Colorado Criterium Championship

The Colorado Criterium Championship was held in Longmont today, and it was my first time racing as a Cat 3 with our own separate category. Many races combine Categories 1, 2, and 3, and last week I tried to hang in there at the North Boulder Crit but got lapped and pulled from the race with 7 laps to go. Racing in a field with pros did take some pressure off because my goal was just to try and not get dropped, but today with a separate 3’s race my nerves were getting to me and I had high hopes to get on the podium. Because I’d never raced with just the 3’s before, my confidence was all based on how City Park and North Boulder Crits went (last place and DNF), but my coach’s advice was to Race with Confidence! so I did go into the race ready to kick ass.

It was so freaking hot, especially warming up on the trainer. I was dousing myself with water and shamelessly wearing my skinsuit topless with just my sport’s bra and still just melting. By the time I finished my warm-up I felt pretty ill. I got on the course with Carol and started to cool off. This course is all flat and so much fun – nothing too technical. There were 17 girls in the field, 4 Pro Design. Those girls worked well together, launching lots of attacks but no one ever got away from the peloton. It was so flat that it was just pretty easy to close any gap that formed.

About 10 minutes into the race, I made a sharp right turn and realized my front tire was completely flat – almost slid out. My first reaction was that I am screwed and the race is over. I’d never had a mechanical in a crit before, and I realized I was in the best possible place for it to happen – the pit with neutral support was right ahead of me. The guys were really helpful and reminded me that I get a free lap, so just take deep breaths and wait for the girls to come back around. It was a long wait! Turned out to not be so bad getting a few minutes to recover mid-race.

I had decided before the race to not go for any primes because I wanted to save my sprinting for the end. My position in the field varied from being up front to the back, and I probably spent a bit too much time with wind on my face. I was a little scared because we didn’t string out single file on the turns, instead staying all together. I just told myself to trust myself through the turns.

With 3 laps to go the pace had picked up and we did string out a bit. I was third and felt good about where I was. Last lap I lost that position though, and not far before the last right turn to the finish I was still in the back – like 12 back or so. Not good. I hauled ass to be up front for the last turn, and then I started to sprint. I was in a bit of a shock as I realized I was contesting for top three, and I may have even hesitated in my sprint out of confusion for what was going on. The two girls in front of me were GS Boulder girls, and I was able to pass one just before the finish, and was about two bike lengths from first. I totally surprised myself. My fitness is really still very good – I didn’t ever feel tired during the race but I still don’t think trying to make a break would have worked. I saw many girls try but get caught, so I think it was a good call to stay in the pack and conserve for that final sprint.

Yeehaw!