Robert Winder

Come race downtown Vacaville, sounds great as we went speeding towards Sac on the 80… we must’ve passed the junction, we’re back out into the fields. Quick U-turn and back past Nut Bush City Mall and hit Vaca downtown proper.

I’ve only been to Vacaville for the outlets so I didn’t even know this side of the F-way existed. Nice location, very friendly, great schedule. Got parked under the oak tree, got Mex set-up on the trainer for the W3/4 race and went to see Maria & Joseph off for the kids races. Following Joseph around was my warm-up before the E3’s, and got a shock when I came around the corner to see the hill. This isn’t crit racing. Joseph won and Maria took 2nd - nice way to start the day.

Mex was up next, I didn’t see much of her race, although she was there to help out Susannah. It looked as though their race was tough, and I was worried that she’d blow a gasket over the climb. I needn’t have worried though - she handled it every time with style and panache. Margaret finished 15th and spent the rest of the day in the analysts chair.

Paul and I were next up - we both won yesterday, Leesville and Fremont - good for the team - and we were looking to score more points again today. I decided to throw down a few hard efforts early on, but as usual nothing was going to stick. One of them was after a broken Spine was coming back towards the bunch having gone away at the start of a prime lap. I looked up the road and saw him weaving on the finishing straight, and being the consumate prick chased him down and got the prime - anyone need a $15 voucher for RoadID?

Paul had some idea of getting into a break and 4 looked as though they’d quickly established - looks are deceiving in the E3’s fields and they soon came back. Up and over, up and over, up and over the hill and eventually we all came together for the last couple of laps. I had the perfect set-up as Reed Bag Boy went to the front and hammered the last hill/downhill, the pacemaking being picked up by 3rdPillar before a big move from TO. I was in the perfect place, but there was no way I was getting the better of the 11tooth today and ended 2nd.

My fourth 2nd place of the year and that really sucks…

Not all was lost though - the $120 payout and a Velopromo T-shirt - I think thats the first time I’ve gotten more than $20 for anything from Velo Bob - that was a great surprise to both me and Paul as we shared our winnings.