My first year racing Downers Grove was in 2006 as a cat. 3. I did decent in the 3/4's race, but barely hung on to the 1/2/3's race later in the day. I love the course. It's got some climbing, enough to make the legs hurt after a 50k race. It's also pretty technical. I wasn't able to race here last year because I had already moved to Colorado. This year, I made sure to stick around.
Saturday's race was late in the day (6:10pm to be exact). Lots of people use this race as an "opener" for the race that really counts the next day. The field was stacked. Colavita, Aaron's, Advil-Chapstick, Cheerwine, ValueAct Capital, and Kenda were there to name a few. It was fast (we averaged over 25mph). I don't recall there being any crashes. I tried to maintain my position near the front, but found it hard to do. Eventually a break rolled off the front, including Meredith Miller (Aaron's). The last laps came, and teams set up their lead out trains. It's pretty amazing to watch teams get together and set up these leadouts. My teammate, Sam Schneider, was guest riding for Colavita (which she does on a regular basis). She was in on the leadout train that got Tina Pic the field sprint win. I managed to pull off 22nd place of 62 finishers. Of course I missed the money by two places. Oh well, it was a good experience and a fun race.
Sunday's race was in the morning. There was a larger field (over 80 riders). I found this odd since yesterday's race had cat. 3's included. This was the "real" race of the weekend for the women. It wasn't what I was expecting though. I figured it would be attack after attack and I'd be holding on for dear life the entire race. However, I found myself bridging to break-aways and moving throughout the peloton. Not quite sure why I bridged to a few breaks because I knew they wouldn't stick. Anything that didn't have Tina Pic or Brooke Miller in it was bound to get chased down. I guess I did it to see if I could. I still didn't feel 100% comfortable riding in the group. I get a little scared when I go through corners 5 abreast and have no hole to get out in. So I'd make my way up to the front, then find the pack slowing down and I'd get swarmed. Oh well, it was good practice moving through the field. The final laps came and the big teams did their thing again. Brooke Miller pulled off the win with Tina Pic taking second. I came acrossed 22nd, again. What was really impressive was Sam Schneider taking 10th place. I watched Sam win the field sprint against Brooke Miller a few weekends ago at the Chicago Criterium. Brooke Miller as since taken two national championships in field sprints. She has a ton of potential and is a phenominal rider.
The season is winding down. I only have one more road event planned for 2008 - Gateway Cup. After that, mountain bike season is in full swing. Still trying to figure out how I'm going to get the mountain bike nationals if I qualify. This not having a job thing all summer is starting to catch up with me!
I've started to get the ball rolling for 2009. Sent out my resume to some teams. Things are a bit shaky on the women's end of cycling with teams. Seems like everyone is up in the air. I think that happens after most Olympic years though. So it will be interesting to see what next year brings.
Next up, possibly a Mountain States Cup race in Nederland, CO. Yep, headed back on Wednesday. It's been fun being back in the midwest, but unfortunatley school starts next Monday (the 25th)...yikes!! Thanks for stopping by! Good night!
-A
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Downers Grove Criterium
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Tour of Kansas City
This past weekend I made my first trip, ever, to the Tour of Kansas City. Not sure why I've waited until now to hit these races up, but it was well worth it.
Friday night there wasn't a women's race (bummer), so I raced with the men cat. 3's. I worked on staying near the front of the pack the entire race. I was able to do so and never fell back more than 20 places. The last lap I drifted back to avoid any carnage and didn't contest the sprint. It was an awesome workout and I'm glad I raced it. The course was pretty fun too. It had some climbing in it and a few technical turns.
Saturday I woke up to cloudy skies. I had thought about doing the men's cat 3 race again today, but the rain scared me away. I figured it would be safer to race with a field of 15 as opposed to 60. The race was 7 laps, each lap 2.5miles long. There were two decent climbs, enough to take a toll on your legs at the end of 7 laps. The race was pretty mellow and everyone tried to play it safe since it was pouring. There were some slippery spots on the course where mud covered the surface. I chose to run 80psi in my tires. Why? Not sure. I didn't slip at all though. It was just a pain to climb the hill every time, especially when I stood up. Lessons learned, and next time I'll try 85. Anyway, there were a few attacks. There was a girl from Tulsa who was really strong on the hills and we were all watching her. Crazy bike girl was there too. Most of the women in the midwest have seen this girl at one point. She rides a yellow bike, screams at people during the race, and is just plain rude. Last year at Gateway Cup I turned her in to the officials because she shoved me in a corner. After the race she was hanging out in her under gaurmets by the water truck, spraying guys down...awkward. Ok, back to the race. The last lap came and I tried to hold position in the top 3. There was a crash on the hill behind me. At that time, Carrie Cash from St. Louis Revolution, put the hammer down. I was unable to respond and took off at my own pace. We got a gap from the rest of the field. Carrie had a decent lead on me, so I worked on maintaining my 2nd place.
Sunday was a better day. It was cool and sunny. The race was 35minutes plus 5 laps. The course was different from the other days. It was flat with lots of corners, and one 90+ degree corner. People attacked all day long, but nothing seemed to stick. I was in a few short-lived breaks but we were quickly realed in. I tried to cover as many attacks as I could. The last lap came and I attacked on the slight uphill before the last corner. I got a gap, but didn't know how big it was. I started to sit up in the corner but heard no one coming around me. So I put my head down and sprinted to the finish. I was able to hold off Carrie Cash for a first place.
This was a fun weekend. Awesome courses and some great competition. Kelly Benjamin was there all weekend, racing in the men's cat 3 races. Next up is Downer's Grove. Then it's back to Colorado. School starts the 25th. I'll be back for Gateway Cup. After that, my road season is done. Amazing how time flies. Thanks for stopping in!
-A
Oh my...
Ouch. You'd think someone of that level wouldn't be saying those words to the press...
Wonder if he's still coming to Jingle Cross?
Monday, August 04, 2008
Elk Grove Criterium
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Over Due
Wow, I've been a slacker on this thing lately. I'll try to go into more detail about what I've been up to these past few weeks.
Bicycle, Blues, and BBQ Race Weekend:
A quick change in plans put me back in Iowa in time for the race weekend in Clear Lake. The crit consisted of Anne Meyer from ICCC, myself, and 5 PRC girls. It was a typical Iowa race. Nothing to exciting. It was nice to see new women out racing. Wish things would have been a little more eventful in the race rather than riding around in circles for however long the race was and then sprinting for the finish. Oh well though. I ended up taking the win with Anne in a close 2nd. Sunday's road race was similar. We got in a paceline from the beginning, which was nice. I was expecting different. Instead, I think we were all in mutual agreement that we should get this thing done as quickly as possible. It's always super windy in Northern Iowa, and that day was no different. Oh, and did I mention it was pancake flat? The sprint was in a tailwind and I was completely maxed of gears out at the end. I took the win with Kelly from PRC close behind. Wish I would have had an 11t on for that day. Great event though and I was surprised at the crowd that was out for the criterium Saturday night. The promoter did an awesome job.
Mountain Bike Nationals U23 Cross Country Race:
I originally registered for both the U23 race and the Expert race. However, when I went to pick up my packet from registration, they told me I could only do one. I decided to do the U23 race for several reasons. It was more challenging then the expert race would have been, this is my last year racing U23, it was basically a semi-pro women's field (if there was such a thing), etc. The race started fast, which was a given. I got boxed in going into the first corner. I rode the first lap in 3rd place with Jamie and Chloe almost completely out of sight by the end of the lap. Those girls are fast! I don't know how I was able to half way hang with them at collegiate nationals. Anyway, I played cat and mouse with a few girls on the course, but finally found myself in 5th place. I maintained this position until the end of the race. The course was pretty challenging. It consisted of climbing 4miles (an estimate) up a ski hill and then riding down a steep, rooty, rocky, hard, hill to the finish. The downhill is what hurt me the most. I've been on the mountain bike less than 10 times this year I think. I'm in no mountain bike shape. My arms and upper body were destroyed by this part of the course. It's where I lost the most time. Chloe had around 14minutes on me at the finish, ouch. I still made podium, but it's not what I was hoping to do, especially considering the small field size. Live and learn though. Don't plan on doing descent if you haven't trained properly for something. It was a good experience though, and all in all I'm glad I did it.
Mountain Bike Nationals Non-Pro Women's Short Track Race:
I had a few days to recover from the cross country race and re-think some things for the short track race. The field was larger because it consisted of everyone that wasn't a professional. I think there were 19 starters. I had a bad start. The official made the last 15seconds turn into 5 seconds and took everyone off guard. I found myself in 2nd place at the end of the first lap and had planned on staying there to pace myself. Not sure why, but I passed the 1st place girl at the start of the 2nd lap and never looked back. I quickly settled into a rhythm and started pulling away from the fast chasing group behind me. I started to put more and more time on them. There were a few laps that I thought I was going to blow up, but I kept telling myself its only 15minutes long (plus 2 laps). I can do anything for 20minutes right?? That's why I went so hard. I pulled off the win for my first National title. I think I had 34seconds on 2nd place. It was pretty awesome to stand on top the podium. I appreciate everyones help and support!
On the way back from Vermont, we stopped in Niagara Falls. It was only 15minutes out of the way, so I had to go. Awesome views! It's definitely a tourist attraction though and there were way to many people, even later at night! We also stopped in Wisconsin at Super Week. I did the men's cat 3 race...well I started it anyway. I think I lasted 3 laps. Oh well. Finally made it back home, where I was able to hang out at the local county fair for the week.
Chicago Criterium
Headed up Chicago for the inagural criterium. $10,000 on the line, 20 places deep. I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into. Didn't know why there was so much money. Turns out it was just a local criterium. Awesome event though! Really well organized and it drew some pretty good competition to it. Meredith Miller from Aaron's, Team TIBCO, Team Kenda Tire, and Team Revolution all made appearances as well as several other individuals. My teammate Sam Schneider was there as well. I covered lots of attacks during the race and tried to keep things together for the finish. A TIBCO girl was able to get away solo. The last two laps came and I tried to make my way to the front. My legs were tired and things were sort of chaos. Sam was in perfect position though and had latched on to TIBCO's leadout train. She pulled out the win for the field sprint, placing 2nd overall over TIBCO's Brooke Miller. Amazing job!!
That pretty much sums up what I've been doing lately. Next up is the Elk Grove criterium this Saturday and the Missouri State Criterium Championships on Sunday. Then Tour of KC, Downer's Grove, and Gateway Cup. After that, it's mountain bike season! Can't believe the road season is almost over though! Thanks for stopping in!
-A
