Manhattan Beach Grand Prix

I think 11 must be my number this season. An 11th in the Wente Road Race, an 11th in the Folsom Crit, an 11th in the Albany Crit, and now an 11th in the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. Sure, I�ve had several better placings and definitely plenty of lower placings. But 11 seems to be the number of the year for me.

Claire and I had originally planned to travel down to Southern California together to do this race. When she had the opportunity to go to Colorado this month, I had all but decided not to go. After all, when I attempted this Pro/1/2/3 race two years ago, I did not finish. Granted, I was the last woman to be pulled, but still I got pulled. That was the year Tina Pic won. My recollection was that it was a demanding, crazy fast race, with two 180-degree turns. No, better to skip it. But then I see that for the first time, they also have a women 3�s only race. Now how could I not go? Besides, it would be a good excuse to visit my family in L.A.

There were 31 girls on the start line. (24 went on to complete the race.) It was fairly intense from the start. A couple short lulls along the back side of the course, but for the most part a brisk pace. I felt strong throughout, and held 6th or 7th position for the whole of the race. Except once, I did drift to the back but that was after taking a prime! So I had to allow myself a bit of recovery time. But once I felt good again, I made my way towards the front of the pack. As we enter the last lap, I think ahead to the bottom 180 turn and tell myself I need to stay in the top 10 coming out of that final turn. And I was, which I was thrilled about. Then the unthinkable happens, a girl takes the turn too tight and goes down. In that split second I remember thinking maybe I could take the line just to the inside of her and still not lose any momentum. But the woman directly to my rights starts to go wide and thus I am forced to as well. Get scarily close to the barrier, but ok, still upright. Unfortunately, I do lose some speed there, and come across the line 11th. And who wins the women 3s race? A 14-year-old. Goodness.

-rita

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004