It sure was a hot one when Virginia, Kate and I awoke for the final stage of Madera on Sunday. Having last year's race in our memories, we were hoping for a bit more action for the road race. We figured that if Cheerwine or Touchstone weren't active in the beginning, that we would pick up the tempo and launch some attacks to keep the pace high. Anything could have happened in Sunday's race, but we figured that after last year's field sprint we would work for the another one and have Virginia ready at the end.
The first lap was relatively calm, but the tempo was good as we got a feel for the course and the girls in the field. Kate jumped and made an early attack, but Touchstone's Pat was hot on her heels and the field soon shut it down. The second lap proved a little more lively, and Virginia launched one of the first attacks on the back section with rough pavement. It was a great place to try and get away, and Virginia made a good enough jump to get a gap with only Touchstone's Olivia. They were able to work together quite well to stay out on front for a bit. However, the field had been following wheels and shutting things down quickly, but I knew that I had to make a counterattack once the group caught Virginia and Olivia. Fortunately, we were still on the rough pavement when I made my move and when I looked back, it was only Kelly McDonald and I trying to keep a gap. The group let us go, and we paced through the rollers of the finish line, but when I looked back I knew it was inevitable that we would be swallowed up. Kelly kept it up and drilled it through the rollers and was out by herself for almost a full lap.
Webcor's Christine stayed out on the front for the majority of the time trying to keep the tempo up. Kate, Virginia and I did a lot of work at the front as well, keeping the field together and the pace high. Cheerwine attempted to get away a couple of times, and Robin managed to get out front for a bit by herself, but we soon paced it all back together. By the end of the third lap it seemed almost inevitable that it would come down to a field sprint, so I knew that I needed to keep the group together no matter what.
The last attack was by Metromint's Jane on the backside of the course on the broken pavement. She launched a good attack when everyone else seemed to be fatigued by the heat, and only a Cheerwine made it with her. They got a gap, and I knew that we needed to shut it down immediately. I went to the front and with the help of Kelly McDonald and Kate we sat at the front trying to pull the break back to the field. By the time the rollers came, I was cooked and it was time for Virigina to keep in the right position for the sprint. She did a fantastic job and managed a second place victory after Jane. We were all pleased with the outcome, and we all felt good that we certainly had been one of the active teams out in the field. Congratulations, Virginia - another job well done! ~ Abby
The first lap was relatively calm, but the tempo was good as we got a feel for the course and the girls in the field. Kate jumped and made an early attack, but Touchstone's Pat was hot on her heels and the field soon shut it down. The second lap proved a little more lively, and Virginia launched one of the first attacks on the back section with rough pavement. It was a great place to try and get away, and Virginia made a good enough jump to get a gap with only Touchstone's Olivia. They were able to work together quite well to stay out on front for a bit. However, the field had been following wheels and shutting things down quickly, but I knew that I had to make a counterattack once the group caught Virginia and Olivia. Fortunately, we were still on the rough pavement when I made my move and when I looked back, it was only Kelly McDonald and I trying to keep a gap. The group let us go, and we paced through the rollers of the finish line, but when I looked back I knew it was inevitable that we would be swallowed up. Kelly kept it up and drilled it through the rollers and was out by herself for almost a full lap.
Webcor's Christine stayed out on the front for the majority of the time trying to keep the tempo up. Kate, Virginia and I did a lot of work at the front as well, keeping the field together and the pace high. Cheerwine attempted to get away a couple of times, and Robin managed to get out front for a bit by herself, but we soon paced it all back together. By the end of the third lap it seemed almost inevitable that it would come down to a field sprint, so I knew that I needed to keep the group together no matter what.
The last attack was by Metromint's Jane on the backside of the course on the broken pavement. She launched a good attack when everyone else seemed to be fatigued by the heat, and only a Cheerwine made it with her. They got a gap, and I knew that we needed to shut it down immediately. I went to the front and with the help of Kelly McDonald and Kate we sat at the front trying to pull the break back to the field. By the time the rollers came, I was cooked and it was time for Virigina to keep in the right position for the sprint. She did a fantastic job and managed a second place victory after Jane. We were all pleased with the outcome, and we all felt good that we certainly had been one of the active teams out in the field. Congratulations, Virginia - another job well done! ~ Abby
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