Race Report: 2024 Merced Crit Men’s P12

Race Report: 2024 Merced Crit Men’s P12

Date: 3/3/2024

AVRT racers: Jack Liu

Top Result: Jack DNP 

Course: 1.1 km rectangular course featuring a roundabout (chicance) with super shitty pavement and some sands

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/10885296694

Nutrition: 1 bottles mix

Race Recap: 

On the second lap, I took an inside line on the left of the peloton to move up before the chicane. Then I realized I’m kinda screwed because there’s a huge crack right at the apex of the corner and I got nowhere to go as the whole field was swinging left. Then I crashed. 

I went back into the race with a hole in my skinsuit, some blood on my hands, and a misbehaving rear derailleur. Then I kept fighting. Honestly, it was probably one of the most exciting races to watch, as the three biggest teams, Team Mike’s Bikes, Terun, and Voler were constantly throwing attacks at each other and there was not a single dull moment. However, it was definitely not fun to be in the race. Being a victim of the accordion effect, I had to do an all-out sprint everytime out of the chicane. I survived till the penultimate lap before stopping and enjoyed the sprint finish from the sideline, where solo rider Alex Akins outsprinted the three big teams to take an incredible win.