Race Report: 4/19 WNTL - Open A

Race: Wednesday Night Track  - Open A

Date: April 19, 2023

AVRT racers: Skyler Espinoza

Top Result: Skyler Espinoza (? if you’re not top 5 they don’t give results at the track)

Course: 4 left turns

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/8925555638

Nutrition: Pasta on the drive down, UCAN energy powder directly before, Gatorade and Clif shots throughout the evening.

Opening night at the track! At the track I race with the Open As which in general is just for fitness because I haven’t historically been actually able to really race. The field averages 29-30mph over the whole race, so it’s plenty quick and there are some really strong riders.

Jeff Vander Stucken Photography

The field was gear restricted (honor system) to a 92” for the first two weeks, so I ran a 94” :). Usually in the men’s field I run a 104” gear so I was spinning my brains out.

First race was a snowball (every lap is worth one more point than the one before). I got the first point (or second maybe) and then TOTALLY blew up. Didn’t warmup quite hard enough to go balls to the wall right away but I was a little antsy and just went for it! Last half of that race was so hard.

Second race was an elimination (last rider across the line gets eliminated every lap), which I was excited about since I have a lot of race experience and in this particular race tactics are very important. I rode a pretty smart race and ended up 8th! Which is a super result for me in this field.

Points was last, 36 laps and I was a little afraid I wouldn’t be able to hang. It was a reduced field ~12 by that time in the night so once I got shelled I would get shelled for sure. I got 2 points in the second sprint (I think first time I’ve ever gotten points in that field) and then managed to stay with the lead pack for the rest of the race because the pace slowed down a little more in between sprints than it usually does due to the reduced field and also everyone else being tired from spinning I think.

Overall it was a strong season opener and this year I feel like I’m actually racing with the big boys, not just hanging on! Excited for more track to come!!!