Daylight Savings stole an hour of sleep, the city was wet, cold and windy. But the excitement buzzed loud, and in Prospect Park, beneath the leafless trees, the starting line shimmered for the first race in the Lucarelli & Castaldi Cup. Read Rogier's experience in the Cat 3/4 field.

Preparation and conditions

New York City Park Races are always a brutal lesson in early rising. I double-checked my gear the night before, but for what? I didn't know how to properly dress for what was coming. Brooklyn was taking a horizontal shower and despite the optimistic forecast, I half-expected to race in a windbreaker and snorkel. The next morning brought little to no relief – just a bone-chilling wind and a surprise rain shower on my way to the start line. But nothing could dampen my determination; I was hungry to get back in the saddle.

Race Report

The darkness slowly made place for a sunrise start, adding a touch of unexpected delay to the day. The West Drive's smooth tarmac was half-submerged, a makeshift duckling pool courtesy of the overnight rain. The race organizers marked out the new hazards which caused a nervous start for everyone in the field. 

The Cat 3/4 field was off quickly and everyone wanted to be in the front of the peloton, making sure to avoid potential crashes or sliders and get caught up within them. My strategy was simple: conserve energy, build confidence, and look for a sprint opportunity. Limited support meant riding smart in the early laps. it wanted to keep it relaxed until we moved into the different classification laps. I have to admit that I didn't feel comfortable going downhill into the squeezed section where sand was washed on the tarmac. I was glad to see everyone navigate it safely.

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A few laps in, my legs felt surprisingly good. However, the Green Jersey competition was fierce, with a large group vying for the points. Ascending Prospect Park Hill, I realized I was too far behind for the sprint, and the designated sprinters were already sprinting towards the finish line. Opting for a more conservative approach, I positioned myself behind them, making sure I wouldn't miss a break.

A lap later, it was time for the KOM of Prospect Hill. As a 220-pound rider, let's just say "mountain goat" isn't my spirit animal. I simply want to survive everytime we go uphill. I'm a cyclist who is a Rouleur that delivers high watts for a longer time. On the bottom of the hill, I found myself in second position and with only one other racer going up the hills for the points, I decided to follow and was able to get out this wheel and overtake him in a healthy margin before the finish. 

KOM Laps

Three points in the pocket - change of plans! I choose to stay in the front of the peloton, helping with ramping up the speed to force a breakaway. Another sprint lap came up, I didn't join and wanted to be ready for the KOM lap. Just before coming up Prospect Hill in the KOM Lap, I accidentally found myself in first position. I could have been much more mindful but chose (war) to absolutely send it up the hill, hitting double digits in watts/kg for the short punch climb. This was fun but not smart, and I was simply overtaken in the last metres but still grabbed second place. 

The group for the last two laps was down to 10 - 15 racers and we were working well together. For me, I still didn't feel super confident with the sprint and as a random leadout, I was quickly overtaken by the podium contenders, finishing in 11th place.

See you next time in the Polka Dots! 

Prospect Park Bike Racing Photo Gallery by Matt