last day.. feeling a little sad

i was actually a little sad lining up for the last time : ( today's stage is another short 4k circuit consisting of four 90˚ corners. out of the last corner it was a 500 meter drag race to the line. today there wasn't too much that could split the field.. with the exception of some water in turns 2 and 3. up to yesterday i hadn't been feeling that great so i wasn't able to contest any of the hot spot sprints. not only did these sprints carry points but they also carried a little $$ as well. the race began pretty fast but wasn't too terribly difficult to sit in. for the first part of the race we were all pretty attentive. the belgian team just sat at the front and rode a steady tempo to try and discourage any breakaway attempts. there were three guys who where close in the sprint competition so the sprints were going to be fast and hotly contested. as we were coming into the first of the sprints, i decided that i was going to try and freelance to pick up a few extra $'s for the crew. coming into the last corner i was in perfect position. as we came out of the turn, i was nudged out by the australian and had to start my sprint a little earlier than planned. with 450 meters to go, the sprint was awn. as i jumped, i immediately shifted down to my 11. head down, legs pumping, i look up to see that i have a small gap but still have 200 meters to go. head back down.. i give it everything. at near max, i'm 50 meters from the line and starting to fade. maxed out.. i look to my left to see three riders blast by. once again i'm a bridesmaid.. about this time i'm starting to see double. i decide the best tactic would be to go to the back and try recover. my recovery took a little longer than i anticipated... like almost the entire rest of the race. while i'm back in the smoking section.. my teammates are up at the front riding their hearts out. as the race was coming to an end.. a field sprint was inevitable. feeling better, i ride through the pack to find tilford and co. as i near the front, i find jonny cat, victor, and steve all together. the plan was for victor to stay on the green jerseys wheel and then jonny and tilford were going to lead me out. as we enter the last lap, all four of us are near the front. coming out of turn one, victor changes up a little and wants to either ride off of my or tilfords' wheel. i decide that it would probably be best if tilford leads it through the last corner and then i wind it up with victor on my wheel. great plan... coming into turn three, jonny nails it. with the strength of two men.. he leads a strung out field through the corner. coming out of the turn victor starts to lose my wheel. i sit up and let a few guys some through, very bad decision. then tilford takes over. tilford takes a huge pull.. pulling through the final corner and then all out until 300 meters to go. as he begins to pull off i hesitate.. i only hesitate for a split second but in a sprint like this.. the difference between 1st and 5th is a split second. as the sprint starts, the front blows apart in every direction.. kind of like buckshot out of a shotgun. i try shooting up the left side against the barriers.. starting to gain some ground, i catch a rider from champion systems coming from my right. next thing i know.. i'm pinned against the barriers with no way out. i stop pedaling hoping that can move around his rear wheel, i finally get out, reaccelerate, and move back to the right side of the road. by this time, the sprint is over... kam po wong wins again for the second day in a row and we take 7th and 10th. i felt terrible. not that i would have won the sprint but i feel like i would have at least been on the podium. steve and jonny sacrificed their race for me... and in the end i flailed. i guess that's bicycle racing.. ya win some.. ya lose some.. and some you just completely screw up. tilly, i owe you a lead out! it was a great experience.. gus and trudi were AWESOME. i can't thank them enough. everybody rode great. jonny was always up in the mix. tilford was the smartest man out there.. always in the right place at the right time. lex was in every move that mattered. victor rode unselfeshly.. always at the front. and surge.. what a great kid. super strong and super talented. keep it up! it was truly an honor to race with these guys. all the stories and all the laughs.. that's what life is all about. well.. back to dreaming. c ya out on the road. surfnick