Wilmington Grand Prix Elite Women's Team Race Report
Brooke O’Connor (13th), Rebecca Wellons (20th), Clara Kelly (mechanical), Natalie Dumont, Susanne Delaney, Sam Dery
How it unfolded…
Course was a long, rectangular shape, with slight uphill into a headwind on the start/finish, and slight downhill tailwind on the backside and 0.8 miles a loop. Gaps opening through the first two corners would be accentuated on the long backside. Third and fourth corners were a fast uphill that you really hoped the person in front of you didn’t brake going through to give you momentum to accelerate coming out of the fourth turn. First NRC race of the year, so we knew it’d be fast, just not prepared for just how fast it really was. With over 80 women on the start line, it was one of the largest fields of the year. Luckily Rebecca got a call up to the front line as a Verge Cyclocross winner and the postergirl for the Wilmington Grand Prix brochure. The rest of the NEBC ladies were good about getting to the start line 15 minutes early and getting a good start position.
Right from the gun it was fast with Rebecca and Laura Van Gilder getting to turn one first (hole shot!). The race was superfast from the gun with the Australian National team, Team Type 1 and Colavita all pushing the pace. Not to mention our friend Anna Milkowski attacking a couple of times. The pace never slowed down. Gaps opened up during the turns and on the straights and the officials just kept pulling riders who were going to get lapped. Sam, Susanne and Nat gave a good go, but were among the victims to get pulled. Clara, Rebecca and Brooke were in the front group until Clara got a flat. She raced up to the pit on the sidewalk on the other side of the barriers, was a little unsure about getting back onto the course to get a new wheel and decided to call it a day. Rebecca got gapped off the front group at one point and was not able to make it back up as the pace was still fast and furious. Meanwhile Brooke was suffering like a dog just to stay in contact with the front group of 13.
While Brooke was sitting on ex-NEBC teammate Sally Annis (Hub Racing) for a lap and a half not able to come around and help in order to stay with the front group, Rebecca joined in a chase group of 14. The chase group wasn’t working too well together and was eventually lapped by the front group with about 7 laps to go. Brooke was very excited to see Rebecca and received additional help from Rebecca to keep in contact with the front group. On the last lap, Rebecca made sure Brooke stayed in contact while Brooke was happy just to cross the finish line in 13th. Rebecca grabbed another money spot in 20th place. Only 27 finishers of about 85 starters.
This course broke up the pack last year as well with a lot smaller field. So we’ve concluded that it’s not the size of the field and pace (although that didn’t help this year), but the course also contributes to splitting up the field (split the men’s Pro field also – less than half of them finished as well).