While I have been training at Kissena Velodrome quite a bit this year, the Kissena Twilight Racing Series #1 was my first time racing at Kissena his year and I had so much fun. They had races on weekends this year but I couldn’t go because one time I was sick and the other times I was racing on the road. But the Twilight Series on Wednesdays works perfectly for Ari and me. Ari, however, wasn’t able to race this time as he had a nasty cough but he came to hang out and cheer us on.
Lots of people were and many of my Star Track teammates came too, 13 in total. Coach Dave and Coach Pete were there as well – I hadn’t seen Coach Pete since the Star Track Winter Camp in February! Coach Pete always travels as he’s looking after the Star Track UCI team. One of the riders, Grant Koontz might actually go to the 2024 Olympics. Super, super nice guy who has a blog too. Check it out here – it was him who inspired us start our own blog.
I registered for the “C” Category and had three races: a 6-lap scratch, an unknown distance, and a 4-lap “point-a-lap” race. About ten were in my “C” field.
Scratch Race
I came in first in the scratch race but it was very close. I was in a breakaway of three and on the last lap I drafted a rider named Sergio and I started my sprint in the middle of turn three. Thanks to my junior gearing I got a quick acceleration and could pass Sergio rather easily but once he got into gear he caught up fast and I just barely beat him at the finish line.
Unknown Distance
The “Unknown Distance” race turned out to have 6 laps, maybe 7. On lap 3 or so, I got in a breakaway with my Star Track teammate Will, Sergio, and two other guys. When we entered the last lap, the field reduced to me and three other riders and I started my sprint when I was in position 2 and someone just tried to pass me. Three of us were battling to the finish and I came in a close second right behind Sergio.
Point-a-Lap
The last race, the 4-lap “point-a-lap”, started with my teammate Des making an attack right at the start which my other teammate Will chased down. I was in Will’s draft and overtook him at turn four to snatch the first point. Then, at the beginning of lap 2, there was a counterattack that led to a breakaway of two and I wasn’t able to chase it down because I was tired from getting the points on the first lap. For the remainder of the race I stayed in third position and came in that race as third overall too.
In hindsight it would have been better to not go for the first sprint, but rather preserve my energy so that I could have been part of the breakaway that started on lap two.
Can’t wait to be back
Had such a good time and can’t wait for the next Twilight Race #2 on June 12. According to the Kissena Velodrome webpage there may already be a race on June 2. Thanks Mr. Jason for organizing these races and being so generous to Juniors – we just have to pay $10 to race.
