I did make it down to the criterium on Friday and had a pretty good time.  We got there in time to catch the very end of the women’s race which had already garnered a pretty good sized crowd.  We ducked into a good cajun place on Fayetteville street to get some food before the men’s race started up.  By the time we were served and got back to the fences the men had been going for a few laps but we were able to see over 2/3 of the race.  There weren’t many big teams there, Im guessing due to a smaller purse.  The most recognizable name was Jittery Joes which some may remember as being in the Tour of Georgia and heavily covered by the media during Lance Armstrong’s one appearance there.

I didn’t hear many primes called during the race but they were going pretty fast the whole race.  The speed ‘comparable to Austin but close, another factor of Austin having the bigger cycling teams.   There were major gaps throughout the race but everyone tightened up at the end for a sprint finish.  There was a good leadout and a slingshot for the winner by his team, which sadly I can’t remember at the moment.

It was a good night to be outside and everyone I talked too, plus the few people I got to come along, had a fun night.  It made me want to get out on my bike and want to buy a new one even more.  If only my air conditioning had lasted another season.

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