52, 44, 35, 15, 17, 1:10: Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want
But why must I relearn the same lesson as if it’s the first
time? Yesterday’s World Cup race in Nove
Mesto Na Morave, Czech Republic was good, but fell short of being fantastic through
a combination of being too impatient early on and too patient later on.
After a fumbled start taking forever to get my pedal, but
luckily avoiding two huge crashes I was in the swarm. A couple minutes in however, I saw some
opportunities to move up by taking the inside of corners. I got chopped once, but didn’t learn and
tried to go inside on the next corner as well.
This time I was forced off my bike and running and lost precious
spots. On this course every rider
between you and the front is dangerous as the descents offer little or no
passing. By the time I got to the
start/finish line at the end of the start loop I was still 18 riders back and
52 seconds.
Charge. With large
gaps formed between riders it was hard to make headway. I was able to make up 10 seconds lap 1 and
move up to 10th, but had to sit in on descents knowing I was wasting
needed time. Oh to be able to set my
own rhythm! I really felt for the people
that are always racing in traffic. It
definitely makes it hard to race at your potential. At times you are forced to just relax and
wait for a passing opportunity watching the race ride away from you, but if you
lose focus you lose your passing opportunity and are stuck again.
I fought back against
the negative thoughts creeping in my head.
Still in 10th after 25 minutes of racing was not where I like
to be, but the race was not over and every position counted.
By the end of lap 2 the gap was down again, this time to 35
seconds and the race was coming together in front of me. I became more motivated. I just had to make contact.
Lap 3 and the front of the race was changing
complexion. Katerina, who had been
riding absolutely beautifully off the front had been reeled in by Bressette and
Kalentieva and later, Maja, Blaza and Leuman.
Georgia and I were working together in 7 and 8th.
Lap 4 and I eventually made contact with the leaders. I of course have lost all track of laps at
this point (I had to watch the replay to know how my race took shape). I had no idea the final lap was
approaching. I connected with Irina and
Julie, 3rd! and rode with
them for awhile. But they were ready to
set into final lap mode, where I just thought, finally I got here! Before I know it they have put 10 seconds on
me in the last climb of lap 4. By the
start finish it is 17seconds.
Lap 5 Julie proves she is the worthy winner, cleaning the
slick rocky climb none of the other women have mastered. She gets 10 seconds on Irina here and goes on
to build her lead to 28 seconds for the win.
Katerina and Georgia have bridged up to me. I stop thinking about racing for the win and
settle into following, never a good thing for me. Katerina gaps Georgia and I try to bridge up
on the climb into the final descent. My legs
are definitely juiced, but not done, but when I enter the final climb I get
forced off my bike on a rooty climb and for some reason just can’t seem to get
back on. It takes me 3 tries and running
half the climb to be successful and by that point Katerina and Georgia are long
gone and Blaza has caught me from behind.
On one climb I lost 15+ seconds!!!
Argh. I push into the finish
trying to hold off Maja and finish 11 seconds short of the podium. Georgia out-sprinted Blaza for 4th.
Katka was 3rd, Georgia 4th
and me 6th. That’s a pretty
solid day for Luna. The girls raced so impressively, leaving nothing out on
course.
Next week, calculated patience and as ass-kicking attitude
in La Bresse.
Comments