Winning a prime lapQuick race update for y'all: this last weekend (Father's day weekend) we headed over to Winthrop for the Methow Valley Tour, a 3-stage, 2-day race in Mazama, Twisp, and Winthrop, Washington. I really like this race because it is pretty low key, the scenery is beautiful, and the course suits me because it's not got a ton of climbing in it.
Day one started with the time trial at Mazama. My teammate, Allison, crushed it, coming in second place by only one second! I came in 5th, almost a minute behind her and the top four women - sheesh!!! I really need to get on the tt bike. I know that all the women that came in before me spend a decent amount of time honing their TT skills, so I guess I feel okay coming in 5th place behind them..... goal list for next year.
The crit was later that afternoon in downtown Twisp. Wines of Washington had almost their full team there, I think, and Group Health had 4 or 5 riders, and Byrne Invent had another 4 or so. So, Allison and I were desperately outnumbered. My strategy was just to stay in the front to be ready for any attacks. It was a blast! I tried to be as aggressive as I could - either off the front or keeping anyone else from getting off the front. Allison was awesome and pulled through to chase down a couple things, and there were two occassions where I was in a 2-woman break - unfortunately, we got reeled in both times. Mike was on the radio cheering me on and helping me with strategies. Coming into the last lap, I was in great position, but the third corner is tricky, on an uphill, and coming into the finishing straight I just didn't have it in my legs to hold on for the sprint - I came in 7th. But, I was really happy with the way I rode - I felt strong, nothing got away, and I felt like it was good practice for Twilight coming up in July. A few girls, and even some of our guys complimented me on how aggressive I was during the race. That was really nice to hear. Tricia Bailey from Wines complimented Allison and me on how well we worked that race. That's awesome when a competitor compliments your race performance.
The road race the next day was a circuit of 14 miles, which we completed 4 times. Wines and Group Health were apparently working together, so there were about 10 or 12 riders all together there. I heard a Group Health girl tell one of the Wines girls that, "we won't chase any of your riders down." Again, Allison and I were obviously outnumbered. Our plan was to not chase anything that went off unless it had Suz Weldon or Tricia Bailey in it - those were the immediate threats in the points standings. As expected, Wines threw out some attacks - one stayed out - a two-woman break with I think Gina Kavesh and Tamara Bessette - for almost 2 full laps. The Byrne Invent girls and Allison and I did a lot of work to reel them in by the end of the third lap. Going into the last lap, I think Allison and I were both expecting Wines to make a move, and they sure did. Tricia Bailey, Robin Secrist (who was in the lead), and one other rider I can't remember now went off the front after we headed through town up this little hill and up some stair-step elevation. I knew it was a dangerous break. Fortunately, Allison was able to dig in and help bring the three back, and I grabbed her wheel - and the pack re-grouped very briefly until Suz counter-attacked. Crap! I was almost fried from just hanging in there after that first one! Suz stayed out there briefly, and I realized that she just might pull this off, and my chances for attempting a bridge were dwindling by the second. I was thinking I needed to try to bridge to bring it together again for Allison's sake - she was tied with Suz for points. So, I bolted out of the pack as best as I could, and managed to bridge up to her. I worked with her for a few miles, until she dropped me on a little roller - just had minimal legs on me by that point. But, I did manage to keep her in my sight, keep the pack from seeing me, and hold the pack off for a second place finish!! I finished right behind Suz - within a minute or so I think, so I was happy. I've never had such an aggressive race, or believed in myself enough to be that aggressive. I finished in 4th place overall - "In the money" as they say, and Allison finished 6th overall. I think it was a great finish for us, considering we were so outnumbered!
So, all in all it was a fun weekend. Feeling a bit stronger than I was a few weeks ago, obviously. Next weekend is Elkhorn... just hoping I can hang on there, too.......
Day one started with the time trial at Mazama. My teammate, Allison, crushed it, coming in second place by only one second! I came in 5th, almost a minute behind her and the top four women - sheesh!!! I really need to get on the tt bike. I know that all the women that came in before me spend a decent amount of time honing their TT skills, so I guess I feel okay coming in 5th place behind them..... goal list for next year.
The crit was later that afternoon in downtown Twisp. Wines of Washington had almost their full team there, I think, and Group Health had 4 or 5 riders, and Byrne Invent had another 4 or so. So, Allison and I were desperately outnumbered. My strategy was just to stay in the front to be ready for any attacks. It was a blast! I tried to be as aggressive as I could - either off the front or keeping anyone else from getting off the front. Allison was awesome and pulled through to chase down a couple things, and there were two occassions where I was in a 2-woman break - unfortunately, we got reeled in both times. Mike was on the radio cheering me on and helping me with strategies. Coming into the last lap, I was in great position, but the third corner is tricky, on an uphill, and coming into the finishing straight I just didn't have it in my legs to hold on for the sprint - I came in 7th. But, I was really happy with the way I rode - I felt strong, nothing got away, and I felt like it was good practice for Twilight coming up in July. A few girls, and even some of our guys complimented me on how aggressive I was during the race. That was really nice to hear. Tricia Bailey from Wines complimented Allison and me on how well we worked that race. That's awesome when a competitor compliments your race performance.
The road race the next day was a circuit of 14 miles, which we completed 4 times. Wines and Group Health were apparently working together, so there were about 10 or 12 riders all together there. I heard a Group Health girl tell one of the Wines girls that, "we won't chase any of your riders down." Again, Allison and I were obviously outnumbered. Our plan was to not chase anything that went off unless it had Suz Weldon or Tricia Bailey in it - those were the immediate threats in the points standings. As expected, Wines threw out some attacks - one stayed out - a two-woman break with I think Gina Kavesh and Tamara Bessette - for almost 2 full laps. The Byrne Invent girls and Allison and I did a lot of work to reel them in by the end of the third lap. Going into the last lap, I think Allison and I were both expecting Wines to make a move, and they sure did. Tricia Bailey, Robin Secrist (who was in the lead), and one other rider I can't remember now went off the front after we headed through town up this little hill and up some stair-step elevation. I knew it was a dangerous break. Fortunately, Allison was able to dig in and help bring the three back, and I grabbed her wheel - and the pack re-grouped very briefly until Suz counter-attacked. Crap! I was almost fried from just hanging in there after that first one! Suz stayed out there briefly, and I realized that she just might pull this off, and my chances for attempting a bridge were dwindling by the second. I was thinking I needed to try to bridge to bring it together again for Allison's sake - she was tied with Suz for points. So, I bolted out of the pack as best as I could, and managed to bridge up to her. I worked with her for a few miles, until she dropped me on a little roller - just had minimal legs on me by that point. But, I did manage to keep her in my sight, keep the pack from seeing me, and hold the pack off for a second place finish!! I finished right behind Suz - within a minute or so I think, so I was happy. I've never had such an aggressive race, or believed in myself enough to be that aggressive. I finished in 4th place overall - "In the money" as they say, and Allison finished 6th overall. I think it was a great finish for us, considering we were so outnumbered!
So, all in all it was a fun weekend. Feeling a bit stronger than I was a few weeks ago, obviously. Next weekend is Elkhorn... just hoping I can hang on there, too.......
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