Race Report: Gateway Cup

Friday--Lafayette

I got to the park and the rain started coming down in buckets. It was going to be a soggy one.  I got registered and dressed the rain dwindled.  By the time I was ready to warm up, it was drizzling at most.  I rode around the area, making sure I had good tire pressure and could corner well.  It came time to go to the line.  We were having some spurts of rain, but nothing like earlier.  17 women lined up, we got instructions and were off.  I didn't know most of the field and that always makes me a little nervous.  I knew I wanted to be upfront and out of any craziness.  We got our first prime about four laps into the race.  Right after turn 1 Tricia (Korte Hammerdown) took off.  I jumped and bridged up to her wheel.  I thought I we would be off, but right before turn three Stephanie, her teammate, led the pack back to us.  We turned the corner and Aimee (Michelob Ultra Big Shark) took off.  I wasn't anticipating her jump, so there was no way for me to grab her wheel without bringing the pack.  I sat up and let the other girls work.  She had a nice gap on the field, won the prime and kept going.  It didn't seem like anyone was working hard to bring her back.  For the next three laps or so, her lead was under 15 seconds.  I stayed second wheel to whomever was leading the chase, but refused to pull through.  I felt like I had it to bridge, but didn't want to bring the group.  Her lead then began to steadily grown.  About 25 minutes in we got a field prime.  I stayed in position until we rounded turn four and then got out of the saddle.  It was mine.  For the rest of the race I stayed second or third wheel and chased down anyone who decided to jump.  I knew Aimee's gap was good, but I didn't want anyone to get away.  We came down to the last lap.  I knew where the optimal sprint was and jumped when it was time.  I hit the line for a third place finish.

Sitting in and not letting anyone chase Aimee.  *Photo credit: Mike Dawson

Saturday--Francis Park

It was nasty humid again on Saturday.  The rain poured down as soon as I finished registering.  I sat in the car until it let up and then put the bike together and headed to the trainer tent.  I hate warming up on trainers because I don't ever feel ready to race.  Today was no exception.  I was also timid to start because I crashed on this course last year.  We had about the same number of ladies racing, a few sets of fresh legs though.  We got instructions and were off.  It rained on us mid race for about four laps.  There were lots of attacks coming from the usual suspects, but no one was letting the break go like the night before.  I never could get lined up for the primes in this race.  My positioning before turn four was okay, but not where I like.  I made sure I was close to the front, but didn't nab any.  The race once again came down to a field sprint.  My legs had ached most of the race and just didn't have it to be up front.  It was a sixth place finish on the day, leaving me in fifth place for the omnium.  Aimee lost the jersey to Tricia.

Wet once again!  *Photo credit: Don McKinney

Sunday--Giro

Once again overcast and muggy.  We got a few spurts of rain during warm up, but the race itself was sunny, hot and humid.  The kids had come with us to the race, so I knew I'd have a great day out there.

Did someone say prime??? *photo credit: Mike Dawson

We got instructions and took off.  I was feeling really good and was ready to make some noise during this race.  A few laps in we got a prime bell.  I know for this course you have to be in place before turn three or your chances are slim to none.  The HED girl jumped early on the backside and took off.  I was ready to chase her down.  We were both off the pack, with her having a slight gap on me.  I took turn four poorly and had to brake to avoid the curb.  I never was able to make up ground on her.  She was tired off her jump and I caught her just after the line, and the pack got us after turn one.  A few laps later the bell went again.  I wanted this one bad.  I was sitting up front and ready for any move.  No one went.  We made turn four and I sat on Aimee's wheel and let her take me to the fencing.  I was up and going.  I crossed the line and claimed it without issue.  On the back side Kelly (KC) jumped.  I didn't know if I could react and let the field chase her down.  I had to work the rest of that lap to get back on the pack.  Three laps later another prime.  Again Aimee tried to lead me out but the HED girl was a bit smarter this time.  We went to the line and she got me by a wheel.  Again the race was coming down to a field sprint.  I was sitting in a great position on Aimee's wheel coming down the hill to the finish when Amy McClintock (Team Rev) came on my inside in the gutter.  I went wide and lost my lead out.  I sprinted hard and went to the line against Aimee.  I was scored fourth, but the photos I've seen look like I edged her for third. Regardless, she (and Big Shark) had the leader jersey back.  I got a talking to from the official about not holding my line on the sprint.  I held my tongue and didn't give her excuses as to why.

Monday--Benton

Overcast and cloudy but no rain on Monday.  I got a great warm up in the neighborhood and was ready. I didn't get a front row position on the start, but was ready when the whistle came.  I knew for this race it could be easy for a break to make it so I wanted to be up front and ready.  The ladies had lots of problems with corners and lines in this one.  I'm really surprised no one went down.

Three laps in our first prime came.  I wasn't necessarily interested in it because I wanted to save my legs for the final sprint.  We made our final corner and one of the out of town girls jumped early.  No one went after her.  Well, if no one else is doing anything I might as well see what my legs had.  I'm assuming she thought it was hers because I took off and caught her without problem.  It wasn't even close at the line.  We started our way around again and crossed over by the brewery.  I heard "Go Mommy!"  My smalls were there.  I yelled "yes" and had a new sense of energy to race.

*photo credit: Mike Dawson

Two laps later the next bell went.  I had no intention of going for it, but again wanted to stay close.  I crossed the line third.  Another prime two laps later with similar results.  With two to go Tara (Michelob Ultra Big Shark) was ramping up the pace.  We were ready to hit turn six and there was a truck in the middle of the course.  I know I yelled "oh shit" and we somehow maneuvered around it.  Final lap--I was where I wanted to be through six.  The back of the pack swarmed and as we made the final turn I found myself blocked in.  I started my sprint early to make up the ground I had lost and gained several places.  I found myself going against Aimee at the line again.  She took sixth and I got seventh.  It was enough for her to win the omnium, but knocked me off the podium for the weekend.

Overall I was pretty happy for the weekend.  My legs felt great and I was able to mentally talk myself through races where I was uneasy.  My bike handling was what it should be and I felt like I had my sprint back.  I reinforced to myself that I'm better off warming up on the road versus the trainer.  If I could change anything I would've jumped sooner on some of the finishing sprints.  I think I probably had more in my legs than I gave myself credit for.

Race Report: Gateway Cup

Friday Night

Lafayette Square

It was hot (100ish) but fortunately no humidity.  I got to Lafayette early enough to ride five or six laps before the men's 4/5 race--I wanted to know where the wind would be.  I continued my warm up on the neighborhood roads and headed to the staging area with one lap to go in the men's race.  The course is a basic four corner sprint, almost a perfect square.  There is a slight uphill on the back side and we had a light head wind.  I made sure to be on the line at the start.  We had 42 women in our field and I didn't know most of them.  We got pre-race instructions, 30+5 and 2 primes, and got a whistle.  I went up front and this girl with RS on her butt zoomed ahead of me.  Everyone was on her quickly and we formed a tight pack.  Somewhere in lap 2 Becca tried to launch an attack, but was quickly reeled in.  The first prime came about 5 laps into the race.  I stayed up front for it, but didn't get out of the saddle for the sprint.  Becca took it.  The pack reformed and around we went again.  There was a lot of poor cornering, especially turn three of the race.  More than once I saw the RS girl wobbling and taking a poor line as she went through.  She's someone I'll watch out for as the weekend goes on.  Our second prime came about 20 minutes into the race.  I found myself sitting too far back in the pack to make a go for it, but I used it as an opportunity to move forward again.  The lap after the prime, we went to five to go on the lap cards--they cut our race time.  I worked to stay up front and have a good spot for the final lap.  Our pace slowed.  We got the bell and went into the last lap.  I was sitting about fourth or fifth wheel.  We came around turn three and someone sitting second wheel took off.  I lost a few places there, but quickly caught a wheel.  We took turn four and the sprint was on.  I knew I had no chance at top three, but wanted to get as high of place as possible.  I moved up about four or five places with my sprint, ended up 11th.

Saturday

Francis Park

It was another hot one.  It was about 97 degrees and humid at race time.  I did about five laps on the course and then finished my warm up on the trainer.  The course is a rectangle, with a gentle uphill right after the start/finish and a downhill after turn two.  Turn three is a bit sketchy because it's off camber and has two manhole covers in what should be the best line.  45 ladies started our race.  I was on the front to start.  We took off quickly, with ladies working to get position.  Lap three was our first prime.  I was in the front of the pack, but in no place to contest it.  We reformed as a group after the sprint and went around again.  A few attacks were launched, but nothing was getting away.  I moved around within the group, always trying to set myself up for a good line in the third corner...that only happened a handful of times.  The second prime came about 24 minutes in the race.  I was in better position, but was probably eighth across the line.  Two laps later we started counting down.  In two to go, an attack went.  We came back together right at the start/finish with one to go.  We turn corner one and another attack launch, the squirrelly RS girl took off.  The pack let her go.  We rounded turn two and she was still out there, pulling away.  I decided to see what I could do.  I moved to the outside and jumped to go after her.  I assume someone decided to follow my lead because I felt something on my back wheel and I started wobbling.  Down I went on my left side.  The moto ref came up to and called for the medics.  I told him to have them meet me at the line because I was finishing.  I straightened my bars and realized my chain was off.  I got it back on, but still couldn't get my rear wheel to turn.  I threw the bike on my shoulder and started walking.  I had gone about 50 yards when a friend of mine, Larry rolled up.  He asked the ref if I could finish on a different bike.  The ref gave the ok, so I took Larry's bike.  Larry is about 6'2" so I rode standing.  I pulled on the finishing straight and was stopped so the medics could get around me.  There was another crash, right at the start/finish.  Cindi was done.  They took her off on a stretcher. 

Somehow, I ended up 32/45, but I didn't get a DNF.  My injuries are on top of the scars from the crash earlier this season.  The scrapes on my elbow are pretty deep, the doc at the race thinks I bruised the bone.  My hip and shoulder have small abrasions and someone I have some scrapes on fingers on my right hand.

Sunday

Giro de Montagna

I was incredibly nervous to line up for the Giro de Montagna on Sunday.  While this is the “premier” race of Gateway Cup, it’s also the most dangerous.  It’s a four corner rectangle crit.  What makes it difficult and dangerous is that the streets are narrow.  The finishing straight is downhill and you go into turn one hot.  The end is only a block long, so you’re still taking speed into turn two.  The backside is a long uphill, nothing difficult to climb, but you know you’re climbing.  Positioning in turn three is crucial because it determines how you finish.

The weather was cooler—mid 70s with a slight wind.  We had 40 women again.  The whistle blew and we were off.  I stayed towards the back.  By the third time up the backside, I saw the field surge and I consciously let them go.  I was still feeling timid and didn’t want to be in the mix.  I spent the rest of the race chasing.  I tried to organize a group, but only one other girl had the legs to keep the pace that I wanted to keep. 

Taking a pull up the hill on the backside.  *Photo credit:  Mike Dawson

My group of three got lapped with five to go.  I stayed on, but with the pack for the remainder of the race.  I ended up 34^th on the day.

Monday

Benton Park Classic

I was hoping Monday would have been better than Sunday.  I really like the Benton Park course.  It’s about 1.7 miles long with 10 turns.  The weather was even cooler on Monday, but the wind was brutal, 18mph with gusts up to 28.  I got a great warm up in when I got there, only to have our race delay by 90 minutes.  When the men’s 4/5 started, I went back out to get warm.  I got back just in time to head to the line . . . which meant I was three rows back.  The race starts on an uphill and there were a lot of girls who had trouble getting in their pedals.  Our race was shortened to five laps because of the delay, so it went hot off the line.  I got caught behind the Team Type One girl who didn’t get in and was gapped immediately.  There were a good number of us fighting to get back on.  I came close, but could never catch a wheel.  I caught the Bikes of America girl midway through lap one.  She and I traded pulls and maintained a race pace, never letting up.  We caught the Team Type One girl during lap three.  We all worked together until the end.  As we rounded the final turn, I was pulling.  I felt TTO coming on my left.  I went into my drops, upped my cadence and pulled away.  I knew they wouldn’t let go that easy.  At about 200M, I jumped.  The BoA girl went with me.  I added gear to try to fend her off.  I felt like I was losing bike control right at the line and sat down and she got me by an inch or so.  I ended up 32^nd.

It was interesting to me that both Saturday and Sunday I would be the one pulling on the uphill.  I knew it was probably a tactical move on the part of the girls with whom I was riding, but I also felt like I could ride the hills better and even though catching the group was unlikely, I wasn’t going to stop trying.

I’m pretty disappointed with how the weekend played out.  I felt really good on Friday night and Saturday.  I know I raced injured on Sunday and Monday, I was just hoping it wouldn’t have had as much of an effect as it did.

Benton Park Classic

Monday's Gateway Cup Races featured a new venue: Benton Park. T had suggested the neighborhood to Mike and was right--it was outstanding. There were ten corners in the 1.7 miles course, including a chicane. We crossed I-55 twice and an almost perfect 200M finishing straight.

The women and men were once again split. I watched the men's race from the trainer and was surprised to see how strung out the field became. This should have given me an idea of what was to come.

We went 23 deep to the line today. Most of the girls had been in the three previous races, so were racing on legs as tired as mine. The first lap started fast. By the time we hit turn three, I felt like I was struggling to keep up. A good showing in this race was important to me; my brother was there, his first race this season. Lap 2 I was still struggling. Where were my legs? How did these girls all have it and I didn't? Lap 3 brought a prime. As we headed to the line, I was nowhere near in it, and it was gapping me. I was off the back. Holy Campagnolo! How did this happen? And why today?

I hit Corner 4 and Klucker was giving me gap times. I realized T was off as well. Hannah (Team Pegasus) was in front of me, but off the back too. T and I got together and took turns. Mike yelled to us to work together. We did. We caught up to Hannah. Soli joined us as well. Within a lap, of jumping on us, Soli took off. At that point, I was ready to let her go. I wasn't ready to go after her. T, Hannah, and I our turns. We eventually chased Soli down and she got on the group. It felt like we were falling further and further behind and the gap was growing. Klucker's time announced verified that. We were up to 20 seconds off.

We went around and got the three to go card. Hannah was pulling. I was reflecting. I had three choices, and not a lot of time to decide. I could stay where I was and work with these girls for the next three laps and hope they didn't out sprint me. I could go off on a flyer, and possibly blow up--I would end up back here. I could go off on a flyer, and try to get on the pack. To me, at that moment, worst case scenario was where I was. I knew after turn 4, the course got a bit technical: lots of turns in quick succesion. The pack would have to slow, a single rider would not. That was the time to go. I looked ahead and there was a girl off the back. She would be my first target.

We passed Klucker and he yelled five seconds. Ok, here we go. I jump, say to Hannah, come with me, let's shut this thing down. I took off. About 15 seconds in I began to question my logic. This freakin' hurt. My quick, little ti princess took the corners like she was on rails. (Why did I ever think about wanting a Scott?) I was close enough to tell the girl had Dumas on the back of her shorts. Turn 10 and I was on her wheel. I yelled to her I had her wheel and needed 30 seconds to recover and would take a pull. We were under the start finish when I moved around she and the moto and jumped onto the pack. I couldn't believe what I had just done. I couldn't believe how much that hurt. Two to go and I had to stay on now. I got myself mid pack and sat in. I saw Klucker's smile as we went by. I also realized Jeffrey had left already. He didn't get to see my push.

With one to go, I knew I could hang on. We weaved through the course and turned onto the finish. The sprint went early and I tried to go with it. By 150M, I was done. I sat down and pedal to the line, getting passed by two or three girls who still had something to give. It was a 10th place finish for me, but a victory in assessment. decision-making and determination.

My "bridge face." It hurt as much as it looks like it does. "Photo credit: Mike Dawson

Giro della Montagna: The Hill

The confusion from Saturday's race led to something good. On Sunday, the 3/4 Women and 4/5 Men got split. We each had our own race. Knowing that, I got to the course early so I would have time to ride it before the men raced. This course was again a basic four corner crit, more of a long rectangle this time. The trick to this course was that the roads were narrow, corners tight, and manhole covers a plenty. The backside of the course had a long uphill with a headwind, and the front side was a downhill to the finish.

I had to do most of my warm up on the trainer because the men were on the course. We rolled to the line 27 deep, another wonderful sized women's field. The whistle blew and we were off. I immediately saw why everyone warned me about the corners in this course. A wrong move here could easily have you meeting the pavement. We went out hot, but slowed down on the backside. And so it went for most of the race. At some point, Amelia from xXx attacked and Aubree went after her. I went after Aubree. There were lots of surges, and I frequently had to work to stay on after turn two. I spent a good deal of the race anaerobic. At some point there was a prime, I stayed with the group, but knew I had no business even attempting it.

During the later half of the race in turn three someone rubbed my back wheel sending me over towards the Hannah, the Pegasus girl. We rubbed arms and I quickly apologized. We started counting down laps and I was happy. This course was taking a toll on me. I was working to get set up, because I knew I would be at a disadvantage on a downhill finish. Around turn one I heard it and saw it all at once. The Fusion girl slid out, taking Amelia with her. I was on Amelia's wheel. I quickly got around her and stood up to get back to the group. We took turn two and at the small flat in the middle of the backside, I moved into position. I wanted to go at the intersection before turn 3. We got there and I was stuck. I was second wheel, but they were spread five wide across the road. There was no getting through. I eased up going through turn three and four and lost position. We hit the downhill and I prayed I could make up my losses. The ladies in front sped away from me; I was around 12th position at this point. I was not ready to quit though. I added gear until I ran out. We hit the bottom of the hill and I stood and went. One by one, I passed girls, not easing until I crossed the line. Sixth place! I'd take it.

The Moral of the Story: When You Hear a Bell--Sprint!

It was actually a little chilly when I got to the course this morning. The breeze made me wonder if I should have had arm warmers for the warmup. The course was a basic four corner crit, slight uphill off the start/finish, flat short end, downhill on the long back side, and short end. The wind was a head on the short end.

We lined up about 28 deep, many of the women were the same as last night. We were again on the course with the 4/5 men. The men went off and we got our whistle. I could not get clipped in. I was gapped off the line. It took me about 30 seconds to get in my pedals and then I had to work to get back to the field. I had a wheel by the time we hit turn one and was moving up to a good position after turn two. It took me about three laps until I felt settled in the race. A few laps later, a xXx girl went off the front. I have to admit, we all were knitting and watched her go. By the time, we tried to organize, she had 20 seconds on us. Aubree tried to get us organized, but no one wanted to take turns at the front. Finally when she was up to about 25 seconds, Aubree went off the front. I knew if she got away, she'd hunt the girl down and we'd be fighting for third. I think I said aloud, "Eff this, come with me if you can." I pulled the field up to Aubree, but eventually girl's lead grew, and we never got her.

Somewhere around 25 minutes in, we got a bell for a prime. I always love a prime, but I also wanted to play it smart. I moved into a good position and waited. We rounded turn four and I was sitting about fourth wheel. The sprint went and so did I. There was one other girl in front of me and I just kept adding gear until I put daylight in between us. It was mine. I sat up because I knew I didn't have it to stay out there alone, the wind would have worn me down. The field caught me after turn one. We did another lap or two and the moto neutralized us for the men to pass. As that was organizing, one of our local racers did something and her skewer was in my front wheel. I held on and told her to watch her line--her reply was that it wasn't her fault.

After we got passed, it wasn't long until we got the five to go on the cards. Lots of movement for position, but nothing crazy. We came around on what should have been two to go. I was sitting mid-pack I watched as half the pack went through, the lap card changed to one and the bell was rung. I was confused. Was there a guy off the front that mixed in with us? What lap were we on? I asked out loud, but no one responded. We got to the backside of the course, and Aubree took off. The chase was on. We hit turn four, and I didn't know if we were chasing or sprinting. I was not in place for a sprint. We went under and the lap card still read 1 to go so we kept racing.

Around again and it got even hotter after turn 3. We were onto the finishing straight and this was definitely a sprint. I turned it up and went hard. I came across the line 6th, so I thought.

We did a cool down lap and Carrie said we needed to talk to the officials because they didn't score our last lap, they scored the one before. We went en masse to the chief official. He ranted about his decision being final and that the bell was the ultimate authority. He stormed away when we asked for the rule book. Aero, the chief judge, came out and told us he thought we were the men and so he changed the card. The "first" finish would be the official one. That meant, instead of 6th, I finished 20th. I didn't think about it when we protested, but in essence it means he pulled the entire field because we all finished before the woman who won the race. I still don't agree with decision, but I have to give Aero props for owning up to what happened and listening to our concerns and reacting kindly and professionally.

I learned some lessons in this race. First, when I hear a bell, sprint. Second, on the lap that was scored, I shouldn't have been sitting so far back. I should never be in that position in a race. This year has been about positioning and sprinting for me, this race, I didn't adhere to what I learned.