Colossal Cave Omnium
Tucson, AZ

2 March 2013- Criterium
Racing Group- Women’s Cat 3/4 – Start at 1:10pm – 30 Minutes

RESULTS: 2nd, beat in the last sprint.  Won 2 Prize laps. 

In the last prize lap I made a move with half a lap to go, and came through the line well ahead of the rest of the group.  So I kept going, not hard, but briskly to see if I could maintain the gap.
After a couple laps the gap closed, but I was not able to get anyone to take the lead.  Even sitting back I was still in front.  With 3 laps to go two girls made a move and I stayed on their wheel.  They maintained and I let them take the little work they did.
Then with half a lap to go on the slight downhill (2 straights before the final sprint) I made my move to the front.  Rounding the turns I still had the lead and kicked in the sprint on the final stretch.  With about 100m to go the other girl started inching up and I just didn’t have that last sprint in my legs to hold her off.

With the road race tomorrow I am satisfied with today and am looking forward to a good ride in the morning.

3 March 2013- Road Race
Racing Group- Women’s Cat 3/4- Start at ~7:30am – 45 Miles, 5 Laps

RESULTS: 1st, won in final sprint.  1st overall for the Omnium as well.

   As the dark sky lightened with the arriving sun, I drove across eastern Tucson out towards Colossal Cave.  Much too early to be on a bike.  I’ve gotten pretty used rolling out of the driveway around 11-12pm.  It was rough getting out of bed for a road race at the crack of dawn.  Despite the darkness it was still around 48 degrees when I arrived at the course.
   We set of at 7:30 just as the sun was coming over the mountains.  We started the first of 5 laps very on edge and I was trying to get used to riding with some less then experienced riders.  It takes experience to get used to racing and riding in a group and today’s ride with the Category 4 and 3 riders was a bit different from the 1/2/Pros of 2 weeks ago.  I don’t blame them or want to complain, there were no accidents or incidents, so it’s all good.
   The following 2 laps another rider and myself tried to organize some pace lining, and I think everyone learned and benefited.  With a lap and a half to go the group of 20+ turned into 8 (along the way it split and/or some girls fell off), and we kept working as the finish drew closer.  On the last couple miles everyone prepared for the last uphill (pistol hill) to the finish at the top.
   After we made the last turn I started picking up the pace a bit, and instead of others working alongside me (like at Valley of the Sun) they all just lined up behind.  I tried to get someone to change, but this turned into me making cuts across the street and essentially zig-zagging around 5 times before laying a move and getting a tiny gap.  I kept working from about 1km to go.  Then with about 250m to go a girl in grey came up on the left, obviously trying to make a hard move.  I stuck with her, but set back a little after 50m to get a small rest and thinking she had more then me to take the win.
  But with 100m to go where she had about a bike length of distance, even as she piled full steam ahead and I was sitting back a little I noticed she wasn’t gaining any more distance.  That was the Moment!  I knew it was now or never and I could do it.  So I jumped on my pedals and put in a final blast.  Gaining, gaining, gaining, with 40m to go we were even and with 20m to go I was inching by.
I crossed the line with a wheel length and the solid victory!

Great race, great fun, and can’t wait for the next!

For more info. visit their website:
Colossal Cave Website

Next on the Schedule:

Tucson Bicycle Classic
Tucson, AZ

15 March 2013- Time Trial –
16 March 2013- Road Race- 60 Miles – 3 Laps
17 March 2013- Criterium – 33 Miles – 6 Laps