Derrek Ivey in Detroit

Derrek Ivey raced the Detroit City Criterium this past Saturday, July 9th and was caught at the line after going solo for the final 15 laps.  He won the Most Aggressive Rider Award for his efforts.

http://criteriumdetroitcity.com/index.html

His Garmin Connect File can be found here:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/98008051#.ThkJV-D3fgI.email

Derrek's Race Summary:
 

With an average temperature of 30'C plus humidity the first annual Detroit Criterium was going to be a tough one.  I gave myself a great warm up doing 5 laps averaging 220 watts with a few small sprints around 1200 watts just to open up the legs.

The field was small for a race of this level, around 50 riders, so starting at the back was not going to be a problem. 

First few laps flew by. Rider after rider taking turns at the front trying to get away. I was just waiting for my chance, a small lull, a break at which to attack.  Around 12 laps in it happened and I took off the front, leaving the pack behind! I soloed 3 laps and on my last lap I won a $50 preem before getting swallowed by the pack.

I slowly coasted back to the back of the main field thinking to myself, wow my legs are felling great maybe I could do this again at the end and win it! (changed mindset, check).

So that’s exactly what I did patiently waiting lap after lap watching other riders go off the front with futile results.  Then my chance came and amazingly my teammate was attacking up the left side of the field as I was attacking up the right. Finally meeting up about 100 meters in front of the field, Brendan Pritchard (teammate) and I put our heads down and went full gas.  The sad thing was that we had a sand bagger from Jet fuel sitting on who would not pull through and do any work.  Brendan and I quickly realized we had a free wheeler on our hands and we just kept it up hammering hard lap after lap averaging 400+ watts just to stay away.

And there it was, the bell lap, 1 lap to go.  As we were coming into the first corner of that last lap, Brendan yelled “flat!!!” that was it for him.  I knew what I had to do was to just keep going and don’t look back hoping captain sand bag from Jet Fuel would fall off my wheel.

Coming up to the second last corner, The Jet Fuel rider jumped off my wheel and dives into the corner taking my line. (the outrage!!!) I quickly divert sprinting around him with 500 meters to go.  As I can clearly see the faces of the crowd up the road the pack slips by with just under 100 meter from the line.

So close So close!!! Next time

With and avg watts of 353, a $50 preem and THE MOST AGESIVE RIDER AWARD!!!! I thought that was a pretty good day : )

Cheers,
Derrek