Master's Nationals---women's Road Race
I'm out racing in beautiful Louisville (looaville), KY. Today was the road race. Friday July 4 is the crit.
Well the RR was more like a circuit race--twisty 5 mi course thru Cheorkee park. Course started at Hanson's (?) fountain at the top of the finish hill, descended right away into three sweeping turns before shooting up a pair of hills. Down again into a sharp right corner, up, and another swooping downhill to the only flat section before the right turn onto the largest hill, Cochran's Hill Rd. Just after the ~0.5 mi lung busting climb, slight downhill into a sharp left turn followed by a 35 mph descent down Hwy 60 into a sharp left hand turn. Then up a moderate grade by the golf course, down again into a tight left turn before ascending to the finish. With enough speed, the finish hill turned into a big chainring hammer hill.
Given the relatively short distance (35 mi), I thought the pace would start out hot and I was not disappointed. Julie F (Am. Dairyland) who'd won a National Title the previous day with a SMOKING 57:33 in the 39km TT, laid down a rather brisk tempo. A bit challenging since her cornering technique was rather.....um...surprising. Fortunately it improved over the course of the race. Expecting her to attempt a TT off the front, I stuck to her wheel like a green, black and white tattoo.....a gasping gb&w tattoo.....as she dragged the entire field like bad dog on a short leash up towards Cochran's Hill.
I stuffed my lungs back in and braced for the attacks but nobody wanted to attack which kept things reasonably sane but still HARD. I was pleasantly (well it didnt FEEL so pleasant) surprised to hang in the top 3 up Cochran's. Almost lost my spot due to the sketchy turn onto Hwy 60. Julie dragged us along and along and along. A couple women attacked her in a couple of the turns and once on Cochran's but nothing stuck though lap 3 was particularly nasty for me on the pair of hills after the S/F. I slipped back to mid-pack, wondering if I could hang for another 4 laps. Fortunately, the pace eased slightly down from 22-23 mph (we finished with an avg of 21 mph).
Somewhere mid-race one of the Iowa women drilled it up the S/F hill---I kicked the afterburners and managed to respond. All for naught as the field regrouped on the descent. Julie dragged us around and around though it seemed she might be tiring a hair. Last two laps up Cochran's my legs were on the verge of cramping but I promised them if they behaved, I'd treat 'em to ice cream. They responded to the bribe and I crested Cochran's in the top three.
Though the pace had shelled a few riders with each lap, it shaped up for a field sprint. I placed myself behind the IA woman who held Julie's wheel. She jumped it ~500m to go, me in tow. Passed her and jumped to get around Julie but I took the right lane which wasn't quite big enough for me. Drat! Bad choice as the pavement dropped off sharply to a nasty line of fist sized gravel. Had to hit the brakes, restart my sprint in the last 250m, trying to make up lost ground. So much for my big move. Dang it, I thought after the Rob and Laura sprint slugfest I'd have a better finish. Ended up 9th overall but at least I came away in one piece AND I was fit enough to duke it out with the best.
Overall, I'm thrilled with the race. In the coulda/woulda department, I'd have been on the podium if not for a bad decision but "that's bike racing". The training has REALLY paid off--this year I'm right up there with strong women, not desperately hanging (or chasing) for the back of the field.
That's the news!
Laura
