Hey Everyone.. here is my race report for the first race of the
season for me and Sarah.. whew!!!
The battenkill roubaix, known for 25% dirt roads, (hills) alot of
gravely areas, woods, scenic views and cruising through several towns
up there around the battenkill river area in Washington county.
We had 50 women start in the cat 4 race...
Sarah and I started in the front, sarah took off and lead the entire
peleton for like the first few miles, which was very slow going, you
figure we had 55 miles ahead of us, why go crazy right now.
On the first road climb of the day, a bunch took right off the front,
I was back just a ways, saw sarah ahead and just kept my place and my
energies. I figured, if I could stay with the next bunch it would all
be good... so I did, til we got to the major dirt road climb. People
were actually off their bikes walking it.. they are some who took off
in the beginning using up alot of energy too soon..I was able to stay
on the bike and I am pretty sure sarah did too, as she remained up in
the front somewhere.
At the crest, those front 9 or 10 girls were gone, I managed to stay
with a second group for a little while and then they were gone, that
was a group of 3, including Jenny Ives. So, I got into my group that
I would ride with for the main portion of the race (roughly 40 or so
miles). The weather couldn't have been better, seeing as how we had
rain all week, we had dryish roads and the dirt roads weren't all
that bad either. Even some peeks of sun... to warm us a bit.(although
the climbs in this race did the trick)
I rode w/ 3 other girls, 2 from NYCVelocity, we all worked well
together taking our turns pulling on the windy road flats. The other
1/2 of the peleton behind us was never seen again.
Sarah stayed with the lead group for roughly 35 miles where she
flatted in the town of Greenwich.
I came along with my group and she cheered me on... all I could think
was oh oh, now she isn't nice and safe up there.. and I am good back
here.. I was like, well, I had better be able to stick it out with
these girls the balance of the race, because the lead group was like
6 minutes ahead, we would never see them.... Wheel van never stopped
for sarah, and she got a ride back with the cat 4 men vehicle...had
to go back for her bike afterwards.
At like 6 miles out from the finish, the last section of dirt road
(which was actually the worst, but not steep) took it's toll on me, I
was pooped from keeping with the other girls on the flats, they were
young and fast. I was finally dropped just before the nice long
descent back into town.
So, I managed to work as hard as I could, so noone else would catch
me and made it across the finish line at 3 hours and 19 minutes, 18
minutes behind the lead and only 2 1/2 minutes behind the girls I had
been riding with.
It was a nice, clean race, no major accidents, just sarahs flat.. she
would have finished in top ten easily.
On to the next ones.. they will all seem easy after that.. but it was
all in all a fun experience.
Tami