Paramount Crit

This is a great industrial park Crit.
I raced the same venue earlier in the year in a Dash-4-Cash event, however the start finish was on the other side of the course and we rode it in reverse. Its four wide smooth fast corners with some slight risers. I wasn't feeling too great as I was warming up for this event. My stomach was slightly upset and I was feeling the last couple days of hazy riding in my chest. I got in a good warm up chit chatted with some friends, thanked the officials for showing up for us and then headed to the line. My legs turned up after all though. I raced smart stayed toward the front, never attacked, just followed wheels and ended up taking home 5 primes and placed 3rd. Coming into the last corner I was on the wheel of a very large SouthBayWheelman who was putting down the power. He gapped me slightly and I figured it was too soon and he would blow. I was waiting for another rider to jump on his wheel as I took a little breather before the grand finale. But sadly no other rider made that initiative and he had a big enough gap to hold us off. I realize now that my sprint is coming around and I need to trust it more. It was a great race all in all: I felt great, had a blast, and was in total control.
This race should bump me up to third in the Cat 4 So-cal Cup and one top 5 away from my cat 3 upgrade. But most importantly I really feel like I am starting to learning how to race bicycles. It is more fun every race and I am actually starting to enjoy crits... Maybe I start throwing some iron around, drink raw eggs in the morning, and beefcake it up for next year