The final day of the Agency Cycling Festival in Victoria doubled as the Provincial Criterium Championships. The 900 meter long course featured four corners of around 90 degrees, with a slight drag up after the first turn. The key course feature is corner three (the penultimate turn), a sharp turn of 100 degrees which led onto a fast ~300 meter downhill prior to a final fast right hander 75 meters before the line. In the event of the race ending in a sprint, positioning on the final lap ahead of this penultimate corner would be key. A mad dash to the final turn will then dictate the winner as given the proximity of the finish to the final bend, typically the rider who makes it into the final corner first, wins.
Red Truck Racing had a strong eight man squad to control the race with two key objectives: 1. To maintain the lead in the Agency Omnium for points awarded throughout the weekend (the criterium was the final race of a three day series) with Red Truck riders Daniel, and Alex Fraser-Maraun sitting first and second going into the final stage and, 2. To win the Provincial Championship available to the day’s winner of the criterium.
The race was a cagey affair, made more challenging by the damp roads and sprinkling rain which seems to be all too common this spring. Red Truck riders were active in marking all attempts to break away from the pack with no move gaining any significant traction off the front. A bunch sprint seemed inevitable.
With 10 minutes to go the team started moving towards the front to take control, however it was no easy feat with three cash primes on offer in the final minutes. This ensured other competitors were constantly sprinting and getting gaps off the front, making it tougher to control. With five laps to go the Red Truck train hit the front, ensuring a fast pace to both deter attacks and to ensure a good position ahead of the final lap. Cole, Declan and Luke one-by-one emptied the tank on the front, and as we passed the start/finish with one lap to go, Kyle led Alex, Dan, myself and Amiel. A big turn by Alex through straights one and two and into the penultimate corner ensured Dan and myself exited the corner in positions two and three with Amiel sweeping our wheel to make life tough for our competitors.
Dan and I both opened our sprints shortly after the penultimate turn and following an out-the-saddle downhill drag race, emerged from the final turn with enough time to post up and secure a one-two for the team ahead of Michael Foley (Toronto Hustle) in third (a fifth place finisher at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics). A fantastic result following a truly exceptional team effort.