Sun Devil Criterium Race Report (Ken)

by Ken Huizenga

The Sun Devil Crit was not on my radar for this year but I decided at the last minute to sign up and go.  I am so digging this style of racing.  It is awesome being in these groups.  You are cranking through the corners and wondering on each turn what you might be in for.  It is just an awesome adrenaline rush.

​I still find myself at the tail of the fields wanting to observe and be a little cautious, but I am learning that this is no way to get the job done.  If you lead, you roll through the turns and keep the momentum up.  If you trail, you have to slow a lot and have to crank up the power pulling off every turn to not get dropped.  The coach keeps telling me to get my butt up to the front because I am putting out more average power than many of the leaders and needlessly killing myself in the process. Data does not lie. I know what I have to do to improve.

​Jimmy and Buzz both put in some insane efforts and I know they learned a ton as well. It was great day spent in awesome company. Our team is getting wiser and faster. Coach Buzz; your endless encouragement and refusal to give up on us is so appreciated. Thanks to you and the rest of the team for another great weekend of racing.

​A quick shout out to the guy’s from Sabino Cycle in the Cat 123 race. You guys were awesome in that last race of the day. Strategy, drama and full-out effort. I was impressed!