Davis 4th of July Crit

Davis is a 30-some-odd year old classic crit held annually on July the 4th. Hot weather, raucous crowds, and a downtown college atmosphere make for some wild, rowdy, dangerous racing. Everyone wants to win it, no one really wants to race it.

Harless and Turner lined up for a 75 minute barn burner on a flat, six corner, L-shaped course riddled with potholes, brick to asphalt sections, not to mention BBQ and beer. A field of nearly 100 that included the likes of Daniel Ramsey (Team Mt. Kakhis), Chad Gerlach (Amore & Vita), and not to mention National Pro Crit champ Rahsaan Bahati, insured a heavily contested event.

Harless follows Turner down one of the straight stretches

Attacks came thick and fast right from the gun with Turner initiating several break attempts. However, the nervous nature of the course, paired with many teams content to sit in and try their turn of speed in the field kick against Bahhati, resulted in a bit of negative racing. Discouraged, but not down and out, Turner bid his time until the 50th minute when he launched his last haymaker attack.

Turner on the prowl for a gap off the front

All but lighting his entire matchbook on fire, Turner escaped the clutches of the field and opened up a 12 second gap to the screaming of a heat-crazed crowd. Breathing out of his eyeballs, a quick look under his arm revealed break-away specialist Chad Gerlach briding up with a Lombardi rider in tow.

Joining Turner, the trio rolled hard, but never really became cohesive, and as a result, only managed to push the gap out an additional 3 seconds. The bunch was having none of a strongman, 3 deep, Gerlach breakaway, and the escapees were caught with 7 to go.Avoiding any additional monkey-business, Turner and Harless finished safely in the group as Bahati easily bested the field in the final dash to the line.
(Thanks to C. Turner for the Recap!)

Photos are all by Veronkia Lenzi: http://www.veronikalenzi.com/DavisCritProMen070409-6.php