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Karel, Curtis, and Ralph lined up at a scorching hot course in downtown Lakeland for the Florida State Criterium Championships. The temperature on the bank marquee read 102 degrees and the wind that was blowing felt like a convection oven instead of a cool breeze. This was going to be a hard day on the bike.Curtis and Ralph raced the 35+ race earlier in the day, with Curtis winning the 35+ State Crit Championship and Ralph taking 5th on his comeback tour. Our strategy coming into the Pro-1-2 race was to cover any dangerous moves and try to set Karel up for something near the end of the race. Karel raced and finished all of the USA Crits Speed Week races the previous week and was in stellar form. Racing back to back crits against the best talent the nation has to offer was perfect preparation for a run at the State Crit Title. This course tends to wear on people because it is always hot, windy and there is a long hill on the front side of the course coming to the finish line. Every rider in the race harbors dreams of raising his hands as State Champion, so it is always very aggressive and fast. Over the years, the race has usually split apart in the final laps. The chaotic nature of the race and the uphill finish fits Karel to tee. Unfortunately, Karel was hit with a stomach bug the night before the race and was not feeling very chipper at the start.
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The race started fast and a large break of 10 guys formed about 20 minutes into the race. It was a dangerous move and Curtis made an attempt to bridge across on the front side hill. The effort brought the pack close enough that Karel was able to follow a counter move to the break. Everything looked good as Lindner Capital had the man it wanted in what appeared to be a race winning break. As the break got close to lapping the field, one rider from ZMotion attacked solo to close the last few seconds to the field. The entire ZMotion team then went to the front and dragged the remainder of the break back over the next 20 minutes. The rider that lapped the field is not an American citizen, so the State title was still up for grabs. The bad news for Lindner was that Karel had spent a lot of energy in what turned out to be a fruitless break. It was time to reshuffle.
The inevitable attacks came thick and fast after the break was caught. Curtis bridged up to a break of six riders with 8 laps to go. This break established a 20 second lead over the field. Another ZMotion rider attacked the break and was away solo. The break seemed content to watch another rider go up the road. Curtis attacked the breakaway in a bid for a podium spot. He was caught at the line by several fast sprinters from the break and ultimately finished 6th. Behind the break, Karel attacked out of the pack and held off the field in an impressive effort for 7th place. Curtis and Karel had hoped for more, but were ultimately satisfied with their efforts on the day with both riders finishing in the top 10.
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