I know this is an old zombie thread and I am not a regular contributor anymore and I no longer race but I do want to make a point about how important bikes are in races. The most important part is fit. If your bike is not a good fit it is a crap bike for racing for you. You can't spend the whole race fighting your bike and expect to win. A bike that is lighter but isn't a good fit is a crap bike for you.
My best racing frame was a Lemond Zurich. It fit me like a glove and it allowed a really low drop. For me it was a perfect geometry for a road race. I didn't care that it was a heavier steel frame.