SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 3, 2010
Webcor had 5 riders representing their country at the World Championships - more than any other North American team. Amber just missed the medals with a 4th place in the TT. 4th is a tough place to be, but she made a strong comeback from a season of injuries.
In the road race, Katheryn launched an epic solo breakaway and was out in front for half the race. She gained close to 3 min. on the field at one point and was caught with 1 1/2 laps to go. Amber, Erinne and Andrea were in the very elite front group in the final very hard laps of the race and all finished in the top 25. Erinne was instrumental in bringing back the final breakaway of Judith Arndt and Nicole Cooke in the final 5km. Andrea finished a career best of 14th place and Amber was in a promising break going over the main climb with 1 lap to go.
Check out the coverage on the live report on CyclingNews with lots of props for Katheryn:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-road-world-championships-cm/elite-women-road-race/live-report
Here is Amber's TT Report:
SEPTEMBER 29, 2010
I was really excited to race! My training up to the event had gone very well. My coach had managed to design a plan that put me in a position to be both competitive and useful. I was focused and ready to achieve a big result.
The USA team arrived 5 days before the TT. That gave me time to adjust to the time zone and climate and to see and soak in the details of the course. I needed to see it enough to know how it felt and then to be able to devise a race strategy. I also needed to make a decision on gearing.
Race day came, and I felt ready all around. I didn't start until about 4 in the afternoon. That made for a long day of trying to keep my energy and adrenaline harnessed. I did my best, though. I spent a good chunk of the morning reading and praying. I ate a couple times. I surfed mindlessly on the internet... I thought a lot about the race. Eventually, it was time to go, and we drove to Geelong where the race started.
I had a good warm up, I harnessed the butterflies on the start line, and I set off on my mission. My ride went well. I gave everything I had. I was mentally zoned in the entire 30+ minutes. I went for it. I was aiming for the podium and the rainbow, but I ended up with the wood medal. I cannot complain, though. If am looking at the big picture... I came a long way, and I had a good result.
RR Report:
OCTOBER 3, 2010
The Road Race was a few days later. I think our whole team was really ready to race... I know all the girls who did not TT were REALLY ready. They'd been there for a long time and were feeling like caged animals.
The day before our race, we watched the U23 men's race. That gave us an idea of how the course would ride. Despite how hard it was, their race eventually came down to a sprint with a medium sized group. We set up for that same scenario, and made a race plan for our sprinters.
We started out well. Amanda got the race going on the second lap and then Kathryn went out on an epic solo breakaway. Each move was setting things up in a positive way for us. However, along the way, Shelley (our sprinter) had some problems and Theresa (our other sprinter) crashed into the barriers. That really changed things up. Since Carmen had used her energy watching over the sprinters, she was also out of the mix. We were down to Evie and I. We tried. I watched the middle-late moves and left Evie to cover the final ones. And WHOA... It got really hard in the final 3 laps. I thought for a moment, the small group of elite climbers I was with might stay away after Emma Johansson attacked on one of the last laps, but it was not to be. We were chased back. That was really my "card," and I was definitely feeling things after I played it, but I fought hard to stay in the race and to try to help Evie. In the end, we were not able to do anything. We were both too cooked and the final lead in to the sprint was too fast for us.
Personally, I raced with and gave more than I had, so I was content with my effort. I was also happy to literally walk away from the race.
We have an exciting group of riders in the USA mix. I can see it. I am impressed with their attitude and effort. We see what we are capable of, and more importantly, we are individually and collectively motivated to both stay on the same page and to work toward achieving our team goals.
The 2010 World Championships are complete. For me, it has been quite a journey just to make it to them. My season started with high hopes after a good result in February in New Zealand. However, the muscle tears in the spring followed by the surgically repaired collarbone added two challenges and definitely altered my season's course. Despite all of it, I was still able to race a bunch with the USA national team and help impact the next generation. I also had the opportunity to race with the well respected Webcor Builders team and hopefully do the same there. I think success is measured in many ways, and although I was hampered by injuries that affected my personal results, I was still in a position to be a mentor leader. It has been fun to share with and encourage my teammates along the way.
I am flying home as I write. Next season will bring some positive change for me, and I am excited. I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for all the support!!!! Success is in the details... The work the staff does, the support the sponsors give, the time my coach puts into a plan, the unconditional love my husband and family share with me..... I have to ride, but I am not where I am without each of you.
:) Amber
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