Win (& 3rd) at Sterling Road Race
As told by Susanne: The race started neutral to the start/finish. I found myself riding ahead of the field first with Amanda Lawrence and then by myself. Then when we hit the hill Brooke and I were at the front. After we crested the first hill I put it into the big gear and put my head down mostly to get good and warmed up for the next time when we would come up the hill at race pace. When I looked back the first time I realized I had opened a gap and kept going, next time I looked, the gap had grown even more. I worked pretty hard to keep up the gap but knew they would catch me on the backside before Route 12, which you all did. But thanks for blocking for me.
Second Lap: First time officially up the hill into second lap we stayed together, our team launched some attacks (Tami and Cathy) but tough to make them stick. Second time after the hill I was feeling good before faux flat and looked around to make eye contact with a teammate to launch an attack but couldn’t get anyone’s attention (without announcing it to the field). I was on Tami’s wheel and so I went anyway. Same scenario as first lap. I grew a gap on the field but they caught me before Route 12. I know we aren’t supposed to launch attacks alone, need to go in pairs. Will work on this next time.
Third Lap: From how I heard it play out, Rebecca, Mary and Cat shook things up on the climb and the field split up with a group of 5 pulling away: Rebecca, Mary, Sarah, Debony and Karin Turner from CCB?
Once break had about a lap on us, that is when Cathy rolled off from our group after cresting the hill. I looked around and tried to spark discussion but nobody either heard me or responded. I was trying to figure out what we should do with Mary and Rebecca up the road. At first I thought Cathy should come back and not take off but then I realized Rebecca and Mary had a sizeable gap on us
all. This is where I thought we could have tired up our field and broken it up more. Cathy continued to pull away and gained a sizeable gap. The field didn’t organize to do anything until Rte. 12 when it was too late. Good for Cathy as she got 6th place but could we have been more active in those last one and a half laps?
Final lap/Finish: I was lead out but went too early. Sorry. Sam was on my wheel. Cat apparently exploded up the hill to win the field sprint, followed by Brooke, Nat and Sam.
As told by Rebecca: The first few laps Susanne and Brooke (it’s foggy in my mind – anyone else, too? Sam? sorry) launched attacks which may not have materialized into substantial breaks, but kept the field on its toes. After patiently sitting in for the first 3 of 6 laps it was time to shake things up! At the team meeting, we had talked about trying to establish a break up the climb with 3 to go. Brooke kept the pace high up route 12, setting the stage for the climb. Mary and I moved to the front going into town, and we put the hammer down up the hill. Mary attacked first, and we sort of kept “leap frogging” each other to keep the pace going. Kat Carr joined in the festivities, but didn’t make the break. We brought 3 other single riders with us (Sara, Debony, and Karin) a perfect scenario for us especially because I was confident that either Mary or I could win. Up until the last downhill before route 12, Mary did most of the work to ensure it would stick. I was afraid we were doing too much, the others were either tired or didn’t want to pull through. After a little goading, we all worked together rotating and keeping it steady the rest of the race until the finish.
I thought Mary had more snap than me that day, so I planned to be “bait” and go early in the finish, forcing the others to chase (or else let me win) and letting Mary come around them for the win. But Mary didn’t feel as comfortable with this and wanted to take them on the hill. We got to the front going up the final hill at the end of Rt 12 – this strategy could be debated – but I think we did it mostly because we felt more in control there. Mary led, so I forced myself onto her wheel and decided when she jumped I’d hesitate and try and give her a small gap into the hill, but we weren’t going fast enough to make it too hard for the others to attack and into the the final corner, Sara attacked around on the left. I warned Mary it was coming, but because she was on front, I was faster to respond, jumping around Mary inside on the right (unfortunately momentarily cutting off Mary) and immediately catching Sara’s wheel. I stayed on her until the spot where the pitch flattens slightly, about 1/2 way to the line. I jumped hard and won by several bike lengths despite being slightly over-geared. I love that hill – perfect for me, nice and short. :) Mary rocked and stayed on the podium in 3rd spot.