Phoenix, AZ. Downtown criterium
Niki, Emily, Tracey
65 riders, Combined field of cat 1 / 2 and cat 3 women
Course was a figure eight clockwise course, flat, wide streets a little rough pavement.
Warm but a long, windy finishing straight.
I was determined to get a good start and stay close to the front for the entire race. I got a good fast start and was in 3rd position for the first turn. Lap 1 was a hot lap so things got aggressive right away. I was in a great position to sprint for the prime but knowing I wanted a good finish, I decided not to burn all my matches as I wasn’t certain what my legs had left in them after the previous days road race. There were many primes which made it difficult to settle into a rhythm. 15 minutes into the race, there was a crash near the front which resulted in me getting side swiped and crashing into a rider, which then resulted in the rider behind me, landing on top of me. I managed to get up pretty fast to realize my lovely carbon Zipp wheel was tacoed! I ran to the pit and got a wheel change and free lap, I wasn’t the only one. At the point of the crash, Emily made her way to the front to control the pace,as right after the crash, girls were viciously attacking, Emily kept the pace reasonable so we could comfortably reenter the race. I had hurt my arm and calf and hip but the adrenaline kept me fired up. I enjoyed the rest of the race, Emily sat comfortably out of trouble to protect her 9th place GC (she needed more than the time bonuses offered to move up, so we just wanted a safe finish for her) there were plenty of attacks which were all manageable. Tracey raced safely in the back for most of the race and with 5 to go she appeared, I was glad for the company, I sat on her wheel for a couple of laps but soon the Expresscopy and Lipton gals were advancing and I didn’t want to loose my position. I moved past Tracey hoping she would get on my wheel, but the pace had increased with Expresscopy, Lipton and Southbay Wheelman driving the pace she was unable to move up. Track racer Anna lang jumped before the final turn, I sensed that was the lead out I needed, but hesitated for a split second. I came around the final turn in about 7th far from ideal. Sprinted into the vicious headwind, for 6th place. I was happy I got back on the horse and finished the race and had a decent finish, the race reminded me of how not to race the final lap of a crit, I needed to be in at least 3rd place, not 7th or 8th through the final turn. Tracey came in a strong 9th. The weekend was a confidence builder, I am pleased with my level of fitness and can’t wait for the next race.
My performance goals for the weekend:
Finish about midway in the GC - achieved
Be active in the road race and assist Emily and finish well - achieved
Be active in the criterium stay in the top 10 throughout the race and finish well - achieved
Get a least 1 upgrade point - achieved
Niki, Emily, Tracey
65 riders, Combined field of cat 1 / 2 and cat 3 women
Course was a figure eight clockwise course, flat, wide streets a little rough pavement.
Warm but a long, windy finishing straight.
I was determined to get a good start and stay close to the front for the entire race. I got a good fast start and was in 3rd position for the first turn. Lap 1 was a hot lap so things got aggressive right away. I was in a great position to sprint for the prime but knowing I wanted a good finish, I decided not to burn all my matches as I wasn’t certain what my legs had left in them after the previous days road race. There were many primes which made it difficult to settle into a rhythm. 15 minutes into the race, there was a crash near the front which resulted in me getting side swiped and crashing into a rider, which then resulted in the rider behind me, landing on top of me. I managed to get up pretty fast to realize my lovely carbon Zipp wheel was tacoed! I ran to the pit and got a wheel change and free lap, I wasn’t the only one. At the point of the crash, Emily made her way to the front to control the pace,as right after the crash, girls were viciously attacking, Emily kept the pace reasonable so we could comfortably reenter the race. I had hurt my arm and calf and hip but the adrenaline kept me fired up. I enjoyed the rest of the race, Emily sat comfortably out of trouble to protect her 9th place GC (she needed more than the time bonuses offered to move up, so we just wanted a safe finish for her) there were plenty of attacks which were all manageable. Tracey raced safely in the back for most of the race and with 5 to go she appeared, I was glad for the company, I sat on her wheel for a couple of laps but soon the Expresscopy and Lipton gals were advancing and I didn’t want to loose my position. I moved past Tracey hoping she would get on my wheel, but the pace had increased with Expresscopy, Lipton and Southbay Wheelman driving the pace she was unable to move up. Track racer Anna lang jumped before the final turn, I sensed that was the lead out I needed, but hesitated for a split second. I came around the final turn in about 7th far from ideal. Sprinted into the vicious headwind, for 6th place. I was happy I got back on the horse and finished the race and had a decent finish, the race reminded me of how not to race the final lap of a crit, I needed to be in at least 3rd place, not 7th or 8th through the final turn. Tracey came in a strong 9th. The weekend was a confidence builder, I am pleased with my level of fitness and can’t wait for the next race.
My performance goals for the weekend:
Finish about midway in the GC - achieved
Be active in the road race and assist Emily and finish well - achieved
Be active in the criterium stay in the top 10 throughout the race and finish well - achieved
Get a least 1 upgrade point - achieved
thanks for reading! - Niki
Got to love ZIPP for their crash warranty, new rim on the way
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