COPPEROPOLIS - PODIUM

Race: Copperopolis W12 (The Paris - Roubaix of California!)

Course: 3 laps with a nice 10 minute climb and a narly descent and insane roads.

Teammates: Kristina, Kristin, Betina & teammate to be Melodie Metzger

Weather: Perfect.

Race plan: Get one of us in a break, preferably two and if we are still together Kristin was going to gun it on the descent and try to get a break off that way.

Photo by Ken Conley

Race execution:
First, I didn’t know the course and I didn’t know how my legs were going to behave today since they’ve been misbehaving lately, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I heard horror stories about the roads, but they really weren’t that bad and my new BMC Streetfire felt awesome! The potholes didn’t bother me (just kept the arms nice and loose) and I was comfortable on the gnarly descent.

The field consisted of about 25 riders including about 4 Touchstone, Stacy Marple from Cheerwine, Jane Despas (Vanderkitten), Taitt Sato and teammate from VAC, some Mints including Van Howelling and Eaken, and various other individual riders, and perhaps the largest Women’s ½ field I’ve ever seen at this race.

That being said, the race started with a nice tempo with various women sitting at the front. Kristin, Kristina and I were all close and making sure we were riding safe up there as well. The entire first lap was me asking Kristina: “Was that the climb” and “when is the descent coming up” . Hope I didn’t annoy you too much. J

First climb was a good tempo set by Touchstone, all three us made that selection. No attacks, just drilling up the climb and along the flat. At one point there was a gap on the flat section, I bridged went to the front, but the touchstone girl didn’t pull and soon enough I was pulling the pack. I slowed right down and realized it was too early to go. So again, we rolled along. Just before the finish of the first lap Stacey from cheerwine attacked at about the 500m mark. I followed, caught her went to the front and we started exchanging pulls, but sure enough touchstone went to the front and chased us down. I guess still too early. ..

Second lap boiled down to the climb again. Once again Kelly from Touchstone and Jane from Vanderkitten drove the pace. I think Kristina was also setting pace at some point as well and I was watching and riding alongside who I thought might make a move. Close to the crest Stacy gunned it and about 8 of us made the selection forming a paceline almost immediately. . Included were Kristina, Kelly and Maria from Touchstone, Molly? Amber? From Metromint, Stacey and Jane and myself.

We traded pulls (with a few games from Stacey and Maria) until the 3rd lap where we somewhat played until the climb. Then once again the pace was driven by all of Jane, Kelly, myself..Kristina? with Maria and Stacy following close behind. At the top we crested with 5 and then we drove it once again. Kristina was having a bad day and ended up with the two metromint girls who would not work with her and then outsprinted her in the end.
The last lap was a little bit of cat and mouse. We had a paceline going (Kelly, Jane, Stacy, Maria and myself) but Stacey started sitting out and so did Maria.. Interesting the stories these people can come up with. At one point Kelly attacked, I followed, then Jane drove it…then I saw the chase group and drove it because I’d rather a sprint with 5 than 8, and I knew Kristina was there so I was hoping she was sitting on in case we did get caught.

Sure enough just before the descent Maria attacks. I almost went, but I know she’s not that strong on descents and flats so I let her go. Also I know Stacy and didn’t want to give her a free ride. So, that boiled down to Jane closing the gap which she did so nicely. Sure enough when we caught Maria, Kelly attacked, but I was on her wheel expecting this… We rode some more with Jane, Kelly, and I taking pulls, Stacy and Maria sitting on, then around 1km to go Maria attacked and I was on her wheel….I let her go and about 350m to go, I couldn’t wait and went for the sprint. Nice big ring sprint, and I gave it all, thought I had it, but Stacy was on my wheel and crossed the yellow to nip me at the line. Well, I gave her a nice leadout, but by crossing the yellow line she cut Jane off who was also sitting on and there was a protest. So, all thi s being said I managed a second on the road but a first by a protest. Stacey clearly was fastest to the line but after violating the center line rule which was implemented in all the other races.
Kristina came in with the next group and also got pimped at the line but finished a respectable 7th and kristin 10th

Photo by Ken Conley

Now of course we had no cameras which really sucked because I really wanted a team picture, but we shall be sporting our new T-shirts at some point.
All in all a fun race and I am glad I’ve got my race legs back and super glad to be racing for PROMAN!

PS. Kristin only does this race for the descent and finished somewhere around 10th,, but is unsure since results were not up when she left. Stealth teammate Melodie Metzger led Kristin out at the finish to outsprint the unsuspecting Touchstone rider.
Thanks to Velo Promo and all the volunteers.

~ Thanks for reading! Betina

Photo by Ken Conley

Photos:Ken Conley (great shots!)
kwc.org