I don’t know if it qualifies as an instant classic, but the Ronald Reagan Criterium in Dixon is definitely one to note on the calendar for next year. It’s a fun and interesting course, a figure eight with wide, fast turns and three quick kickers out of Turns 1, 3 and 4. The finishing stretch is long and starts with a downhill out of the final corner, and the challenging terrain enabled breaks and made attrition high on Saturday.

Fields were regrettably small. Indeed, it’s a little goofy to think about how far we’re willing to drive to race in the snow in March, and yet many of us have hung up the cleats by the time the perfect weather of September rolls around. Nonetheless, organizers and locals were excited about returning next year and hope to see the race grow.

Some impressive firepower showed up for what turned out to be a fascinating P/1/2/3 race, including Geargrinder’s Rob White and Chad Hartley, plus local product Bryce Mead (Jelly Belly). The three of them went off the front on the second lap, eventually dropping all who’d gone with them. Chris Padfield (Team Get a Grip Cycles) was the last to be dropped; he survived in no-man’s land long enough for White, Hartley and Mead to lap the field and set off the front a second time. They scooped him up, and then the two Geargrinders went on the attack yet again, dropping Mead and Padfield to lap the field a second time, at which point they went to the front and set a fierce tempo for the rest of the race in order to keep the peloton out of Mead’s reach. They were successful and finished together, Hartley yielding the win to White. With Hartley headed to Kenda Pro Cycling next year, could this have been their last time racing together? If so, an impressive way to go out.

Two local juniors from IS Corp pulled a fast one on the 3/4’s. With seven to go, James Bird (IS Corp) attacked and created a dangerous gap. Tom Briney (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) bridged, but by three to go the entire pack had caught them. That allowed Scott Rosenfield (IS Corp) to counter, and he solo’d to the win, with Bird taking 4th.

With 30 starters the 4/5’s race was the day’s largest field. Except for some attrition, the group stayed together for most of the race. Chris Koster (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) and Ron Good (Endure It!) exited the final corner with a small gap, and Koster led the entire sprint to take the victory.

Full results.

Race reports
Chris Padfield (Team Get a Grip Cycles; P/1/2/3): “OOooooooh, now it’s really gonna be on. So much for an ‘easy’ race.”

Matt Riezman (Spidermonkey Cycling; 5, 4/5): “I found the cornering much less scary than advertised and I didn’t ride in the pack long enough to even have the chance to crash.”

Jared Rogers (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5, 4/5): “Heading into the stretch just before the climb I got a slight gap and that’s exactly where the field broke in two.”

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 1/2/3, P/1/2/3): “Down the long straightaway, we engaged in cat-and-mouse. I tried to shake-and-brake but I could get behind him.”

Photos
Nikki Cyp
Luke Seemann