LEESEVILLE ROAD RACE

Leesville:Williams, CA. Leesville Gap Road Race. 5th place. 60 mile RR. Kristina Seley solo rider. Leesville Gap Road Race (Williams, CA) had its ups and its downs. Restrooms: Usually, all the riders share a couple of porto potties. This race had nice restrooms in the local high school. Drawback: somehow the men were confused and kept "destroying it" in our little dark stalls. It was quite amusing to watch them come out and realize they were mistaken. Racers: A few strong climbers were in attendance, but only 10 women lined up at the start for the Cat 1/2/3 race. Race Course: Fun for the first half because of the hills, nasty pavement, gravel sections, and windy road. Miserably boring for the last half. It was flat and straight forever; I have never caught myself staring at my odometer in either a training ride or a race more often than I did yesterday. Weather: Ups: Hot, but not unbearable. Down: No shade and neutral support at mile 45! Boy, I was glad I brought three water bottles.Race: Again, the first half was fun. Molly of Metromint put in a few attacks, one stuck and the group, except for her teammate and a Touchstone rider, rotated to bring her back. We caught her at the base of the main bumpy dirt section, Paris Roubuix style really. I kept pretending I was out there with the big boys, hammering over the cobble stones. Then we started climbing and one of the Palo Alto riders drifted ahead of the group. Touchstone made a little attack and bridged up to her. Soon, the two of them had a nice gap on what was left of the group (maybe four of us). The other Palo Alto climber put in a nice attack and bridged up, then we were three. I kept my steady pace, knowing if I tried to bridge, I would probably blow up. I followed Cindy up the hill, but she had at least 10 seconds on my after the 20 minute climb. I chased on the bumpy, gravely decent with Cindy right up the road for miles. I had one guy tell me he was really impressed with my bike skills in the gravel, I kinda giggled, and he lost my wheel. At least I could beat a Master's Cat 4/5 guy. Well, the road smoothed out and I never saw Cindy or another lady again. I went hard, TT-style the entire way back. This is the "down" part of the race. Fourty miles of chasing with no one in sight and pancake flat boring roads for miles. I was motivated to go hard because I didn't want any of the ladies behind me to catch me, and I was hoping to catch someone up the road. Fifth place in the end and a nasty heat stroke style headache. Kristina