The Race: Terrapin Twilight Criterium
The Course: 40 laps (40K)
The Field: Pro 1/2/3 women
The Finish: 13th
Holy shit, this race was fast. The women lined up a few rows deep, and I started in the back row because I wasn’t prepared for how aggressively the field would charge to the start line to fight for position. In the first corner, a rider beside me went down on the inside but just missed my wheel. Then it was an all-out hammer fest. Like nothing I’ve ever done before. The voice in my head was being an asshole, talking nonstop about quitting because everything hurt. It’s easy now to sit here and think that DNFing ten laps in would have been really pathetic, but when I was actually out there looking at doing another thirty laps as fast as I could, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to throw in the towel.
I was riding around the same group of women as the race progressed, and eventually a gap opened between the main field and our group. We still kept a blistering pace, but then I felt a little better and was able to take long pulls at the front. Then there was a big crash spread across the back of the course that slowed us down a bit. A few laps later the front of the field caught us, but I heard someone from my group say, “Get back on! Free lap!” So then things got a little crazy. I figured I had nothing to lose by blowing up hard, so I sprinted up the side of the field through the front stretch of the course and took the lead. It was an amazing feeling to ride in the front of these super strong women while the crowds were screaming and cheering. Absolutely crazy.
Then there was a prime lap (one of what felt like three dozen) and the women swarmed me. I got bumped but didn’t go down, which felt like a huge victory considering how anxious I get in the pack. The last few laps went by even faster and then, rounding the final corner before the home stretch, a rider went down. I took the inside line around her, sprinted past the people who had slowed as a result of the crash, and hammered it across the line (albeit not in the drops because I forgot).
Seriously. What an incredible, exhausting, amazing, exciting, humbling, fabulous race. So many spectators, so much excitement, so many strong women. I definitely have to get used to riding at such a hard pace and not spend so much time thinking about quitting. On the bright side, the corners scared me before I started, but I was railing them at speed and even pedaling through them in the race. Such an awesome feeling.
Here are event photos and results from the women’s race.
What an amazing start to Speed Week for you! I’m so happy that you had a great time, despite the hurting and pushing yourself to new limits, and came out with a GREAT result. No matter how the chips fall from here on out, at least you know you’re doing what truly makes you happy. The victories at this level will come soon enough. 13th place is FANTASTIC considering the competition. You’re an inspiration, love. KEEP IT UP!
13 secs off the winner! Pretty darn amazing for only a few months of road racing. Great going for staying upright.
Lindsay, lest we lose perspective, you’ve done enough road racing that you have hardly gotten half way through your second handful of fingers!! You are just amazing…and smart enough to know that most of the time you’ll miss the carnage by staying at the front! Smoke it if you got it!!!
(You also realize, I presume, that the Athens Twilight is one of those events covered by ALL the cycle media :^)
-Mark
So since it hurt I guess you did it right! Keep posting how the week goes.
Great news. Lots of good shots of you pulling people around in the youtube vid — really looks like you were having fun.
I’m in a youtube video?
Si. Just pictures from the women’s race, but a number of good ones. You and Monicka start at 6 min: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IZu6Ix-vDI
Wow, amazing!
Also….no pictures…but at least links to pictures. You’re getting there.
The officals didnt relize that your group merged with the pack. You Should not of taken a free lap! and you should have been pulled…the results are incorrect…
I see where you’re coming from, but for whatever reason, they placed me where they did (and we were wearing transponder chips to track laps/times). Honestly, my excitement from that race comes from the parts where I felt like I rode well and had fun, because I do think the free lap and final result for me were somewhat arbitrary.