The Race: TD Bank Mayor’s Cup Pro Criterium
The Course: 0.7 mile lap, sprint line on the back of the course
The Field: Pro 1/2 woman
The Finish: On the ground
The race started and I felt good. Not great, but solid, and while the constant sprints for primes on the front and back of the course were tiring, I wasn’t coming apart. My positioning in the pack wasn’t always the best; I kept sliding back and having to work my way up again. But I was reasonably confident in my ability to get where I needed to be when the time came, so I tried to sit in and play it cool. At one point I put in a hard effort just to move up, but then realized the field was slowing at the same time and decided to attack. Off the front and up the road, but with lots of laps left to go, I wasn’t interested in trying to be the one that got away. The field was strong and motivated – everything was getting chased down and my solo stint off the front was just for kicks.
As the laps ticked by, I started planning for the end and thinking, “only thirteen more laps in my season…only six more laps in my season…” I wanted to make sure I was giving every ounce of effort I could to make it count when I crossed that line.
When the lap card showed 3, I moved into the top third of the field and was holding a decent position coming into the final stretch of the course. Then a Colavita rider hit the ground right in front of me and I was too close to swerve. I crashed on top of her, banging myself up a bit, breaking part of my rear derailleur, and bracing myself as other riders joined the pile. Free laps ended with seven to go.
So that was it. I did a quick post-crash assessment (no serious damage on me, no bones poking out of her) and moved us off the course. Fortunately, a race photographer was able to help me remember this great moment forever!
This season began with a crash and a race report featuring body shots of damage. I suppose it’s only fitting that it’s ending in a similar fashion:
I’m not sufficiently interested in spicing up my callout on GamJams by featuring the full extent of the damage. I draw the line at my first self-taken butt shot (which, if you saw the photo, you’ll know is in no way hot, saucy, or even appetite-friendly).
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go outside, draw a finish line on the pavement, and ride my bike across it over and over again.
Next year just do Jeremiah’s Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. It was way better than an end of season Crit. Deal?
You moderate your comments…lame…hahah.
Only because I get a dozen spam comments a day. Anything posted by a real person gets published.
Just freaking gnarl buckets. Way to let it all go and get after it this year.
What Keck said. You could have been sporting the KOM jersey maybe. I did get to meet your teammie Monica We had a nice chat about Deutschland and you.
Scud
Awfully sporting of you to wheel her bike back for her–sort of the cycling equivalent to carrying the senior partner’s briefcase to court. Whatever it takes to get on the squad!
Sorry about the crash. Pretty great first season, though.
She needed to get to the medical tent and seemed somewhat shaken up, so I wanted to help.
Thanks for the support! =)