Piedmont Triad Omnium

Brady and I competed in all four races of the Piedmont Triad omnium this weekend. Unlike most of my teammates, I don't have an endurance background. Before I started road racing in 2008, I was a BMX racer....not really an endurance sport (think 30-45 second race with almost an hour break between races). This is the first year I have really felt I have the stamina to be competitive over consecutive days of racing. The Piedmont Triad was my first test.


Crit

The 1,2,3 women and the 4's were combined (4's scored separately). The Gary Fisher women's team was well represented with 5 riders. I started out on the conservative side, sitting near the back for much of the first half. The Fisher girls were throwing out a constant stream of attacks, but others were willing to chase. I stayed in the pack. Soon, no one wanted to chase anymore...I moved to the front pulled us to the break. As soon as it was caught, another went. No one was coming around me, and no way I could chase this one down. Suddenly, Brady jumps on the front and pulls us to the leaders. By now we have 3 to go, and I am hurting a little and thinking "there's no way I can sprint". Another attack goes, and I somehow find the ability to chase. With one to go, I am sitting on the back of a small group....the rest of the field strung out behind us. We come out of the last corner and I move up beside the group. With 400m to go I look over, and I am thinking "why hasn't anyone gone yet." I decided to go first, and apparently got a great jump, because no one came around me before the line. I was super pumped to get the win. No way would I have been in that group without Brady's help.....she ended up finishing 4th among the 4's.

Time Trial

The next morning we had a 12.5 mile rolling TT. Flat to uphill for the first 3 or 4 miles. A left turn and we have two short stair step climb with a gradual uphill to the next left turn (now about half way). Long flat to downhill section to the next left where you go downhill and up a longer climb up to the finish. I felt like I had a good ride, but the Fisher team has a few great time trialists (one a former national champion). I had hoped for top 5, but ended up 6th.

Brady was having a solid ride, but dropped her chain and spent a long time trying to get it back on. The crazy thing is that she was shifting her rear gears and the chain fell off the chainring. Bad luck :(

Street Sprints


Yes, that is a Hooters girl holding me up for the start. I wonder what the guys in the background are looking at? I thought I would enjoy this race ( being more of a sprinter), but I actually was pretty bad at it. This was my first time really doing street sprints, so I will just consider it a learning experience. 5th place for me, and Brady took 2nd in the consolation round. How about one more Hooter's picture?

Road Race

I will admit, I wasn't thrilled about doing the road race. I was thinking about suffering and the heat....things I shouldn't focus on. We had a large combined field, and there were a lot of fresh legs. We had an agreement with some other ladies that we would work to chase down the attacks from the Fisher ladies. Our plan worked for the first part of the race, but three girls did eventually get down the road. I got trapped in the back a number of times, and didn't even see them go. One more reason to not ride in the back. Brady and I finished in the main field. We both took 6th our categories. I some how still got 3rd in the omnium, my goal had been to finish in the top ten. Brady was 6th (or maybe 5th)...sorry I can't remember, it's been a long weekend! The dropped chain took a toll on her omnium points. Now we get to do it all over again next weekend.