1hr crit, 6:30pm start,
players: Shelly, Helene, Kristina, Kristen, Niki, Kate, Abby, Kelly, and myself (Rachel)
most of us raced this morning at Infineon thinking that we could take it easy. (personally I didn't want to have to hang out ALL day "taking it easy" and waiting to race.) Rode to the start at around 5pm, met everyone under the Paradigm tent and hopped on thetrainers. Pre race meeting with Dario who would be on the radios directing us for this race. We laid out our plans: Get Helene or I in a favorable break (meaning one with no sprinters in it for me, or a good strong group for Helene.) If Helene or I were not in a favorably composed break Proman was to bring it back in for a field sprint for Shelly. Helene and I were to conserve for the first half and cover attacks and make any moves during the second half. We rode a couple of laps and lined up. Laura Charmeda - Advil shot off the line as the race started with the bang of a cannon? And I soon realized that this was going to be a fast and aggressive race. I guess Helene wasn't listening when Dario told us to save it for the second half, because it seemed like she was chasing everything down and initiating attacks all by herself. Shelly got off solo for a few laps early in the race but was brought back. Kristen got into a break with a Jazz Apple and a Vello Bella(Monica?) The field half heartedly chased for a while then Martina bridged across bringing me with her. While we were bridging across, Jazz Apple dropped Kristen and Monica. Martina, me and now Monica formed a new break now chasing Jazz Apple. Dario kept telling me not to work, which was hard for me. I tried to just roll through, but we were all taking at least 1 lap pulls. We kept Jazz at around 6-8 seconds, but Martina wasn't liking my lack luster pulls and attacked to bridge to Jazz by herself. We made contact with Jazz apple together a few laps before the field caught us. Proman had brought the break back according to plan. Martina could easily out sprint me (and I was more tired from this morning and the preceding week than I had thought.) We were back together with 5 laps to go, and with 3 to go Kristina appeared from nowhere to start the lead out. I immediately got on her wheel with Shelly, Helene, and Kristen not far behind the 2 Jazz Apple lead out girls. Kristina pulled off just before bell lap and I put my head down. I love taking the turn off A St. onto 4th street in the lead. I went through for the bell and made the turn into the hill (D st.) About half way up the hill I felt someone leaning on my rear wheel and heard the crash. Then I heard Shelly yelling "Go Rachel" it was like a flash back to last year (minus the crash) when Shelly told me to go in the winning move. I admit, I looked back and hesitated a bit (I hate crashes) and saw Stacy Marple on the ground and Anna Lang (she won this morning at Infineon) I tried to block out feelings of empathy and kept going. The 2 Jazz Apples came around me before the turn and my legs were empty. I don't how she did it, but Shelly came flying past up 4th street and sprinted to an amazing 2nd place. (I wish I could sprint, I just found myself swarmed at the finish.) Shelly, Helene, and Kristen were caught behind the crash and all our plans for a textbook lead out were dashed to the ground. This was an amazing race. The pace never let up, the crowds never let up and we put on a great show for downtown San Rafael. Sure we didn't get the win, but some things you just can't control. Thanks for reading. -Rachel
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