Road Bike Racing - How about some race reports?

I started to make this a reply to Fubar's thread on who races, but decided to highlight it. I would love to read reports on races any forum member rides. I am not necessarily interested specifically in how you did, but that's fine, too. I am more interested in how the race progressed, whether you were working for someone else or the leader yourself, what kind of specific actions you took. I would really like to try racing myself, but I have a lot of work to do to get there. Reading of others' experiences gives me inspiration. I get emails from some of the local race club lists and really enjoy reading some of the individual accounts.
Raymond

Alright, Rainman. I said I'd let you into my race journal a bit today after my race. So here it is!



Sunday, April 28, 2002

Today I raced the Lower Providence Criterium for the second time. Last time I did it was in 2000.

The 1-mile course was worse than I remember it. The first turn was littered with holes. The only way to avoid them was to swing out, or hug the curb. The backstraight had a thin line of smooth road in the middle, but the rest of it was cracked pretty well (at this point, it also had a huge, massive river of rainwater crossing right across the road). The third turn had a large bump on the inside. This was only to be avoided by swinging wide. The rest of the way through the homestraight was cracked and had a few awfully placed holes.

When we got there, it was pretty much pouring down rain. A lot of time passed, and I finally left the shelter of the Bonneville to get my number. More time passed…more time passed…then the rain finally let up. A short warm-up followed, and it was to the line I went.

More women had arrived since we had first gotten there, (there were three that I counted while in the car) so it was a pretty good field for the open women’s race.

The 25-mile race started out at a good pace. There were a few, small, anxious attacks in the beginning. One time, there was a counter-attack to one of them. I knew this was the break to make, because the names were in it and it seemed to be working straight off the bat. I just didn’t have the legs to jump the gap because of the previous attack. I waited a little while, and then went full out on the attack down the homestraight. I got a pretty sizeable gap. Then, one of the girls from Argentina that rides for the professional part of Tri-State Velo caught me. Because two of her teammates were in the break, she just sat on and didn’t pull. I’m sure we could have stayed away if she would have worked with me, but she didn’t and we were reeled back in by the pack.

The dominant team, Tri-State Velo, controlled the rest of the race. It was excruciatingly slow, but there was nothing the inferior teams could do about it. Every time someone would try to get away, Tri-State would reel them in and slow the pace down again.

So, it came down to the sprint. The last three laps were pretty hard. Everyone was fighting for position, and trying in last minute efforts to break the sprinter’s legs. Going into the last lap, I had fairly good position, a little too far to the outside, but not bad. Around the third turn, I got pushed out to the outside, and lost my position. I kicked it up the inside, and tried to make up some ground. I did, but couldn’t find a place inside and was forced to stay out in the wind. I sprinted all the way down the homestraight, and managed to finish in the middle of the pack.

I was happy with my ride. I felt good, but Tri-State just had a better team. I wish the Argentinean girl had worked with me, because I’m sure we would have been in the placing at the end.

Thanks, Velo! Great report. The season is young.
Raymond

Here's this weekend's races:



Saturday, May 11, 2002

The Hellertown Criterium was today. It was very nice out, about 65 degrees and up with a light wind all day.

When we got there, there weren’t that many women around. I thought the field was going to be pretty dismal, but it turned out different. There was a decent 20 in the Open Women’s field. And, they were mostly of pretty good caliber, too. The whole Tri-State-Velo team was there; complete with Lauren Franges whom I guess is fresh off of racing in Europe.

After a warm-up, on my usual favorite loop for this race, we were called to the line exactly on time. All the races throughout the day were very prompt in getting off on time, which is definitely something I like.

The race started off at a decent pace. It stuck together for a few laps of the ½-mile course. Then, a Tri-State woman went off the front alone. She gained a bit of distance, and since I thought maybe her team was going to block for her like at Lower Providence, I decided to go with her. We got a small gap together, but we were pulled back less than a lap later. The break that went off as a counter attack to ours ended up staying away. It was made of four women. Becky Quinn, still riding for our team, made it along with Laura Van Gilder (who raced a total of 3 races today!), a Freddie Fu rider, and Lauren Franges. So, it was not unexpected that they would stay away the whole race.

Back in the peloton, we were keeping it at a decent pace. But, my only other go at getting away didn’t work, and nobody else’s got close. The last five laps was where everyone was trying to set up for the sprint. I get a kick out of the to Argentinean sisters talking back and forth on the radio. Veronica was on the front, and I guess she wanted the Graciella to get on her wheel so she could lead her out for the sprint. But, I can tell you, that didn’t work very well. Coming into the last lap I was right on Veronica’s wheel all the way. Around the last turn I was feeling good & in excellent position with a great lead out by Ms. Argentina. At the perfect moment I shifted into my biggest gear and sprinted all the way to the line holding off all the rest.

I was really happy with fifth place. Before I went to the race I made a mental goal to make the top five. Plus, fifth place was the last place to get money, so a big 15 smacks were paid to me for a job well done. I got several comments about my sprint, so that made me feel good, especially since I have not been working on my sprint at all so far this year. I’ve been strictly endurance thus far, which I feel has helped with sitting in comfortably in races. I’m looking forward to tomorrow!

Sunday, May 12, 2002

Today was the second race of the weekend, the Bethlehem Criterium. The Bethlehem Criterium usually attracts bigger fields than the Hellertown Criterium, but this year the weather conditions changed that. The forecast said there would be rain all day, and that’s what it was.

Our race only had 11 in the field, but that wasn’t bad for the light drizzle that was coming down at the time. Later, though, it would turn into a small thunderstorm, complete with lightning.

The race started off at a good pace. After a few laps, being the enduro I am, I found a good spot to attack and went for it. I got a pretty sizeable gap, and lasted for about 2 ½ laps, which is pretty good. But, again, the break that would stay away was the counter-attack to the one I was in. So, I didn’t have the legs to go with it. I’m really starting to get frustrated with the way some of these races are panning out. I want to get in a break, but it seems like no one wants to start the race with one. Then, once one good one is put in, it’s the time to go. I think I just have to be a little bit more patient.

The lone racer off the front was a Freddie Fu rider, and she had two other teammates working for her in the field (no Tri-State Velo team, today), so it was the usual situation, which is even more frustrating when you don’t have any teammates. The rest of the race was fairly fast, but nothing spectacular. I had one more go, but no one was willing to go with me. But…yet they were willing to chase…?

But, there is a good side to the story! With about 7 laps to go, the announcer said to us that, “first place is in the field!”. This meant that something happened to the breakaway leader, and the sprint would be for first place. Well, this got my hopes up. It was time to set up the sprint in the last couple laps. I was confident from yesterday, and I guess it showed. Coming into the last lap, I didn’t have that great of a position. I was trying to squeeze my way behind Tanya Duff-Miller, also of Freddie Fu, because I knew that she is a good sprinter (and all around pro for that matter). Around the last turn I ended up following someone I didn’t want to. Never follow someone on a pink bike! She clipped her pedal and went down hard. I slammed on my brakes and swung wide to barely miss her. I regained my balance, shifted to the big gear and powered it all the way up the slight incline to the finish line. It was truly amazing because the people who were clearly out of the way of the crash couldn’t catch up to me. The only one to cross the line ahead of me was Tanya, so I ended up with a second.

Today I got even more comments on my sprint, and rightly so. I’m very happy with second place, and I have something to tell Gil about since he failed to show up all this weekend…

I feel I’m really improving this year. I’ve never done so well in an Open Women’s race like these two. I feel comfortable in the pack, and my race tactics are coming along. I think if I would have a few decent road-riding teammates I could improve even more, especially as far as tactics go. But…that’s definitely a wish as long as I’m on this team…

Originally posted by velo
The only one to cross the line ahead of me was Tanya, so I ended up with a second.
Awesome! An Extran toast!
:beer:
Congratulations, and thanks for the report!

Originally posted by roadbuzz

Awesome! An Extran toast!
:beer:
Congratulations, and thanks for the report!


Thanks! I'm going to try to keep them coming every once in a while. :)

Sunday, May 19, 2002

Today I rode in the Kutztown Crit. The last time I raced this race was in ’99, when I raced the junior race & did pretty well. Since then, there was no Kutztown Crit. But, Ashlee Armstrong and a couple of her friends teamed up to put it on as their graduation project, so it’s back for at least for this year.

The course at the Kutztown Crit is in familiar territory. The Academy regularly rides through there on its road training rides. The course is surprisingly smooth. The only thing you have to watch out for is a more than 90-degree turn, in turn three. But, it’s wide and not much of a problem.

I really did not expect a big field for the Open Women’s race, and I didn’t get one either. There were only seven of us to take the line in the chilly little crit. There weren’t any big names, either, except Graciela, from Argentina.

The race went out pretty slowly. There were some small attacks from some anxious women. Erica Leister put in a couple throughout the race, and my new cat. 4 teammate, Michelle Cassidy put one in as well. Nothing got close to getting away. Graciela made an early move, but I easily chased her down. The attack I put in was well timed, as a counter, and I got a good-sized gap. I kept it open for about a lap and then got reeled in by Graciela.

To make up for cutting our prize list in half, we got some primes. The sprints for the three of them were pretty light, so I decided to go for the last two. I won both. They ended up being gift certificates to the local grocery stores, so that was good. I love food.

It all came down to the final sprint. In the last lap, I was having a hard time getting on Graciela’s wheel since she found mine like there was no one else in the race…Erica went straight to the front to give me a small lead-out, even though she’s not my teammate. She actually gave a pretty strong one right down the homestraight were she rightfully blew. I came around the right side of her, and Graciella came around the left. I won by about ¾ of a bike length.

I honestly don’t know where I’m getting these sprinting legs from. I’ve just been doing one sprint night a week! And even that’s on the trainer, because I have Key Club after school that day.

I am happy with today’s ride. It’s given me some confidence for the big race next weekend in Somerville.

way to go Velo!
congratulations on what seems like
good strategy!
the primes? Food is always good,
specially after big sprints.
We will continue to look for you
in future issues of Velonews!

Marty

Velonews! False advertising. I've been subscribing for about a year now, and I have not seen ONE article about Velo. I'm gonna ask for my money back! :D

Seriously, thanks for sharing your reports with us! You are kickin' some serious butt up there. Keep it up; we love hearing about your races.
Regards,
Raymond

Originally posted by RainmanP
and I have not seen ONE article about Velo.

LoL, mentioned, yes...whole article...of course not! A little ol' junior? Nah...

Saturday, May 25, 2002

Today I raced in one of the races in the long weekend full of racing in Somerville, New Jersey. The U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame Super Saturday Criterium had very nice weather. It was sunny all day, with temperatures in the low seventies.

The course changed last year, from its position behind the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, to the parking lot of an AT&T building. Yes, it’s a very large AT&T building. And, the race actually runs on the roads around the building, not the actual parking lot…The course is the kind that when the sprinter who read, “flat criterium” on the race flyer shows up, he/she gets real mad…The course is fairly smooth, .7 miles, and has a fairly long uphill finish through turn 3 and 4.
Since we seriously got lost last year on the drive to the new course, we decided to leave a bit early, today. The time wasn’t needed though, because we had absolutely no problem getting there this time. We were there way ahead of time, and registration hadn’t even opened for the first race.

After my warm-up on the course and then the parking lot, the open Women’s race took to the line. There was a very large crowd, especially since last year’s field was small because of the rain. I think there were a lot of teams there using the race as a warm-up for Monday’s Tour of Somerville, which I’ll also be riding in. Tri-State-Velo was there with what seemed like the whole team. There were a lot of women there who I usually don’t see around here. Other teams there included: Serrotta, 3D-Racing, and First State Velo. Our World Champ, Sarah Uhl also made an appearance.

As soon as we left the line, I could tell the race was going to be a bit sketchy. People so did not look for anybody around them, and really didn’t seem to care. Around the two 90 degree turns, people were constantly yelling at each other, pushing each other out of the way (a woman actually pushed me out of the way, which wasn’t that brilliant, because when she did the woman’s knee, next to me, hit my handlebars…), and practically running into the curb.

The race had a basic characteristic to it. When it was fast, it was fast. When it was slow, it was slow. There were a lot of good attacks put in, but if another team didn’t have a person in the break, it was chased down. Unfortunately for the people in the breaks, there was never a person from every team represented. Thus, no one got close to getting away. I tagged along with a couple of the attacks, but didn’t put in much of an effort in any of them.

After staying clear of the crash that was bound to happen with two laps to go, I found myself in the back of the pack. I tried to work my way up, but it didn’t work out very well. A teammate would have been nice to have, so I could have gotten to the front easier. So, with one lap to go, in between turn three and four, I sprinted up the outside of the pack straight to the front in a last desperate attempt to play in in the sprint. I tried to get a wheel, but it wasn’t working, so I just went to the front and tried maybe to lead it out and not die too badly. I died though, and went right to the back in great style.

I can’t be too disappointed with today’s show. I sat in pretty well without hurting too terribly bad. I was just feeling it in the end, and got stuck in a very bad spot at the finish. Sarah Uhl ended up winning it. She was the one who was on my wheel when I was on the front. So, at least I know I give a pretty good lead out.

I am looking forward to Monday, when I get to ride in the Tour of Somerville. Since I hung in today, I’m pretty confident I can do well at Somerville. The course is flat as a board, so as long as I stay out of trouble I should be able to sit in, and maybe do a little something at the end, if nothing gets away.

Monday, May 27, 2002

Well, another disappointment at the Tour of Somerville. Overall, it wasn’t too terribly bad, but I wish I could have done better.

The Tour of Somerville is the oldest bike race in the United States. And, it attracts some of the biggest fields for a one-day criterium, also. There are a lot of spectators who line the streets, and a lot of racers taking part in a little piece of history.

Going into the race, I expected maybe a little over 60 women to race (about the size of last year’s field). But, in those 60, I expected the big professionals to be there (also like last year). Well, in one way I was correct, and one way I was wrong. Our field had over 100 women. There were a lot of big names, too, including Laura Van Gilder, Sarah Uhl, Tina Mayolo-Pic, the Saturn team (they’re all big names, aren’t they?), Team Diet-Rite, Team Trek, Freddie-Fu, Tri-State-Velo, and just about everyone else you could imagine.

Well, my mental goal went straight to hanging in there, and staying safe. Last year, I got stuck behind a pile-up, and I didn’t want it to happen again.

In the start, we all lined up in the staging area. When the junior race was done, we rolled up to the line before the line. This was a fight in itself to get good positioning. Once some of the racers were announced, the whole field took to the real line to join them. Let me tell you, women can get awfully ugly when it comes to getting good position at the line…I ended up towards the back, which was the opposite of where I started at the previous line…

The race went off fast. The first couple laps of a criterium are usually a nervy rat race, but this was unusually fast. The following laps were the same. I was half coughing up a lung just hanging on the back. I was trying my hardest to move up, but a few places was all I could manage.

I really didn’t notice how much I don’t like this course until today. There are a lot of manhole covers, and bumps and holes all over the place. I swear, I hit the only hole in the homestraight every single lap. The third turn is more than 90 degrees, so I really don’t like that. And, the homestraight and backstraight are so long, and totally unsheltered from the wind.

The whole race was basically the same; myself fighting for my life on the back of the pack. The pace, course, wind, heat, and the crappy legs I had today finally got to me and I went off the back. I was by myself for about a lap, and then hooked up with two other dropped riders until we were pulled. We weren’t out there more than 3 laps together before we were in danger of being lapped, so that proves how fast the main field was moving on the 1-¼ mile lap.

I got dropped with about 7 laps to go. That is a better showing than last year, but I still wish I could have done better. It sucks that I lost my position before the race even started, but I guess that’s how the big races go, sometimes. My legs weren’t feeling good at all, so being able to hang on that long isn’t too bad.

I guess I’ll just have to come back next year and try it again…like I wouldn’t anyway…

Velo,
Thanks for the great reports! Hey, I know you are disappointed about TOS, but you improved from last year. Every year you are getting stronger. Just wait!
Regards,
Raymond

Sorry for the long break w/o a report, but I don't think you'll be too interested in track racing, or a race gone way wrong with a couple personal attacks...remember! These are taken straight from my own race journal. Enjoy.



Saturday, June 22, 2002

Today were the first two stages out of three of the Tour de FCCC. The time trial and road race are held by the Pagoda in Reading.

This is my fifth year racing this race. I started my very first year riding on the road at this race. Ever since I’ve returned to race my rival, Cassandra Osario-McKenna, from South Carolina. It sort of acts as our pre-national showdown, in a way. But, we’re friends on and off the bikes, so the competition is good and friendly.

The weather, as every year, was hot. It was a little over ninety during the afternoon, and humidity was high. The weather for the morning time trial actually wasn’t that bad. Just hot enough for you to return sweaty.

The time trial went well. I felt good bombing it all the way out the downhill section. And, after the turn-around, when it’s all uphill, I felt pretty good too. I kept it in the big ring the whole time, and hammered away. I came back with a time three seconds faster than last year’s time. Most of the guys were riding slightly slower, so for me to go faster was a good sign. And, another good sign was that I beat Cassandra by five seconds.

After a break in early afternoon, we were out again for the road race. This race started out very casual. Cassandra and I were yapping, as usual. The new girls to the race must have thought we were both absolutely nuts.

Everything was going well until we hit the long uphill section. The whole course is pretty ripped up. I hit three large potholes, and almost immediately after I did, I got a rear flat. It’s a good thing I put wheels in the wheel van, because I was actually debating about not doing it before the race. I got the wheel switched, and was back on the bike in maybe a maximum of twenty seconds.

When I was chasing I was almost certain I was going to catch the group. I could see them and I was closing the gap slowly. I was right on there tail with three laps down. But, somehow, someway, from there on they would get further and further away from me.

After the race, I was talking with Cassandra, and she said that Ashley Armstrong, the only person left with her by that time had picked up the pace once she saw I was so close behind. There’s a switchback right by the Pagoda, and I’m pretty sure that’s where they saw me. Ashley ended up actually beating Cassandra in the end, and she wasn’t too happy about it. But, Cassandra still had a lead on Ashley from the time trial. The time bonuses didn’t make up that time.

In the end, I lost a minute and thirty seconds. Which, totally sucks because I knew I could have been there for the stage win. But, that’s bike racing and I couldn’t have done a thing about it.

Sunday, June 23, 2002

Today was the third and last stage of the Tour de FCCC, a criterium. I’m actually starting to like criteriums, a little bit, now that I’ve matured a bit and have improved my bike-handling skills. And how many years have I been saying I hate crits!?! Weird…

I had one basic goal today, to make up time. It would be hard, though, to make up the time I lost in a crit.

The race started off slow. Cassandra was sitting on Ashley like superglue because she was still hot from yesterday’s road race. Ashley and her teammate, Erica weren’t content with pulling the whole race. And, I sure as heck wasn’t going to go to the front because my goal was to surprise from the back and gain time on them.

It went on like this for a couple laps. I picked up a prime in the mean time, though, so that was good. When the time was right, I made a jump under the trees on the back of the course. I went hard until we were out from under the trees, glanced back, and sat up because they were on me.

When the second prime came around, I got it. Cassandra was right behind me, but we had a gap. So, I told her we should go. We rode the rest of the laps together (just like the old times!). We gained time the whole way. In the end, I set it up so I would take a pull out from under the trees and Cassandra would pull through and lead it out to the line. But, Cassandra knows what she’s doing, and she turned on me (I would have done the same, of course…). So, I lead it out, watching her over my shoulder, until the final turn when it was time to put the hammer down. I won the sprint, and actually pulled away from her at the line. So, I’m very pleased with that.

Unfortunately for me, the time we gained wasn’t enough to slip into second place. This is the only year I haven’t won the Tour. A little disappointed, yes, but I’m sure I would have won again if I wouldn’t have gotten a flat in the road stage. I had a good time. The ironic thing is Cassandra won without a stage win.

Velo,

Keep up the good work, I love reading about your races
and strategies etc.
Shame about the flat on the road course.
As for the Track races etc. I'd love to hear about
the track rides. I live in Frisco Tx and was just getting
around to watching track and even toyed with the idea
of learning when they shut the track down. I'm now
figuring out how I can help get it repaired/reopened.

Marty

Originally posted by lotek
As for the Track races etc. I'd love to hear about
the track rides. I live in Frisco Tx and was just getting
around to watching track and even toyed with the idea
of learning when they shut the track down. I'm now
figuring out how I can help get it repaired/reopened.

Oh no, not the whole Frisco deal...is the track really that bad? What's exactly the story. I've heard a couple slightly different stories. Are the boards loose, or are there some big holes, or both? Why did the track wait to shut down so close to the coming ATRA Cup if they knew what was going on with the conditions there? I know the people who were going from my group up here weren't too happy to change all there plans to Houston. I've been to the Houston track, and I wouldn't have been too pleased if I had to go there, too (can we agree on a slow track?).

I hate to say it, but the track has actual holes in it,
and big ones.
I have no clue why they let it get so bad, other than this
is texas, home of high school football and baseball and
everything else be damned.
I do think part of the problem was when EDS pulled out
(and there is some very disturbing stories there of payments,
embezzelment etc.) I'm guessing that they maintained the
track while the city of Frisco provided land etc.
The other big factor I think was when the Dallas area lost
the bid for the summer Olympics (2008, 2012?), it just
wasn't important to maintain it anymore.
A real tradgedy if you ask me (and even if you didn't).
The bike community here is pretty up in arms about it,
but theres not a lot of support from politicians etc.
If I can dig up some additional info I will.
I'll also keep posting anything in local news etc.

Marty

Thursday, June 27, 2002

Today was the first day and first stage of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic in Fitchburg, MA. This stage race is the physically hardest race I do all season. Four stages, and all are tough.

The first stage is a time trial. They switched up the course on us, this year, though. Last year it was a 12-something mile loop, with some good sized rolling hills in it. This year, they had to switch the course to a 7.8-mile course that was not nearly as hilly as previous year’s. They did this because of traffic reasons, which I can fully understand because having the area where they had the time trial open to traffic wasn’t really that great.

I didn’t feel that great going out. There was a pretty strong crosswind, and you hit a pretty hard uphill right when you leave the starting ramp. After I made it up that hill, though I started to feel better. Once I made the first turn around (one of two, yes, weird), I started feeling really good. I was really motoring it. I caught my minute person (my 30-sec. person didn’t show) and passed her. Chasing down someone in a time trial is a great motivator.

The hardest part of the course is the finish. It’s a fairly steep uphill, up to the hotel where the finish line is. I just had enough to make it up in my big ring. I was contemplating jumping down to the small ring, but I had just enough left.

I felt I rode a pretty good opening time trial. I felt good, and much better than last year. Last year I went out way too hard, and once I hit the hills I blew. I got passed by three people, and didn’t pass anyone. This year, I passed one and didn’t get passed by anyone.

When I crossed the line, the announcer said I was in 23rd place, which made me happy. I sort of made a silent goal to be in the top twenty in the GC by race end before I rode. I wanted to see how my time trial showed up, though, before I made that goal official.

When everyone was in, and results were made official, I had fallen to 28th, but only 1:19 back to the race leader. I wasn’t too thrilled with loosing my place in the results, but the deficit wasn’t that much, and could be made up. Last year, I was over four minutes down, so the improvement was good. 28th out of 57 isn’t too shabby.


This is stage 1 of 4. I'll be posting the rest in the next couple of days.

Friday, June 28, 2002

Today was the second stage of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic, a circuit race. The circuit racecourse is a pretty challenging one. It has 5 corners, and a pretty long, pretty steep, step climb to the finish line. Quite technical.

Our group of Cat. 3 Women had 9 laps of the course, or 27 miles. The start of the race was very hectic. For whatever reason, they decided to have the Cat. 1/2's, Cat. 3’s, and Cat. 4’s all out on the course at the same time!?! Our staggered starts had my group in the middle. Now, the finish line is on an incline, so it’s not the easiest to start on to begin with, and it’s pretty narrow which means a free for all to get good positioning.

Once the Cat. 1/2's went off, it was our turn. I picked a very bad spot in the line up, right behind two idiots. If you can’t get on your bike, you better go back to a Cat. 4! And, you probably shouldn’t be in this race, because even if you were a Cat. 4, you should know how to get your bike started if you want to race this race! Can we please have a basic skills check before we ride?!?

The rest of the race supported my hunch that I should become a Cat. 2. I’m a Cat. 2 on the track, and there aren’t even that many crazy women there! I honestly don’t think there was a quiet moment in the race without someone screaming, “hold your line”, or “watch out”! Maybe you should check your riding, and see if your riding contributes to your own screaming and yelling. Are you accelerating into the person in front of you? Are you going to a spot that isn’t open?

Then, what made matters worse is the fact that with about 4 laps to go, the skies opened up and let down a massive downpour of rain. And, at this exact moment the Cat. 1/2's were coming up on us, which meant our race would be neutralized for the time being.
Once we were safely passed, our race was un-neutralized, and we were on our way again. The rest of the race was raced in a light drizzle. I got a little nervous when my back wheel slid a bit in one of the turns. From then on out, I was very careful going around the turns, and decided just to sit in and stay safe for the remaining time. There was a time that would have been perfect for an attack on the last lap, right before the last turn, but I didn’t want to take the chance in that turn. A little disappointed that I couldn’t do much.

I ended up 37th for the day, didn’t loose any time, and remained in 28th in the GC. Nothing gained, nothing lost. The good news was I felt pretty good going into the next day’s huge road race stage.



2 of 4

Velo, these reports are great!! It's just like being there. You've got me so stoked to race, you wouldn't believe it.

Originally posted by fubar5
Velo, these reports are great!! It's just like being there. You've got me so stoked to race, you wouldn't believe it.

Yeah! Cool. I'm glad you like them, fubar. #3 of 4 might be up later today, but you might just have to wait until tomorrow. It's a pretty busy day today, for me. We'll see.

Originally posted by velo


Yeah! Cool. I'm glad you like them, fubar. #3 of 4 might be up later today, but you might just have to wait until tomorrow. It's a pretty busy day today, for me. We'll see.



ARGH!!!!!:eek:

Saturday, June 29, 2002

The third, and most challenging stage of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic was today. The road race takes place on an 11-mile hilly loop. Each race’s final lap takes the riders over 2,000 feet up the ski mountain, Mt. Wachusett. 3-miles up…

My group had 4 laps, plus the mountain. This totaled 47 miles. Fortunate for us, the weather was at a much more comfortable state than last year. Last year it was teetering on 100 degrees, and high humidity. This year, it was the mid 80’s and the humidity was non-existent.

Because of the length, and course, the race usually starts off pretty casual. It did, and I was feeling pretty good. The backside of the course is rolling to flat; it’s the easy part. Then, you make a right hand turn and it’s all uphill from there. Once you’re over the steep part, there’s a long, fast downhill that isn’t in good road conditions. You can easily hit over 50 mph going down it. You’d be able to do much more, but you have to be very careful to watch out for the holes, cracks, and bumps.

So, the casual pace kept up until about halfway up the climbing section. I was still feeling pretty good, sitting about halfway back in the pack. I honestly don’t know what happened, but the pace picked up big time. Who knows, there might have been an attack. But, this left me hacking up a lung, and my legs were really feeling it. Last year, I was always back by a little gap though, and was able to catch up when the road started going down, so I wasn’t really too worried by it. And, there were pretty many women still left behind me.

We were coming into the downhill section and the big women must have used all the weight and more to get down that hill. By the time I reached the bottom, I couldn’t even see them anymore. And I was in my full-on aero tuck! I was being cautious because of the conditions, but I thought I wouldn’t be too terribly far behind.

Well, this wasn’t the way to be starting off the race, so I went into time trial mode to bring them back. About halfway through the flat section, I could see them up the road again. I was slowly bringing them back, but I could really feel it in my legs. Plus, I got stuck behind a line up of traffic, so that slowed me down in a crucial time.

Eventually, a small group that was left behind on the climb caught up to me. Our group averaged about 9-10 riders the whole time, with us catching new riders and dropping the old. I wasn’t happy to be behind the lead group, but it was better to be in a medium-sized group than going the rest of the race alone. We kept up a decent pace the whole time. Most of the time it wasn’t too organized, but I think we preferred it that way, because it was less pressure.

There wasn’t much of a chance that we were going to catch the group and stay in. So, the next plan is to make it to the finish, limiting your losses, probably more than if you caught up and got dropped hard because you were blown from chasing back on.

We kept a fairly comfortable, but fast, pace the rest of the way. I think we were all happy to get to the final stage of the day…the mountain…

I had been climbing every lap at the front of my group, so I was feeling pretty good about the mountain. As soon as we got started, I went to second place. I didn’t want to get stuck behind any slower riders halfway up. I stayed behind the lead rider about three quarters of the way, and then decided to go to the front and pick up the pace (nothing like a little friendly competition?). There was only one rider left with me by this time. She was content staying behind until the final leg of the climb. She started to come up on me, but I put in another acceleration, and she dropped back again (this is where the grade is…oh…22%…). She stayed back all the way until the right hand turn right before the line comes into view. I was just a couple feet before the line…when all of a sudden…she came flying up on the left side…and plowing into the gravel.

You have to understand that the line is about two feet before a gravel landing. The landing is as high as you can go on the mountain. So…if you go any further you’re going over the edge, into the trees, and south. So…this lady was a little on the weird side.

So, overall, I was disappointed that I didn’t stay with the main field. But, I was happy I was the first one from my group up the mountain (I opened up a pretty sizable time gap on everyone). I didn’t loose too much time, and I rode much better than last year. That last climb is still tough, though…




The attachment is a little view from the top of the mountain. The way we came up.
3 of 4http://www.jsmcelvery.com/photos/2002/road/fitchburg/fl02horner2.jpg

Sunday, June 30, 2002

Today was the last stage of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic. The criterium is a nice short race to end a long, hard overall stage race. The course is a mile long. There is a long homestraight and backstraight, a hairpin turn, and a slight uphill to it. This makes for a pretty exciting race.

Our race went out fast. On the backstraight, I was in my biggest gear, and didn’t have a whole lot to push on either! The chaos slowed down quickly, though. Within two laps we were at a respectable pace.

The race, on a whole, wasn’t that eventful. I wanted to do well in this race, since I’ve been riding a lot of crits lately. But, the legs just weren’t there. I don’t think I was overly sore from yesterday, the pace was just too furious with no breaks.

When I got to the front (I hung out in the middle most of the race), I would loose my place in the hairpin turn, which was really frustrating. I’m not sure why, though. I was being cautious, yes, but not so much that I should have lost my place by so much.

I was in the first couple of riders coming into the hairpin on the last lap, but lost my place and then got shelled straight to the back when the acceleration occurred. I ended up finishing in the second half of the group, but I rode as hard as I could. You can only ride so hard, you know?

After this race, I’ve realized that you need to really spend a lot of time on the road to excel in the elite races, such as this one. Right now, I’m really not worried about it because I have a lot of time ahead of me, and I still enjoy riding the track. I’m nowhere near ready to give up the track, or even visa versa.

It’s been a good trip. Pasta buffet at the hotel every night, and breakfast buffet every morning, is really good. And, I got a lobster roll after the crit was over, today, at a McDonald’s up the highway. It was actually pretty good. I mean, come on, you can’t go to New England without getting something like this. I was thoroughly disappointed that I didn’t get to see a moose, though! But…there’s always next year!

4 of 4

The reports from the road championships will follow shortly...





Wednesday, July 24, 2002 –
Saturday, July 7, 2002

The past four days have been spent racing at the Major Taylor Velodrome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The last time the Junior National Track Cycling Championships visited Indy was in 1999.

The velodrome is one in very good condition. When it was built, it was based on the Lehigh Valley Velodrome, so it is very, very similar. Some characteristics are different, however. There is a tunnel, and the apron is huge. It is used for small racing cars during the off-season. The banking is a little shallower in the straights, and a little steeper in the turns than our velodrome, so it makes the transitions more abrupt. Overall, it doesn’t take much getting used to except the slight bumpiness.

Our group was the largest of all of the girls groups. This is usually how it is on the road and track. The biggest number of girls in the country who race bikes are my exact age; thus we move up together every year!



The racing started with the longest scratch race, the 5k. This was the most nervous race of the 4 because we didn’t start with a time trial, so you’re not sure how everyone is riding.

The race started out with a sort-of stroke of good luck for me, and a stroke of bad luck for my friend, Cassandra. Just a lap into the race she jumped to go with acceleration, and she pulled her wheel. She popped her chain off, and slid way to the bottom of the track. The race was neutralized until she was fit to get up. Cassandra was definitely one of my main contenders, but with her crash, she lost out on valuable omnium points.

My plan for the race was changed then. The original was to sit in and wait for the sprint and make sure Cassandra didn’t get away, because we were sure she was going to attack a couple times. She doesn’t have the speed that I have. So, I decided to slid underneath the pack and make an attack. I got a pretty good gap; it was a little over a quarter track. I held it for about three laps, which was very good.

After I was caught, it came down to a sprint. I ended up leading it out, which I didn’t want to do, but was forced into doing because of the way it worked out. The finish was very close. Natalie Klemko, from Wisconsin, came over the top and lost the sprint by maybe a half a wheel length.

A win is a good way to start off the omnium, but the sprint was very close, so I had to be careful in the next couple of races.



The second race was the 500-meter time trial. The past two weeks before racing started in Indy, we worked a lot on starts and short sprints for this event, especially, because the time trial is the tiebreaker if it should come down to that.
I felt my ride got off to a slower start than I wanted to, but I finished up very strong. I was the only rider to ride under 40 seconds, with a 39.7. This is the first time I’ve rode a 39 at nationals; I’ve done it plenty of times in training. So, I was happy with the ride.



The third race was the shortest mass-start one, the 2k scratch race. Tactics for this race were similar to the 5k. I was to sit in, and make sure nobody got away. The major thing was, though, to make sure Natalie did not beat me. She got second in the 500, also, so if I won I would have the omnium tied up. If she won, I would still have to work hard the next day.

The race worked out perfectly. Nothing got away. With one lap to go, the race shifted to the bottom of the track, and I was sitting second wheel. I had to get to the front, though, because there was a girl coming over the top, and she would have boxed me in.

I kicked it in then, and opened up a large gap. The faster girls got caught up behind slower ones, and I cruised across the line for the win. Natalie ended up getting third (in another close sprint), so the national track title was mine a day early.



The fourth and last race was the 45-lap points race. It’s good way to end the races for me, since I’m an endurance rider. Really, I could do whatever I wanted in the race, since I had the omnium all wrapped up. I knew that Gil wanted me to win it (he made it apparent) and Leigh did, secretly, too. So, I decided that I wanted to, too.

To put 45-laps short, I won many sprints, and placed in all except the last where I sat up and let the other girls have some glory because I knew I had it won!



A clean sweep of every race is the way to win the omnium! I must say, I never got so many hugs and kisses before in my life! I also got massages for the first time in my life, compliments of Leigh. They’re great! The jersey is mine. Again.

Velo,
I love your reports. You are an amazing young lady and an inspiration to an fat old wannabe!

Looking forward to the report on the Jr. nationals road race. Was it run on the same course as the espoirs, a last minute change to some little town up north of Clemson? One of my young friends from here rode that race but had really bad luck. He woke up the day they were leaving with really bad congestion. Went anyway and got dropped on the nasty climb early in the course. When I saw him last week he was still congested. He said the course was pretty and it was actually kind of nice to do a couple of laps at a relatively easy pace, enjoying the scenery with another guy who had gotten dropped before they pulled out.

Velo,
quick question for ya.
How is it that Cassandra was entered in the
15 - 16 5k race and also the 17 - 18 2k pursuit?
was there a 17 - 18 5k scratch race?
seems kinda fishy to me.
You did really well and as
Rainman said I really enjoy the race reports.

Marty

Rainman,

The Jr. road race was on a different course than the Espoir road race. I didn't see the Espoir course, but every little bit I heard about it was interesting. They said it was full of climbing, switchbacks, and long nasty downhills. The profile we got in our rider booklets (Espoir & Junior combined) looked pretty tough.

lotek,

The way the rules are, if you are 16, you can ride up in the 17-18 group for timed events (pursuit, 500). She couldn't ride the scratch race, etc., because it's not a time trial. I couldn't ride the pursuit (although I'm riding times that could have won it) because I'm 15; I'm not old enough.



I promise I'll have another report up shortly. I've just been so busy lately! I'm getting ready to ride the elite national championships, coming to my home track at the end of the month...

Thursday, August 1, 2002

The 2002 Junior National Road Cycling Championships were held in Clemson, South Carolina. Clemson is a very small college town that could easily win the national award for “the most color coordinated town in America”! Almost every road is decorated, somehow, with orange and blue tiger paws or some other kind of school spirit.

Once you got slightly out of the town, there were some very nice roads to ride on. The criterium, however, wasn’t held on some back country roads, but rather quite near downtown Clemson. Located just on the other side of the football field, the course was different from a regular crit course. From the start/finish line, it headed downhill to a right hairpin turn (!), flattened out in a long backstraight. Halfway through the backstraight, the road kicked downward again, into another right 90-degree turn. The road flattened again, and then kicked up slightly upwards to a 90-degree turn that was uphill. From there was a very steep hill. When you were at the bottom of the hill, you could not see the top. It was just shallow enough to make it over in your big ring at race speed.

My tactics for this race were to sit in, and wait for the sprint, because Leigh and I decided that there wasn’t anyone who was faster than me when it came down to the end. If I was feeling good though, I could get in a break if I felt in necessary. That’s how the earlier races were being won.

The race started off fast. There weren’t any attacks, just pace making at the front by miscellaneous girls. The first attack came from Cassandra, which wasn’t a surprise. Leigh and I knew that Cassandra would be the one to keep trying to get away. She got a sizeable gap, but kept looking back, which I feel is one of her weaknesses. She’s good enough to get off the front and hold it, she’s just not confident enough to go all out without paranoid little looks over the shoulder that slow her down.

Because I’m well known, I was well marked when I went to the front to chase her down. I wasn’t content doing all the work, and when I eased up, looking for some help, nothing came. A few words were spoken, and I guess the others who were interested in winning the race decided that I wasn’t kidding, and came to help.

We caught Cassandra within a good couple of laps. After that, the pace was still kept high, but with no attacks. It came down to about 8 laps to go, when Cassandra and her coaches decided that it was time for her to start making moves again. Every time up the hill, she would power it. I must admit, she did a very good job. Every time over the hill, my legs were screaming for relief. Some laps, she would get a small gap with another girl (sometimes myself), but nothing materialized.

So, the race would come down to a sprint. Coming into the final lap, I was sitting in perfect position, second place. Because of the hill, you had to be very near the front, if not on it, because the flat section at the top was not long enough to make up ground lost from being too far back at the uphill. Coming around the third corner positions changed, and I slipped to third behind Cassandra, and another good rider, Lauren Trull. At the fourth and final uphill turn I made my mistake. I got pushed out to the outside by a girl coming on the inside. I lost way too much ground. I fought all the way up the hill and on the other side, but it wasn’t enough. I ended up fourth, with a Texas girl sneaking around the outside and nipping me at the line to take third.

I wasn’t happy with my mistake, and I knew I would have definitely been in the mix for first (first and second were very close) if I had made it. But, that’s the way bike racing goes, and it’s still a medal, so that is very good. There were a lot of girls who I expected to do well, but the hill, pace, and heat were too much for them. All in all, it was an okay day.

Thanks, Velo!

Saturday, August 3, 2002

The second race of the 2002 Junior National Road Cycling Championships, after a rest day, was the road race. The road race was a 7.75-mile rolling loop held on very nice country roads. With whatever the USCF was thinking about for the criterium, they surely made up for it with the road race. All of the roads were very smooth, with little traffic. It wasn’t actually in Clemson, but in a town just as small, that had some historical qualities, called Pendleton.

Our road race went off at almost 11 o’clock, and the weather was just getting hot and humid. We had 4 laps of the course, totaling 31 miles, which is a large jump from the 13-14 group, which had a whole 2 laps…

My tactics again for this race were to sit in. And, if I felt good enough, try to get in a break. The stretch up to the finish line was downhill, then flattened out with about 300-meters left, and then about 50-meters slightly uphill. So, it made for a very fast finish. It would be a good finish for me.

The race started out at a decent pace. It lasted for about 2 laps, then Cassandra, Lauren, and I decided that the only reason it was going at a decent pace was because we were keeping it there. So, we decided to go to the back. The pace was crawling for the third lap. It was nice though, because Cassandra and I were having some fun at the back. Also, I didn’t mind because it fell into my plan very well. I was surprised that Cassandra went for it, though, because I thought her tactics would be different.

So, the fourth, and last, lap came up quickly. The three of us who had retreated to the back, returned to the middle to front. There were some small attacks like the previous laps, but nothing that hurt my legs. The attack from Cassandra came where I expected it to come. Up the largest hill by the feed zone, she accelerated up the outside. I was right on her wheel when she did this, but I could tell it wouldn’t be enough to stay. I took a pull through, because we had opened up a small gap, but once I pulled off the rest were right on. The next attack I was expecting from her came through the hairpin left turn. I took the turn a little too conservatively, and let Cassandra get a gap before she jumped. This was a mistake, but fortunately, some of the other girls were willing to take up the chase, so I could sit in. We caught her fairly quickly.

The last three kilometers were pretty fast. About three kilos out, Cassandra took up the front, and I was beside her. With about two kilos to go, I slipped somewhat behind her to conserve the energy stores. I would have been there earlier, but everyone was crowding around to get positioning, and I didn’t want to let mine go. With a kilometer to go, the pace was very high, and we were stacked up all across the road. With the finish coming up, I sneaked up on the outside a bit, not totally into the wind. I felt that if I stayed where I was, I was going to get boxed in in the final stretch.

It worked out that I didn’t get boxed in, and probably started the sprint a little too early. But, I still held my position all the way to the line. There were four of us within a wheel length at the end. I got the short end of the stick, taking fourth. It hurt to be so close. But, Cassandra won it, so I was happy for her.

Overall I was disappointed that I was so close, and still couldn’t make it happen. But, I knew that the next day should be good, the time trial.

Sunday, August 4, 2002

The third and final race of the 2002 Junior National Road Cycling Championships was the time trial. It was held about 15 minutes away from Clemson, in Anderson. Don’t get excited though, Anderson is almost as dismal as Clemson. But, a good thing for bike racers, the roads are nice with very little traffic.

The race was run a little differently than your normal national championship time trial. The two older age groups had two laps of a 6-mile course (younger had one lap). This is very different. As long as I’ve been racing, it is always an out-and-back course.

When you first went off, the road was a short downhill section for about 600-meters, then went upward at a pretty decent grade. After the first climb, which curved upward to the right, the road was rolling for a short section until you hit a short part of rough road. This short tree-covered section was the only rough part of the course, and it was rough enough that it was difficult to ride in the aero bars. After you left the rough stretch, and the trees, you made a right turn (turns are another interesting part that made the course different) onto the longest road that was rolling to downhill. At the end of this part, you made a right hairpin turn onto the finishing stretch. The finishing stretch started out as a fast downhill, and then the last 3 kilometers were a false flat all the way to the finish line.
I felt a little stiff from the previous day’s road race on the trainer, but once I rolled down the starting ramp (which was the shallowest one I’ve ever seen) and was up over the first hill, I started to feel very good.

The whole first lap went very well for me. I went pretty hard, but saved up enough for the second. The second was all-out. The first part of the lap hurt like the devil, and the false flat felt the same, but that’s not a big surprise in a time trial. I finished up very well at the end.

My time trial was good enough for second place. I really wanted to win it. I was definitely disappointed with second. I know I went all out, and couldn’t have gone any harder, but loosing it by 8.5 seconds really rotted. No road jerseys this year, but I’m glad with the track races this year. I rode well and as hard as I could, and that’s what counts.

Velo,
Thanks for the great reports finishing up the nationals! I look forward to reading more of your exploits. Is the season over up there now that school is starting?
Regards,
Raymond

Originally posted by RainmanP
Is the season over up there now that school is starting?


Actually, my last event of the season *probably* is the Elite National Track Championships. Today, actually, was my first event. I'll have the report up in the next day or two. I'm doing the pursuit and the points race. The points race isn't until Saturday night.

Tuesday, August 27, 2002

The 2002 Elite National Track Cycling Championships have come to T-town for the 2002 and 2003 season. The five day long event is the biggest in the U.S. for competitive track racers. It’s the gateway to the world championships; so all the biggest riders aim to get a stars and stripes jersey and a trip to the big race.

I started my championships off at the first session. The morning of pursuit qualifications started off chilly. Warm up was full of skinny pursuiters bundled up in leg warmers, and warm-up jackets so much they resembled sprinters.

My training this year has been generic track endurance training. Next year I will finally be old enough to ride the 2-kilometer pursuit at junior nationals. So, I will begin to specialize, because my focus will be to make junior worlds for the event the following year. Unfortunately for me, at the senior level, the pursuit is 3-kilometers. I had never ridden a 3-k for time, so we weren’t quite sure how well I could go for the distance (believe me, I can go pretty well for 2-k).

Before my race, Leigh showed me lap times that he thought I could pull off. His basic idea was to start out at a decent pace, but to be sure to float and not go to fast in the 2nd and 3rd laps. Then, if I was still feeling good with 1-k to go, I could pick it up.

After sitting through 17 men’s pursuit heats, and 3 of our own women’s pursuit heats, I was up. I started out with a good opening lap, and was right smack on time for the 2nd and 3rd laps. The laps leading up to 4-to-go were also hovering right on the mark we had set before I left the start gate. Once I saw the 4 on the lap cards, and realized I was still feeling very well, I figured it was time to pick it up. Leigh told me the next lap to pick it up, but I was confident the extra lap wouldn’t hurt me. It didn’t. From 4 to go, my times dropped steadily by about a second in the end. I finished in 4:06.

Once I was in, Leigh went over the times with me. He apologized for underestimating me, but none of us were sure just how fast I could ride it in competition. Gil also said that he thought I would have been safe picking it up a little earlier.

After my heat, I was sitting in 4th place. After the next heat I dropped to 5th. The next, I dropped to 6th. The next, to 8th. The next, to 10th. I was very happy with my time, as well as Gil and Leigh. I just wished the other women had ridden slower! Actually, my time, last year, would have been good enough for a medal. But, it must be something about T-town that attracts everyone, because the field was 17 riders strong.

The thing that really made me smile was that coach Mark Whitehead made the comment that Twiggy (as in Rebecca Twigg…) was riding around the same pace when she was my age. You know that’s not too bad for my first 3-k. 15-year old me, riding on track with the uncountable world, Olympic, and national medalist, Rebecca Twigg…

Saturday, August 31, 2002

The last women’s event of the 2002 Elite National Track Cycling Championships was the 25k points race (75 laps of fun and excitement). This was my second, and last race of the event.

The race started as the second-to-last event of the final evening. It was a cold, damp, cloudy evening like the three before it. A light drizzle that started a few minutes before we took the line threatened to hold the race back, but it stopped as quickly as it started. So, 22 women lined up on the wall to duke it out for the national title.

The first five laps were uneventful. Former national champion in the points race, Marjon Marik (soon to be Walrod!) put in a good attack. It was countered my Missy Thompson. For some reason, I found myself at the front during this time. And, for some reason, it didn’t take a whole lot of energy to catch up to Thompson. I was in a break only 6 laps into the race! Missy and I worked together to gain a little over a quarter-track lead. But, within about 2 laps, the field swallowed us up. It would have worked out nicely if the sprints started at 70 laps, and were every five, but they started at 66 and were every six (does this make more sense somehow???).

The following laps were time for me to sit in and recover. The field was at its slowest state at this time, so that was good for me. It didn’t pick up until Hubert actually rang the bell before the first sprint lap. I guess then people realized that they should start moving a tad bit faster.

The next two sprints or so were compromised of myself trying to stay near the front on an 88-inch gear. I’m pretty sure everyone else was at least riding a 90, because they didn’t seem to have a problem hanging on on the sprint laps. And, I know that’s what a lot usually ride for points races.

The next exciting part of the race for me was when I found myself at the front at the right time. Coming into the homestraight I was the first rider at the bottom of the track for the sprint. Marjon Marik was pushing it over the top, but was beat to it by Sarah Uhl and Becky Conzelman. Once the two came over the top of me, I latched onto Becky’s wheel all the way around to the finish line for 2 points. I wasn’t really challenged for them, either. Yes! Points!

Again, my thinking was to sit up again and recover for the next points opportunity. I knew if I could just keep picking up small points that they would add up in the end. And, the easiest way to pick up points is by getting in a break, right? After the next sprint, a small group formed, without anyone trying to make it happen. Good news for me was I was caught on the right side of it. We had all the big players. Sarah Uhl, Sarah Hammer, Ashley Kimmet, Becky Quinn, Becky Conzelman, Erin Mirabella, Shannon Hutchinson…I think I was the only no-so-big name in it. We lasted a few laps, until the field got its act together in time to be there for the points sprint.

Then the chaos came. It was a cold, damp, cloudy evening…A little more damp than we would have liked it to be! The race was neautralized with about 18 laps to go. But, it seemed to be just a passing shower, and we would take the track again in just a few minutes.

Everyone seemed ready to go after the short intermission. The sprints were fast and closely contested. My legs didn’t have enough to stay among the sprinters in the closing laps. I was hoping someone would jump off the front, so I could latch on. But…then the cold, damp, cloudy evening decided to show up again…

After a longer, slightly heavier drizzle, we rolled back onto the track with 9 laps to go. The break was enough for Jennifer Scott to make a break of her own. This is what I was hoping for, but I was in no position to bridge the gap up to her. Ashley Kimmet made an acceleration over the top that I was right on, but it turned out to just be a move to get to the front. I must say, it worked very well, since were in the top five riders.

The last two sprints were in the hands of the sprinters. The rain delays played into their hands very well, and left no room for myself to duke it out with them.

I was happy for my two points, and even felt good enough to put in some more laps. Sarah Uhl ended up winning it over Erin Mirabella, by the slimmest of margins. The breaks played very well into Sarah’s hands, and were tough luck for the endurance rider, Erin.

Once I got in, I found out that my 2 points were good enough for 10th place out of 22 riders. I beat a couple good riders, including a road pro, Marjon Marik, and Missy Thompson. Gil was very happy with it. He said that it “…was a start to a great career”. How did you know that’s just what I wanted to hear, Gil?

Overall, it has been a great championship. I’ve enjoyed myself at a big event without being too terribly nervous! I think I’ll be prepared for next year, at least in the pursuit and points race.