Brendas USPRO Criterium Championships Race Report

Hey there folks, I`ve been home from Chicago for over a week now, and feel like I better get the word out to you about racing at Nationals before too much time passes!

Let me just say, thank goodness that there was a warm-up race the day before the Championships, because that gave me the opportunity to get a feel for the course without any pressure. I had planned to ride up until about three laps to go and then I was to pull out (so that I wouldn`t get mixed up in any trouble that so often comes with the last few laps and also, so that I would make sure to keep my legs fresh for the "big"day). But the race was tame enough that I decided to stay in and finish.. my only goal was to go unnoticed - so that I would not become a marked rider for the next days race. I finished twelfth on the day and I was happy with that.

So... along comes Sunday - Race Day... Fortunately for me, Saturday`s race had taken away most of the jitters, and I was beginning to feel focused. The night before, I had talked with Eric (my boyfriend and best friend), about the course and my potential on it, and I told him that I really thought I could be a contender on this course. It was going to be fast and it was going to be somewhat technical and the corners were definitely going to play as a major factor, especially the last three turns 6 - 7 and 8 (in the last lap, one would have to be willing to take these turns at speed without braking..). So anyway, I showed up at the race alone, registered myself, pinned my numbers on (all four of them! .. on a size x-small skinsuit!) and then went to continue my warm-up. I had gotten up early that morning and had gone for a ride with my host house person, so I felt like I was pretty much ready. Ready as I would ever be.

Onto the race report:) It was fast from the gun! As a matter of fact, my legs felt horrible for the first 10 minutes or so, and I thought to myself that I must`ve blown it by racing the night before, but before long, I had forgotten all about those things and I was steadily coming into focus. There were plenty of attacks and quite a few premes. and a couple of times there were splits off the front. But, I was pretty confident that it was going to come down to a field sprint, so I didn`t get too worried about the chase. My instincts were correct, and as the laps dwindled down, it became evident that the race would stay together for the final sprint. Well folks - after that my memory becomes quite foggy. I think there were two or three crashes in the last five laps. It got real dicey out there and it was very easy to lose position. One of the last things that I remember clearly was being 5th or 6th wheel with five laps to go.. and then all of the sudden finding myself at the back of the field!! That sure put a fire under my "you know what", and I decided right then and there that there was no way I was going to let that happen again! So from there my memory fades a bit more. I was sort of in a zone... It was really intense. It got going really fast and I remember jumping on Amber Neben`s wheel into turn six as she jumped to improve her position ... and then I found myself right up there coming into the second to last turn. From there all I can remember is deciding to jump way early, but it was probably the best thing that I could`ve done. Right about the time I jumped, there was a disturbance to my right (which I would later learn was Sarah Uhl breaking a spoke in the second to last straight away), but I was well on my way to that final corner and my eyes were glued on Tina Pic and Laura Van Gilder(again for all my non-cycling buddies... these women that I`m speaking of are the best in the country!) .... Well, I knew I couldn`t quite get onto their wheels and there was definitely a gap between us, but what I didn`t know until I was sprinting up the final straight that I was pretty much by myself!!

The sprint was only 150 meters long, but it felt like an eternity to the line!! And I thought for sure... this isn`t really happening... someone is going to pass me, right? But they didn`t..... And I came across that line in third place - behind two of the most respected sprinters in the sport! I was absolutely stunned. I felt good. The sprint felt right and I felt relieved... very relieved. Out of all of the goals that I made for myself, one of my dream goals for my first season on the pro circuit was to have a top 3 finish... and there it was - at the Us Pro Criterium Championships....!!

The only thing missing was having teammates and/or loved ones there to share it with. And speaking of.. Thank You to all of you who wrote or called to congratulate me. I`m absolutely amazed and very grateful for your interest and support! It has been a pleasure to share all of these stories with you over the course of the season.. and yes, there are still a few more to come... So stay tuned- Best regards to you all, Brenda ps) I stayed with another wonderful family that made the trip all that more special... so thank you to the Heun`s....

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