14th April was SACA's Second Road Classic of the Season at the end of Sentosa, along the road to Ocean Cove. This Classic was termed a Criterium with three sharpo turns along one big undulating road with hardly any flat terrain at all. Riders would start at one end, proceed up some hillocks into a narrow service road that runs beside the Sentosa Satellite Station and then descend precariously to make a 180 degree turn at the Dolphin Fountain before climbing round again back to the start and make another 180 degree turn at the start.

The weather was hot and humid, with some cloud cover. Tall trees on both sides of the road provided shelter from most of the wind and so this was not a factor in the race. The fields were much larger this time. The Ladies segment must have grown by 100%! Ok, so last time, there were only four ladies, but hey, any growth is good! The junior and senior veterans fields were merged but it was also my impression that there were a lot more people this time.

TA's Absolutees were racing in 3 categories this time - Vets, Sports and Juniors. Sandman (Veteran Slut), The Kid (Junior Slut), Lippy, Young Man, Spiderman and myself (Sting) were the Sporty Sluts. Johnathan and Ray our Associate Sluts also turned up. Adrian BKC was there as our Support Slut. Johnathan was as impressive as ever using the mountain bike category as a warm-up to his race in the Open Category! And that was at least two hours before the Open Racers took to the field.

Sandman was our erstwhile rep in the Vets where he rode bravely but could not match the explosive sprinting power of local supermen like Jeffery Lee. Jeffery Lee took the 1st spot again and is guaranteed to do so in almost any mass sprint! Now, that's what we call fast.

Absolutees had a small mishap while recceing the route. Lippy touched wheels with one of Spidey's friends and there was a fall that broke two wheels. Sandman did not think twice about lending out his wheels - allez Sandman!

Did we have a plan? Sure, we wanted to animate the peloton, place one or more of us on the podium and most of all, HAVE FUN. What's more fun than attacking the field and making them chase, thereby raising Lactate Levels all around? Share the Joy Juice, Bro!

That was the story for most of the Sports peloton that day; there was an Absolutee in the front in almost every lap. Flat out from the gun, I surged. Only problem was = everyone else had the same idea. The pack started mightily fast at first, but then slowed when we reached the slope. I found myself boxed on the left - bad starting position if you want to attack straight away - until I was again near the back where I launched off. Ahh, the searing pain of Lactate in the thighs. I tried to pull away along the service road, reached the fountain alone but was a bit nervous into the turn and lost time. We were together again by the start.

Never to fear, Lippy was strong despite his fall - he went next and the pack actually allowed him to ride away for one lap before we were brought back altogether again. Then Spidey twitched a bit but the pack jumped on him. Spiderman has a bit of a reputation as a HOT FAVORITE I think and a lot of eyes were on him. He'd twitch a bit and the pack would jump. Never mind, that put him in excellent blocking position!

The next few laps were neutralized by Independents jumping up the road and getting chased down by other Indies. On one lap, a car drove up and someone jumped into the draft. There were shouts of "Oi, don't cheat lah", actually I think it didn't matter cause the car was quite slow - it was probably more risky than anything. However, I tot of testing my legs again and I jumped after him. Bad move, the puking feeling came on really, really strong, my lungs burned. Time to follow Skin's advice and do Zen (i.e. suck wheel) at the back of the pack and I disappeared there for a little while.

On the next lap, I felt recovered enough to try again. I rode up to Spidey and inquired as to his legs. He smiled and said he was fine. Excellent! I rode off the front up the service road and reached the Dolphin Fountain alone. I could hear the pack right behind me and I attacked up the hills back to the turning point as well as I could. This went on for three laps. I would keep gaining time on the outward leg, but lose it in the return leg. Frustrating but that’s what you get for not training enough! I felt like a crazy yoyo trying to break the string between me and the pack but I just couldn't do it. On the last lap that I was free, I heard the riders in the pack yelling "Chase!" and I knew my game was up. I was cooked. I was swallowed up and disappeared into the rear of the pack.

Lippy, however, went off immediately like clockwork and the peloton must have packed it in. They let him ride off the front and disappear! One of the Indies managed to grab his wheel but that was it. It was as if the pack had enough of playing with the Absoluts and decided to settle for the minor places. Spidey was right that one of us Absolutees should have bridged across to the two leaders. But I guess this time, none of us could have done it; I was sizzling in Acid Heaven, Spidey was marked and Young Man was getting ready to sprint.

On the last lap, things became really hectic. Some of the other teams were yelling at their riders to chase down Lippy and there was a last shot effort at doing it. But you see, Lippy is a Tri-Geek. And Tri-Geeks cycle best when they cycle ALONE AND INTO THE WIND. There was going to be no stopping our Absolut Hero from reaching the Finish Line in 1st Place! As for the rest, Young Man started to attack really early and he was yelling to keep up his strength. His effort must have cooked half the field as well as I was at the back and found myself in a large group up the last hill! Only the very strongest riders managed to crest the last hill with him; Spidey, Bernard of Shredder, Robert "Tattoo" and a few big, strapping guys. Unfortunately, Spidey was isolated and boxed in and had to settle for some minor placing.

Our Junior Slut came in for 3rd place in the Jr Cat after having a close encounter with a water bottle and testing the crash qualities of our team jersey. "I rode much better after the crash!", he exclaimed as he climbed off the bike.