MANHATTAN BEACH GP NRC - PODIUM & Collectors Barbie

Field size: 60 Teammates: Emily, Kristina. Niki, Shelley

This was a cool race. Lots of spectators and right on the beach. It was a beautiful day, not too hot. We arrived early and I set up my trainer on the inside of the oval shaped course right on the finishing stretch. They were running behind schedule so I was able to see the finish of 4 different races before our race began. This was critical. In every race, the top three finishers were the first three riders around the final hairpin corner going into the finishing straight. I knew that this would be the case in our race too, so my focus then was positioning. I was hoping the race would stay together and end in a field sprint because I wasn't aware of any bigname sprinters in the field. The 60 minute race started and the prime bell rang after the second lap. I wanted to go for a couple primes to get a feel for the sprint and crack the legs open a bit. Most of them were 2 place primes, but not money. I got the first prime by just leading the pack through the corner and starting my sprint really early. The second prime I went for I was 3rd wheel and was only able to come around the second girl just before the line. That attempt separated me from the pack with 3 other girls and we were off the front for about a lap. I wasn't doing any work because I really just wanted to be chillin in the group, so we got caught pretty quick. In perfect team tactic fashion, Emily jumped and followed the counter attack immediately. She was now in a break away with two teammates and one other girl from a strong team. Kristina immediately moved to the front along with the other girls' teammates to block and the break away was quickly gaining ground on the field. They had 10 seconds, then 15, then out of nowhere comes a ridiculous surge from Sarah Hammer, (world pursuit champion) and 2 of her teammates. I was out of the saddle and sprinting as fast as I could to follow their train. That's all it took to reunite with the group. I'm not sure if Sara was trying to bridge up or just pick up the pace of the field, but whatever her intentions, it worked. I thought about countering off Emily's break, but opted to just sit on and take my chances in the field sprint. Five laps to go, Kristina gets to the front and starts drilling it to make sure no more attacks try to sneak away. She kept that up for 3 more laps and forced everyone else to just sit on. So now it's bell lap and all together. I am at the front behind Taitt, Emily and Kristina are somewhere in the middle of the pack. Up the climb there's a nasty crash and race over for Emily and Kristina, who got stuck behind it, but fortunately managed to stay upright. I had been boxed in so many times earlier in the race, that I was content with just riding on the front for the whole last lap. Into the headwind I drilled ! it, making sure no one would come around me, and just before the final corner a single rider jumped and gapped my going into the turn. I jumped too just to make sure no one else was able to squeeze in there and was second going through the corner. I hesitated to get out of the saddle and looked behind me before really starting my sprint. That's where I lost the race. I have never had some many people call me out for that, but it's great criticism that I need to hear in order to learn. I was never able to close the gap between me and the winner and I was still more worried about the race behind me. This was a big mistake that I will not make again. Luckily, I was able to hold off Taitt who came in just behind me in third. Oh well, you live and learn... It was a great team effort and incredilbly fun. - Shelley

This will be my shortest race report ever:

1. I love this race
2. I love spending the weekend in LA – even if it is a 48 hour whirlwind
3. I felt great in the first ½ of race
4. I got in a break with a Bicycle John’s and a Helen’s
5. Bicycle John’s and Helen’s have a seriously annoying rivalry
6. Our break got 15 seconds and I was trying to drive it!
7. B.J.’s and Helen’s started bickering nonstop and enabled our break to get caught
8. I should have just attacked the two of them
9. Great to have Rob, Pat, and Niki cheering me on
10. Geoff is an awesome soigneur!
11. On the last lap, heading up the hill, I got caught behind a huge crash
12. Did a track stand to avoid running over Martina’s cheek
13. Had to start again, from a stop, in the big ring, up a hill
14. Needless to say, placed 33rd
15. I still love this race. - Emily