LA TRACK WORLD CUP ROUND UP points race

Session 3 & 4:

Points Race Qualifier & Final:

Saturday morning was a new day with a whole new race. Everyone was back to square one and each rider had to again prove that they were worthy of riding the points race final. As always, nothing matters until you've made the final, so I raced the qualifier as if it was the final. The first 7 laps were mellow until the pace started to pick up for the sprint. I sat in for the first sprint and waited for the move that I thought would inevitably come after the sprint. When I didn't sense it coming, I went for it myself and quickly found myself off the front with about a 1/4 on the field and an indecisive chase. I was joined by a German rider who jumped off the front and bridged up to me, but I misjudged and totally boched the exchange when I moved up track to let her through. She blew by me and the gap between us was devastating, but I noticed the she was settling into a tempo and that I could close the gap with one quick hard effort. She and I were built very differently and I definitely benefited more from the draft than she did. When I bridged up to her I was wishing that she wouldn't realize I was there and let me sit on for a few laps. Unfortunately, she saw me right away and expected the exchange as soon as I got there. I was happy to work with her for the points. It was the ideal situation. We were able to hold off the field for the next sprint lap by working together. She got the five and I picked up three points for second.

We were quickly reabsorbed by the group and I sat on for the next 10 laps before the sprint. Meanwhile, a total of 4 girls lapped up, which meant only 4 spots remained from the field and it would be decided on points. I knew I had to score on the last sprint and that positioning would be a deciding factor in the final sprint. With about 3 laps to go before the sprint it slowed down and I saw an opportunity to instigate an attack to keep the pace high for the last few laps. A Russian rider jumped with me and went over the top of me to begin leading it out at full speed with 2 laps to go. I buried myself to stay on her wheel and all but one rider from the rest of the field were gapped off behind us. She lead me all the way to the line and only the Chinese girl was able to come around us. I was in a three-way tie for 8th in the final sprint and ended up getting into the final because of my 3rd place finish in the final sprint. I was 8th in the qualifier, but I was in the final and that's all that mattered.

The final was a little later that night. The crew took me home and I got a quick shower and a sandwich, then it was back to the track to start my warm up. Before I knew it, Rob was holding me on the blue band ready to push me off when the whistle blew. Again, the race started slow and the wind up began just before the sprint. I was patient in the beginning of the race, sitting in for the first couple of sprints. Unable to sit still in the back, I found myself off the front again and chasing 2 girls. I made it about half way and the other two girls gained a lap without me. A surge came from the field of about 5 very strong riders. I was in no man's land when that move came and I was hurting. I tried to move up track and wait for them to come by, but they came too fast, overtook me and then I was reabsorbed by the field.

I floated to the back of the field and nearly got popped off the back until a little lull and the Netherlands girl's wheel appeared before me. I was on and very happy to be. I sat in and recovered and was ready to wind it up before the 20 lap sprint points. On the back straight, a couple of girls got mixed up and started to crash down track in front of me. I saw it happening and moved all the way off the track onto the apron. The Cuban rider and myself were trying to dodge the crash and nearly made it, but we didn't. This was my first crash on the track and it was pretty crazy picking splinters out of my skin after a fall. I walked away with some bumps, bruises and burns. The cuban rider looked really banged up. We saw her at the hospital later that night and kept asking how she was doing. No one would tell us, but it sounded like she would be o.k.

It was a bummer not finishing the race, but I learned a great deal. I will be resting for a few days trying to recover and relax so that I can really put a big effort in to prepare for Denmark. I would like to thank everyone who has allowed me to train this winter and sacrificed their time to allow me to prepare for these world cups. I am living a dream, thanks to all the Hellyer folks and every member of the PROMAN Racing Team.

Thanks for reading... ~Shelley

* What Shelley neglected to add was that when we had driven back to the house after the qualifier, when it was time to leave I realized that i had left my keys in the car - locked, they were in there with her shoes and helmet. While a little panicked and thrown, Shelley had come prepared with a second helmet and shoes, she took the whole situation and moved forward with plan B. She returned to the track and picked up where she left off, regained focus and prepared for the task at hand - a true professional. She also didnt tell you that I had to pull splinters out of her body with tweezers, i knew i had to do it right away as they tend to work their way in or break off. I know it was painful but Shelley was brave and I am very proud of her for taking an adverse situation (keys in car) into her stride without barely flinching.! Nicola