Race Report: Gateway Cup - Pro 1
Date: September 1st - September 4th
AVRT Racers: PA
[Report written by PA]
Day 1 - Tour de Lafayette
The last major US crit series of the year blasted off on a Friday night at a scorching average speed of 31.5 mph. With 130 riders jostling on a super-wide course, the race was set for a tricky finish with high-speed thrills and spills.
Flying solo for AVRT, I knew a field sprint was inevitable, so I played it safe for most of the race, sticking to good lines and steering clear of trouble. As the laps came down to seven to go, I made my move to 15th wheel, feeling strong and managing the chaos well—right up until the last lap. Trying to hold my high position, I was edged out in the first corner by Justin Williams. Outweighed and outmatched, I crashed into the curb at 35 mph, clipping a few spectators—thankfully, with no serious injuries. Battered but mostly unscathed, I was ready to tackle the next day.
Day 2 - Tour de Francis Park
After a day spent scavenging St. Louis for bike parts and a new helmet, I lined up already spent. The course was wide and primed for another sprint. My energy sapped and still shaking off yesterday's crash, I wasn't up to the vigor to challenge in the sprint, settling for a top-40 finish and setting my sights on better days ahead.
Day 3 - Giro De La Montagna
Day three’s profile—a narrower course with a modest hill—suited me better, disrupting the sprint teams’ rhythm. As part of the American Criterium Cup, the competition was fierce. Foregoing the sprint, I threw everything into breakaway attempts. Despite strong early efforts and joining promising breaks, I missed the decisive move eight laps out. I contested the bunch sprint and took 36th—a disappointing result, but I stuck to my plan.
Day 4 - Tour de Florissant
The finale on this brutal crit course—arguably the toughest of the year—featured narrow roads, two hills, and rough pavement. Learning from my mistakes in Chicago, I've gotten better at the silly line up game, and managed to secure a spot on the second row. The pace was relentless; the field of 130 was reduced down to about 45 by the half-hour mark, people were getting popped left and right. My legs felt good, but looking at my computer, I knew I couldn't sustain this pace for one hour, eventually, I got dropped with eight laps remaining. Still, finishing 31st was my best result of a frustrating weekend.