BRADY DISTRICT CRITERIUM - TULSA

This evening we would be racing at 6pm. L shaped course with 2 smaller hills, and a fun descent. Pavement was in fair to excellent condition including a freshly paved road leading to the sprint. PROMAN were off to a flying start, I got in a very early break of 4 women including the eventual winner, we were only away for about a lap as no one was interested in working. A couple of laps later there was a prime which a Vitamin cottage gal took off early for. Emily jumped and got her wheel and sat there until she popped around for the prime, they worked together for about 5 laps, Shelley and I blocking as much as we could. Emily was stronger than the Vit cottage gal so they began to slow. The pack was back together and Shelley got a another prime, She went for the next prime with me on her wheel I hesitated to come around as I had 2 good sprinters on my wheel, Jen MCrae & Vit cottage, so I backed off to slow them and Shelley got the prime. There were several attacks but none stayed away as there were plenty of gals eager to chase. Eventually, Shannon Koch; junior national Champ, got away. A second gal got away, unfortunately we did not see her go. The girls were aggressive and fast, the last 2 laps the pace picked up. Shelley took a tight inside line around the 2nd to last turn, I was on her wheel but got pinched in the turn and lost it, she kept a good position all the way to the final turn and sprinted in behind Jo K – Univega and Jen Mcrae – Conex. Bad wheel choice in the final turn had me braking coming onto the sprint, passed a few gals in the sprint and finished 9th. Emily followed.
We were still holding on to 1st place in the team omnium and we had Shelley 5th place in the Individual Omnium. - Nicola