This just in: I'm good at riding my bike!

Sprinting for eighth place on the far right
Next time I'm going to get in position sooner
And take the inside line

The evidence of this simple fact has been mounting for a few weeks: seventh in the Empire State Games Qualifier, third at the Balloon Festival, and twelfth at the uber-challenging Wilmington-Whiteface Road Race.

Today's result -- eighth at the Maltese Team Invitational -- might have been my crowning achievement. The race, help in Central Park, pits 17 teams of five riders against each other in a points competition. The top 20 finishers earn point for their team, and the team with the most points wins.

This pro/1/2/3 race in Central Park is a prestigious open event, and teams need an invitation to race. Getting invited was a coup for BVF, and we wanted to field a strong team to show we deserved our invite. I raced with fellow 3s Scott, Pete, Jonathan and William. The race was fast from the gun, and it took me a few laps to settle in and get used to the fast pace.

I tried a few times to get in small moves, but nothing stuck. The pace remained high, and we were often in single-file, as we flew around Central park. The course is mostly flat with a few rollers. On our second to last trip up the most difficult of these, the Harlem Hill, a few rider accelerated off the front. I went with them, and we soon had a gap. We rotated through to increase the gap, and as we started the bell lap, we had a 15-second lead. A small group bridged up to us in the last three miles, and it was an all-out drive to the line. Behind, Pete was working hard to disrupt the chase.

With the peloton nipping at our heels, we sprinted for the line. I crossed in eighth place, a solid result in a major regional race. My ride was good enough to place BVF seventh in the team standings. Unfortunately the pay out was only five deep.

Although I feel like I worked hard today, I don't think I burned too many matches, and feel like I have a reasonably good chance in tomorrow's Union Vale Road Race. Thankfully, I will once again have Pete's help.