Sent by Karen Brems on 11/12/09
Another Sunday, another CX race. This one was in Toro Park (near Salinas) and race #4 of the Central Coast CX series. So far I am leading this series (Kerry Barnholt missed a race!). We raced in Toro park at race #3, and I was hoping for a similar hilly course, but this one was totally different. I would call it a true CX course - tons of tight “S” turns and a few dry creek bed crossings. The only real hill was a sandy run-up, and a long one at that, with a barrier at the bottom to make sure everyone ran it. 2 additional double barriers and a large log made for a total of 4 times on and off the bike on each of 6 laps. No pavement at all and the last barrier was 50m from the finish line again.
The women's field was on the small side - maybe 15 riders and I knew my main competition would come from Stella Carey (Rock Lobster) and Gina Hall (Cal Giant). Gina is another "retired" former UCI level pro and worlds team member who started racing locally again. All these former pros are certainly elevating the competition here this year, but it keeps the races interesting and makes us all better! It is like going to a pro clinic every weekend :).
Stella got the hole shot as usual and I managed to clip in and slot into 2nd with Gina behind me. I passed Stella on the run-up and took the lead on the immediate descent - it was kind of tricky with 2 loose switchbacks. I stuck to the outside like I had in warm-up, and Stella comes flying by on a high, inside line through the grass. Note to self: that line is faster - try it next lap!
By the end of the first lap, the 3 of us had a gap on the rest of the field and we basically rode together at what felt to me like a hard, but sustainable pace for the next 3 laps. I knew I wasn't going to ride away from those 2 on the turns, and while running is definitely not my strength, the run up and flat section after the descent were the only places to really put down power, so I had to try something there. I know I can usually run at least a bit faster than Stella.
With 2 laps to go, I attacked on the short flat section before the run-up and ran as hard as I could, managed to clip in on the remount and get down the descent with a clear rear wheel, so I went hard again on the next flat section. Eventually Gina caught back up to me, but we still had a gap on Stella, so we worked together for the next lap to increase it.
On, the last lap, I again attacked in the same place to see if I could shake Gina for good. I got a gap again, and this was not far from the finish, so I kept going as hard as I could. After the 2nd to last barrier section, I glanced back and saw Gina quite a ways back. Just 2 dry creek bed crossings, 4 hairpins, a double barrier and the race was mine. All I had to do was not mess up. Then I messed up...The first hairpin around a big tree was a little loose and my front wheel washed out and I went down. Not sure why - maybe I was more tired or just trying to go a little faster - I never had trouble with this turn on any of the other laps. Luckily I had just enough of a gap that I was up and going again just as Gina caught up to me. She tried to pass on the next turn, but I hugged the inside line and protected my lead position. Another haripin...and another...set up for the dismount...over the barrier...clip-in...and finally I crossed the line still barely ahead of Gina! Stella came in shortly after in 3rd.
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