodigious expenses and risks we bear for our sport.

Alas, that's not the world we live in -- except for this weekend.

I have no idea how they did it, but the Tour of Elk Grove organizers have returned with an even bigger pot of gold for the event's second year. How long can this bounty last? I don't know, but come out and enjoy it while you can.

That said, while the good promoters giveth, they also taketh away. Presumably to accommodate an extra 5's race (a noble thing!), other amateur races are unusually short. Thus expect these races to be fast and active. In the men's 3/4's race it will be like Gallipoli out there: As soon as one attack gets reeled in, new ones will stubbornly launch, certain doom notwithstanding. That's my prediction, for what it's worth.

My advice to the 5's here is no different than for at other races: There will be a wide range of skill level. Stay near the front from the start. Expect gaps to open early and often. Look for them and quickly skip around slower riders and on to the lead group. If you hesitate, the gaps will grow too big to jump across.

Each day's courses are L-shaped, effectively flat on smooth roads. As I mentioned in my last post, the U-turns are guaranteed to cause trouble. We haven't had a lot this season, and someone is bound to misjudge one in every race. (It's partly for this reason that I'm opting out, but don't let that dissuade you.) Riders at the fore will have an easier time, so get up front and stay there. (Easier said than done, granted.)

The further challenge of the U-turns will be re-accelerating out of each one as you try to go from a near standstill back up to 25 mph without losing any ground.

I forget whether free laps were given last year. With laps of 2.3 and 1.7 miles, I expect not.

Payouts go 20 deep, so sprint every last inch even if you're mid-pack. Quitting early can cost you a nice dinner out. You'll be surprised how much riders ahead of you are fading, and you'll be astonished how quickly the riders behind you are gaining. (Even the women's 3/4's go 20 deep, plus $500 in primes. Viva la egalitie!)

Once the amateurs are done, the real business starts with the pro races. Grab some lunch in town, replenish your carbohydrates with a cold beer and make a day of it. A complete start list has not been released, but known notables include Tour de France finishers Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto) and Christian Vandevelde (CSC). Sunday's 110k race at 2 p.m. should be dynamite, with $45,000 on the line plus another $60,000 for the overall, not to mention primes of $1,550, $2,500 and $3,000.

This should be a fantastic weekend. Race well, race safe and be sure to let Elk Grove know how happy you are to be there.

Saturday and Sunday
Tour of Elk Grove
USCF criteriums
Elk Grove, Ill.
Distance from Chicago: .5 hours

Comments

Posted by: Dan at Aug. 8, 2007 01:14 PM

Posted by: ScottV at Aug. 8, 2007 04:13 PM