Picture courtesy of Roger Harrison - LanternRouge

Wow! It was surely something to be the center of so much attention. I didn’t realize how accustomed I was to being paid so little attention compared to the men in big races. The inaugeral Tour of Missouri (ToM) Women’s Criterium brought together a small, but illustrious, field of the nation’s top women’s racers including women like Tina Pic, Laura Van Gilder, Kelly Benjamin and Brook Miller. Teams like Tibco, Aaron’s, Cheerwine, Colavita and Value Act Capital were represented in force and the rest of us did our best to not just hang with them, but to be a part of the action.

The flat six-corner, one-kilometer course was a blast and the pace rarely slacked making this race one of the fastest of the season. According to my powertap computer, we averaged 26.1 mph.

Team Revolution fielded four racers: Carrie Cash, new cat  2 Chris Roettger, myself (Sydney Brown) and a composite rider, junior Anna Young. Many of the accelerations were vicious and kudos to Chris and Anna for hanging tough. Carrie also had opportunity to showcase her technical skills when she took a hit into the 6th corner on a prime run and was knocked to the outside. She stayed sunnyside up, but it did ruin her bid to win that one.

I spent my time trying to get into breaks and covering attacks, taking one merchandise prime in the course of duty. Ironically, it was a beautiful messenger bag donated by one of our rivals, Team Kenda. Oh well. I’m still happy about it because four of us went after it and I was able to pop around and take the line. You might think, “big whup,” but you need to understand how discouraged I’ve been about my sprint and how intimidated I’ve spent the season in that race scenario. So much so, in fact, that Gateway Cup marked my first successful attempts, but I think I’ll get the hang of it, and if I can learn to count backwards from 5 properly, my finishes will improve.

That’s right. I’m counting challenged. Fired the jets when Kelly Benjamin lit it up to move to the front for the final lap. Because she did so as we approached the finish line, I mistakenly thought it was bell lap and fired my jets. Unfortunately, it was one lap to go and after sucking some air, I was at the back of the pack as it made it’s final surge and ended up 23rd.  Sigh. Sorry teamies.  Carrie, Chris and Anna all finished in the money at 14th, 18th and 16th respectively.

Everyone rode well and we finished 14th, 18th, 23rd and 16th respectively.

Next up… Carrie and Chris are off to Las Vegas for the USA Crit Nationals, while I’m turning my attention to cyclocross and kicking that season off with Planet Bike’s Cross Cup in Sun Prairie, WI.

**Disclaimer** We are not a RACE-only club. I’m posting this in response to a request to do so. The club does lots of non-racing stuff.

Here’s an infographic I did last year hoping to explain some of the dynamics of “crit” racing. I had planned to do a series. I haven’t. Don’t make me feel guilty. But feel free to let me know if you find this useful (and wish to see more).

Download the PDF here: criterium_004

tags:anatomy of a crit&bullcrit&bullcriterium&bullexplanation&bullRacing&bullXPLANATiON

Rain, Rain and more Rain.  As we parked, warmed up, and previewed the course, it just rained.

As we approached the line, and the official was readying us, it dumped.  Bam!!!  Off we went like a herd of desperate cattle in a stampede, looking for cover.  One big attack on the front kept this race strung out and blown to pieces.  Favorites like Van Gilder found themselves standing on the sideline as the race officials weened the course of riders.  In the end, it was a wash (no pun intended).  The stage was chalked up a non-qualifying stage.  With lapped riders in the chase group, many non-lapped riders standing on the sidewalk watching, the officials had no choice but to wash their hands of this stage, and begin a new the next day.

I can say one thing, the time bonus, and the HUGE time gap that Kristen had on the field, as well as, Brooke Miller, it was a shame that they were not rewarded in some fashion for their  stellar efforts.

Gals-What is your individual takes on this race?

We are all still alive and now returned to our somewhat normal lives until the next tornado of bike racing hits.

In the upcoming posts you will read about each riders trials and tribulations with the Nature Valley Grand Prix/Great River Energy Stage Race. What a great group of women that we were able to race with and against. This week of 6 races in 5 days was a very challenging and growing experience for the whole team. Be warned that nothing we say or express can equally paint the picture that we had each day as we stepped up to the starting line or crossed the finish line. I would like to thank all of the wonderful teams that competed with us, and hope that each and every individual finds us as a good addition to the womens pro peleton.

Stay tuned for the day by day, rider viewpoints.

tags:Nature Valley&bullNVGP&bullRacing

Gabcast! Team Rev Racing #12