Brendas Giro Report

What a Race... !! This was our District Criterium Championships (67 starters). I went into this race knowing that I could be on the podium, but I would have to be very smart, in order to defeat the Webcor Mob Squad...as those gals are very strong and very organized.

Fortunately, for me.. I was feeling really good and was reading the race pretty well. A couple of times, there were breaks up the road that looked to be a little dangerous, so I bridged by myself up to them. My plan was to get there and sit on... beacause I would not be interested in staying away in a break that had two or more Webcor women in it, and as far as I was concerned, it was Webcor`s responsibility to keep the break going, not mine.

Anyway, the main field reeled back in every break that got away..(and there were quite a few of them!!). When it came down to the final laps, there was a break established - and I wasn`t in it! I`m not exactly sure how it happened, but there were five women up the road and things were starting to get serious. Naturally, I waited and waited... to see if the main field would do what it had done each time, and that was to bring the break back. But this wasn`t happening, and the few times that I thought it was going to happen - the field just sort of fizzled out, in it`s efforts.

Soooo... we get down to the last lap... and I`m still sitting in the field..!! ..and the break is up the road. Uh-oh.... I had to go, there was no more time....and away I went. I left the field with one thing in mind... get on that group in the front. Thank goodness, I had done that already twice in the race, because it happened like clock work and boom! there I was... in the front group, with just two turns l left in the race. The main field had finally reacted and was bearing down on us, but it was too late. Although they caught on, those of us up front began to wind it up, and away we went, tearing into the final turns with me sitting third wheel. Out of the final turn, the eventual winner and good friend, Kim Cunningham, jumped off of Christine Thorburn`s wheel (Webcor). I was right there... but missed the jump and couldn`t quite get on Kim`s wheel. I got out of the saddle and came over Christine...and was closing in on Kim, however, it wasn`t enough for the win...and I came across the line in 2nd Place!

I admit, I was happy with that (last year I was 6th and the year before, 18th!). And besides, Webcor finished 3rd-6th! So, that`s goes to show what a remarkable feat it was to get over top of their excepyional teammork and talent! Everyone raced really well and I think that it just goes to show what a strong regional race field we have!

Claires Giro Report

What a blast!

Wait�I say that after every crit!

Shannon and I spent the night at Danielle�s house in SF, slept late, and lounged around all morning with coffee and cable television. After such a luxurious morning, I was totally relaxed and ready to race.

We had a nice ride around the Presidio for a warm-up. It was a beautiful day in the city; not too hot and just enough of a breeze.

I�m not good at estimating field sizes, but I think there were about 50 (make that 67) women at the start. I was super happy to have the opportunity to race with some of the strongest women around. Both Brenda and Krista were there. Brenda had her NorCal uniform on and I knew she was about to kick some ass.

My plan was to stay relaxed and just experience a safe, comfortable race. After taking a couple months off racing, and returning to get my clock cleaned at Winters the previous weekend, I really had no other ambition than to stay upright and hang in till the finish. The pace was high from the get-go, but I found my rhythm and some safe wheels to follow. There were several breaks, and it seemed like if Brenda didn�t make the split at first, she�d jump across lickety-split. I think she did that a couple times, but you�ll have to read her race report.

About halfway through the race (?), there was a pretty big crash, with maybe 5 riders going down. It happened far enough behind me that I couldn�t tell whether or not Brenda was involved, as I didn�t see her in front of me. Turned out that she was behind the crash, but not involved. Whew.

Brenda was in a break with about 3 laps to go but it didn�t stick. I thought it might come down to a big sprint, but it just got super fast in the last lap so that the fast girls were about halfway down the home stretch as I came through the last corner. I think I finished in the top 20 (make that 18th). I found out later that Brenda took a handy second place! That woman is incredible.

Thanks to Shannon, Danielle and Holden for cheering!

2008

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