The day started with a 3 mile very flat prologue time trial. I managed to turn a 6:52- good enough for 1st place and 13 seconds on the next fastest finisher.
Soon after was the road race. When we arrived at the course, the sun was bright, and the air was thick. I felt like taking a nap rather than racing the 32 mile rolling course. Honestly, I was a little worried, because I was wavering between wanting to fall asleep and wanting to throw up. Luckily, my stomach settled a little once we got going. A couple of us took over the front of the pack during the first lap of the race and set a fast pace in order to shed as many riders as possible early in the race.
A few miles from the end of the first 16 mile lap, the air cooled, the wind picked up, and some dark clouds rolled in. Soon after, the skies opened up. By the time we approached the start/finish hotspot sprint for a time bonus, we were in an all-out, blinding downpour. Lauren Edwards from Probike won the sprint and picked up 7 seconds. I was almost edged out by Ashley from Tiger cycling, but something about sprinting in the middle of a thunderstorm inspired me to dig deep and edge her out for the 5 seconds available for 2nd. For the next 5 miles, the rain was relentless. I could barely see, but we dropped the hammer. It was the most epic 5 miles of racing I’ve ever participated in…
Soon after, the rain let up. Realizing that the remainder of the pack was not going to be shaken, Lauren and I sat up and let off of the pace a little. I wasn’t surprised when very few other riders wanted to take a pull (see “Edgar Soto Sunday” post). I didn’t mind too much, though, because even though my legs weren’t feeling an attack/breakaway attempt, I felt good about the sprint.
Once we reached the final stretch, I (as usual) got shuffled to the front. It worked out, though, and I was able to grab a wheel as we made our final surge to the line and get around in the last 100m for the win. Hopefully the time bonuses will give me enough of a lead to hold off for the GC win tomorrow after the crit.
Updates to follow…