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| Morgan before the Women's 1/2/3 neutral roll-out. |
There were 4 of us in the Women's 1/2/3 race, but we were racing with the Collegiate Women's A making the total about 12 or so. The course was a 4 corner, clockwise loop, that was just under 10 miles. We were slated to do 5 laps. The collegiate girls took control of the race from the beginning - which is what I expected since they made up 2/3 of the field. The first hill we got to was a fast descent leading into the KOA Campground climb. Very short and steep, followed by a longer, more gradual climb. Dreadful to do once, let alone multiple times in 2 hours! We then had a slight false flat to another right turn and into the wind. The pace was, for the most part, fairly easy for rolling hills and a headwind. Even after a girl from American rolled away - she didn't really stand up and attack - the pace stayed easy. The collegiate girls were obviously not too bothered about getting her back at that moment. A couple more right hand turns and we were in the flat half of the course with a tailwind.
Just after passing the start finish - where the officials graciously subtracted a lap from our overall race - we pulled the solo break back into the field. Shortly thereafter, the accelerations began. Not sure if they should be called attacks...very few of them did anybody actually stand and sprint away... Caroline Moakley (NCSU) had a kick going into the headwind and I followed after I saw Alexis Zink (NCVC) had caught the acceleration. I rotated through on the front until it was just Caroline and I, honestly not realizing we were on a break. The effort hadn't been hard enough for me to have even thought we would get a gap. There was a sizable group when I followed initially and there was not a big acceleration after that. Really...there wasn't! We probably could've stayed away longer had I PAID ATTENTION!!! It wasn't until we all of a sudden had one more person to rotate through, then two more people, did I realize...!!!!!...opportunity WASTED! I must pay attention more! How frustrating that is to allow myself to make a silly mistake like that after racing road for so many years...hopefully I have learned. Of course, we were caught. Because I didn't pay attention. There were small accelerations here and there, but really nothing exciting for the remainder of the lap.
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| The field coming together after a slight acceleration. |
The 3rd lap came around and everybody calmed down a bit. A small kick came at the bottom of KOA, and a wonderful opportunity opened for me to counter. The group had just come back together at the top of the climb after the camp store. There was still a bit of a false flat and everybody was still trying to recover. A line opened up on the left side...and I let it close. Another learning opportunity. We stayed together into the headwind and about a mile before we turned again another opportunity arose. The field slowed down just a touch. There was a false flat and we were still into the headwind. We would soon be turning, and everybody had been touching their brakes in the turn since it was still drizzling a bit. If I could stay away through the next two turns and open up a gap through the tail wind, I may be able to get a good 10 mile TT effort in. A line opened up again on the left side. Okay, so maybe I didn't learn that last time. Again...I let it close. How ridiculous! Twice I let an awesome opportunity close! That was going to be it...there wasn't much chance now. I couldn't attack once we got to the tailwind, but I wanted to do something. I didn't want to just sit in the whole time. So I went. We were in a straight with a crosswind. Maybe I'd catch them off-guard, and with another tight turn coming up, maybe I'd be able to open a slight gap. I stood, and I put my head down. A 90 degree right turn allowed me to open a slight gap. I chanced a glance back (I did learn something!). Alexis Zink had followed and caught my wheel. I pushed another 1/4 mile. I moved aside and she didn't pull through so I pushed again. I moved aside again, and slowed. I don't need a break enough to pull someone around another lap. The field passed us, and we finished the lap together.
With the bell lap, everybody slowed down. Nobody wanted to pull, and we started chatting. Morgan and I sat in the back. We were the only ones that had a teammate. We rolled down towards KOA, taking the left line and coasting/soft pedaling past everybody else who was having to touch their brakes. Everybody still chatted while climbing. We got to the headwind and I found myself up front. Nobody wanted to come around. I sat up, pushed 100 watts, just relaxed a bit. I ended up slowing on a slight incline and made my way backwards towards Morgan. We talked about how we felt. She kicked a bit...everybody was still able to follow pretty well. The Collegiate field was a little quicker to respond. I, on the other hand, was starting to feel my legs get heavy.
I had something left...but not a sprint. There were only 2 other people we had to worry about. And both were in the back half of the field with us. Morgan and I chatted about what we were going to do. I would follow a bit and then start moving after the finishing climb started. The climb was longer than most people thought. Morgan would be able to go around me just before the finish. I played it out perfectly...in my mind. But things change. By the time we got to the 1K marker, the field moved to the middle of the road. A hole opened on the right. A beautiful hole. It was about 7 feet wide from the shoulder of the road to the closest rider. The sea had parted for us to make our way. Unlike the previously missed opportunities, I charged. I wasn't standing, just pushing past everyone. I could hold this effort for a while before I started to stand. And then someone noticed. And someone yelled to cover the right. And about 2 wheels from the front, I was cut off. I had to grab my brakes. No more momentum. Someone else came over on me and pushed me closer to the shoulder and into some potholes. My finger slipped and I downshifted into the final climb. I had nothing. There was no way I could accelerate back up to the speed of the field. My legs were done. I saw Morgan going around, and all I could do was yell at her to go faster. I slow-rolled to a fourth - and last - place finish.
I'm okay with that. I don't train for 45 minute cross races and crits and expect to come out overly prepared for a 2 hour road race. That, for someone at my level, is not realistic. Although, I'd be lying if I didn't wish I'd been able to lead Morgan to the line for her to win. And maybe squeak in a podium for myself. But I realize that things don't always go as planned. Actually they hardly ever go as planned. And that's how we learn in the world of bicycle racing.
