Raleigh native Charlie Pendry updates us on his experience at the 3rd annual Raleigh NRC Crit held on May 25, 2007.

My third year at the Raleigh Downtown Criterium was definitely the best and most exciting race I’ve had in front of my hometown crowd.  The new course using the newly reopened Fayetteville Street was much better than the old course that had the start/finish at Moore Square.  This new course had more turns, a quicker lap time, and produced more excitement for the largest crowd the race has seen.  The back side of the course also featured a bumpy straight section and a turn that could be taken without touching the brakes–it was a great situation for someone with off road experience and kept the roadies on their toes!

The race started fast and stayed relatively strung out for the duration because of the turns.  It still remained easy enough to move towards the front of the race when needed, but there was no real dangerous bunching up and clogging up the turns.

I don’t recall seeing a single rider go down.  I stayed near the front of the race with Hamblen and Muller, except for one short stint in the middle of the race after sprinting for a prime (not the brightest idea, but I had position).

During the time that I moved backwards as the break went away.  I was completely unaware that a break had slipped away until I returned to the front of the race and realized that the pace car was no longer in sight. Not seeing Hamblen on my way to the front, I assumed that he was in the break.

It wasn’t until after the race that I heard he tried to bridge and didn’t make it.  I tried to go with a couple of moves and it was obvious that nothing else was going to go.  The riders in the break lapped and the field held together.  Realizing I was going to be out gunned in the field sprint, I made a late race solo move to try and grab the final prime.  I made the move about a half-lap two early and was caught.  At this point I knew Owen and Mueller were near the front and getting a result would be in their hands.

It’s always inspiring to race in front of the hometown crowd and hear your name all around the course.  A special thanks to Jason Darden for being the loudest.

(Both Mueller and Owen placed in the Top 15)