UCI Track World Cup, Los Angeles 2007
The third of four rounds of World Cup action took place this weekend at the ADT Event Center in Carson, California. PROMAN Racing Team had five riders in many of the different disciplines of track racing; sprints, individual pursuits, scratch, and points race. This time around, we had all the support we could ever need with Tim Brennan, Rob Evans, Mark Altimirano, and Aussie Bob. As always, our manager Niki Cranmer, was the glue that held it all together.
Going into the first two races in Sydney and Beijing, I was nervous and overwhelmed as well as naive in my preparation. I walked away from the experience with a fierce desire growing inside me to compete again. When I first made the decision to compete in the World Cups, I set my focus on these L.A. races. I knew that traveling overseas would be tough the first time and that there would be a bit of a culture shock. Racing in your home country is something you learn to appreciate after you've raced internationally. Also, knowing that there were so many family and friends up in the stands watching and cheering inspired me to race that much harder.
Day 1: Scratch Race Qualifier and Scratch Race Final
In Sydney, I did not qualify for the scratch race final. In Beijing, I took a big chance and attacked off the front in the qualifier with 17 laps to go. I stayed off the front for the entire race and got caught by the entire field with 50 meters until the finish. It was devastating and I feared that the same thing would happen again if I ended up off the front in this race. However, I knew that I had to follow my instincts and race the race to my strengths, which could mean attacking and ending up off the front.
The 20 lap scratch race qualifier started and we rolled around for a few laps waiting for something to happen. With about 11 laps to go, a move went off the front with Lauren Franges of the U.S. and two other girls. Within a few more laps, they had rejoined the group and now 3 girls were up a lap and guaranteed a spot in the final. That meant only 5 spots remained for those hoping to advance to the final. I sensed a lull in the group as we were just about to be lapped and I jumped off the front in a desperate attempt to be forgotten. I kept looking back to make sure they weren't chasing and to be sure I wanted to commit to this move. At that moment, Rob yelled at me from the sideline as if it was the last race of our lives. "Put your head down and Go! Don't look back!"
Immediately I trusted him and put my full focus forward. So now I am committed and praying that the field will be disorganized and preoccupied with setting up the sprint. After having failed my first attempt at breaking away from the field, I was more determined than ever to make the move work. I had tasted failure and it wasn't something I was interested in tasting again. With 3 to go, I started to believe that I had snuck away and earned my spot in the final. The field hesitated and delayed it's wind-up until 2 to go and I was able to cruise across the line in 4th. It was an amazing feeling to overcome my fear and qualify for the final.
The Scratch Final was about 2.5 hours later that night. That left just enough time to go to Panera for a quick bite with the "crew." We arrived back at the track and I started warming myself up again for the race. It wasn't long until we were up on the track again and Rob was holding me on the blue waiting for the whistle to start the race. The first couple of laps were slow and after about 15 laps a Russian rider went off the front. I attempted to keep the pace high in the field and instigate a chase, but no one was committed to helping bring the solo rider back. She dangled on the back of the group for a while and struggled to latch back on, but eventually she did. Shortly after her move, three riders attacked off the front while I found myself in the second half of the field in a group that was about to be gapped off from the front. I was worried that I was going to lose the front of the race and decided to jump around the gap, but my effort was in vain because shortly after I jumped across, the whole group came back together.
Now there were 4 girls that lapped the field and I found myself on the front of the group with 6 laps to go. When I moved up track to rotate off the front, I ended up moving way too far back in the field and then the pace increased and I got caught up in a little dicy-ness between turn 1 and 2 just after the laps read 3 to go. Coming around turn four with 2 to go I found momentum and good acceleration in my legs and made a big effort to move up to the front. Now with 1 to go and I am in the top 10. I came across the line just behind Marianne Vos, (I even tried to throw my bike to pick her off), and finished in 13th overall because 4 girls behind me were the girls that lapped the field. It was a fun race and I took a lot of good lessons away from the experience.
I really have to thank Niki, Tim, and Rob so much for taking such good care of me before, during, and after every race. Thanks to Niki and Tim for making sure I was hydrated with water and recovery drink. Thanks to Tim and Rob for taking care of my bikes and getting them weighed and measured, etc. I never even thought twice about my bikes being ready. Everything ran so smoothly. It was a pleasure being with the entire PROMAN team this weekend. Good times, Great memories....
More to come on the Points Race.....
The third of four rounds of World Cup action took place this weekend at the ADT Event Center in Carson, California. PROMAN Racing Team had five riders in many of the different disciplines of track racing; sprints, individual pursuits, scratch, and points race. This time around, we had all the support we could ever need with Tim Brennan, Rob Evans, Mark Altimirano, and Aussie Bob. As always, our manager Niki Cranmer, was the glue that held it all together.
Going into the first two races in Sydney and Beijing, I was nervous and overwhelmed as well as naive in my preparation. I walked away from the experience with a fierce desire growing inside me to compete again. When I first made the decision to compete in the World Cups, I set my focus on these L.A. races. I knew that traveling overseas would be tough the first time and that there would be a bit of a culture shock. Racing in your home country is something you learn to appreciate after you've raced internationally. Also, knowing that there were so many family and friends up in the stands watching and cheering inspired me to race that much harder.
Day 1: Scratch Race Qualifier and Scratch Race Final
In Sydney, I did not qualify for the scratch race final. In Beijing, I took a big chance and attacked off the front in the qualifier with 17 laps to go. I stayed off the front for the entire race and got caught by the entire field with 50 meters until the finish. It was devastating and I feared that the same thing would happen again if I ended up off the front in this race. However, I knew that I had to follow my instincts and race the race to my strengths, which could mean attacking and ending up off the front.
The 20 lap scratch race qualifier started and we rolled around for a few laps waiting for something to happen. With about 11 laps to go, a move went off the front with Lauren Franges of the U.S. and two other girls. Within a few more laps, they had rejoined the group and now 3 girls were up a lap and guaranteed a spot in the final. That meant only 5 spots remained for those hoping to advance to the final. I sensed a lull in the group as we were just about to be lapped and I jumped off the front in a desperate attempt to be forgotten. I kept looking back to make sure they weren't chasing and to be sure I wanted to commit to this move. At that moment, Rob yelled at me from the sideline as if it was the last race of our lives. "Put your head down and Go! Don't look back!"
Immediately I trusted him and put my full focus forward. So now I am committed and praying that the field will be disorganized and preoccupied with setting up the sprint. After having failed my first attempt at breaking away from the field, I was more determined than ever to make the move work. I had tasted failure and it wasn't something I was interested in tasting again. With 3 to go, I started to believe that I had snuck away and earned my spot in the final. The field hesitated and delayed it's wind-up until 2 to go and I was able to cruise across the line in 4th. It was an amazing feeling to overcome my fear and qualify for the final.
The Scratch Final was about 2.5 hours later that night. That left just enough time to go to Panera for a quick bite with the "crew." We arrived back at the track and I started warming myself up again for the race. It wasn't long until we were up on the track again and Rob was holding me on the blue waiting for the whistle to start the race. The first couple of laps were slow and after about 15 laps a Russian rider went off the front. I attempted to keep the pace high in the field and instigate a chase, but no one was committed to helping bring the solo rider back. She dangled on the back of the group for a while and struggled to latch back on, but eventually she did. Shortly after her move, three riders attacked off the front while I found myself in the second half of the field in a group that was about to be gapped off from the front. I was worried that I was going to lose the front of the race and decided to jump around the gap, but my effort was in vain because shortly after I jumped across, the whole group came back together.
Now there were 4 girls that lapped the field and I found myself on the front of the group with 6 laps to go. When I moved up track to rotate off the front, I ended up moving way too far back in the field and then the pace increased and I got caught up in a little dicy-ness between turn 1 and 2 just after the laps read 3 to go. Coming around turn four with 2 to go I found momentum and good acceleration in my legs and made a big effort to move up to the front. Now with 1 to go and I am in the top 10. I came across the line just behind Marianne Vos, (I even tried to throw my bike to pick her off), and finished in 13th overall because 4 girls behind me were the girls that lapped the field. It was a fun race and I took a lot of good lessons away from the experience.
I really have to thank Niki, Tim, and Rob so much for taking such good care of me before, during, and after every race. Thanks to Niki and Tim for making sure I was hydrated with water and recovery drink. Thanks to Tim and Rob for taking care of my bikes and getting them weighed and measured, etc. I never even thought twice about my bikes being ready. Everything ran so smoothly. It was a pleasure being with the entire PROMAN team this weekend. Good times, Great memories....
More to come on the Points Race.....
1 comment:
It was a great ride. Shelley you have learned a lot and are racing well! You lived up to your "Most Exciting to Watch" title!
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