High time to quit messing around

The Brea criterium yesterday was my first race since returning from Canada. With a few good weeks of training under my belt i was confident in my form. With the Dannies in tow I headed south the evening before. Last minute bike was in order, race wheels adjusted, frames scrubbed clean.
My goal for the race was not to win, but to finish in a high position, one in which I would eventually achieve. With crosswinds and slight rises people weren't willing to bury themselves in a breakaway but willing to wait for the finish. As six laps to go approached I found myself slipping backwards in the turns, every time I reached for my breaks. Flipping my brakes open forced me to ride faster, allowing me to hold position and advance past the more timid cat 4's.
With one to go i found myself fifth wheel as we flew through the finish, controlling my effort and thinking about my chances in a sprint. Turns one and two were golden, the pace quick enough to discourage people from moving up the sides. The uphill section was where it went wrong, i felt the surge coming around me and was powerless, my body already in full sprint mode trying to hold the wheel ahead of mine. we came around the last 2 turns and I was scrambling to hold position, thrashing my legs trying to find one more match to burn. I crawled through the finish in nineteenth, my best cat 4 result to date, but far from where I want to be.