Wednesday, August 20, 2008
US CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIP
Karla and ME ventured to nationals, both finishing in the top half of the field. You can read Karla's report here...karlajanekingsley.blogspot.com
CARRERA TOP TENS
Carrera de San Rafael....what a party, what a race...we'll definitely be back every year.
Karla-5th
Karla-5th
Mary Ellen-8th
JV-9th
The team rode a very solid race with everyone focused on using their strengths smartly. The race started with a decent pace and a flurry of attacks. Early on three riders were off the front, I moved to the front and chased. Just as we caught them a Proman rider attacked with Karla on her wheel (good job Karla being in position and ready to follow the counter attack)..and the winning break was launched. 
Karla in the initial break (photo courtesy of Garrett Lau http://garrettlau.smugmug.com/
Karla in the initial break (photo courtesy of Garrett Lau http://garrettlau.smugmug.com/With Karla up the road, I focused on covering attacks and chase attempts. Shelley from Proman jumped, myself and Yukie from Kenda tried to go with her but couldn't match her speed. As the field caught myself and Yukie, I drifted back a bit to recover and Helene from Proman attacked and immediately had a gap. Unfortunately, this resulted in two more Proman riders making it to the break. Karla did a great job in the break though and took 5th in the sprint. At this point I focused on staying toward the front to help protect the break and allow ME to conserve for the final sprint. 
Sitting second wheel for the rest of the race, ME just waiting for her moment! (photo courtesy of Garrett Lau http://garrettlau.smugmug.com/)
On the backside in the final lap I went to the front in the hopes of providing ME a good lead out. I went as hard as I could, tried not to lose any speed in the corners, came through the final turn still at the front and started to sprint. ME came around just before the line to win the field sprint and 8th overall. I held on taking second in the field sprint and 9th overall.
Mary Ellen and myself taking 1-2 in the field sprint....you can just see my foot behind ME...probably a good thing since I don't think my sprinting face is all that pretty (photo courtesy of Garrett Lau http://garrettlau.smugmug.com/)
Thanks for reading,
JV
Sunday, August 10, 2008
FONG IS THE BOMB! U23 DISTRICT RR CHAMPION
We are so proud of our teammate Kim Fong, the current U23 District Road Race Champion...here's her report...
Fort Ord, a race of attrition if there ever was one. The U23 women were racing with the 1/2/3 women's field for the NCNCA district road race championships in each of our respective categories. Technically, I wasn't racing against all the "oldies" (don't take offense if you're over 23--you're just older than me), but I was still looking forward to racing against all of the women not in my category, just to see where my fitness was at. 6 laps of the infamous Fort Ord course, slightly changed from the year before to include a lollipop turnaround less than 15 minutes from the start and another 180 degree turnaround on the out-and-back section. One nice long pedaling descent before a sharp, quick lefty into the hill.
Things mostly stayed together for the first two laps. Then, on the third lap, Touchstone decided it was time to get something going. Kelly M. threw in a good attack but it was brought back; Maria M. threw in a good attack and it was also brought back. And then, on the climb, Olivia D. got a decent gap, taking the solitary Jazz Apple woman with her. The field was content to let them sit about 500 meters off the front for a few miles but wouldn't let anyone else off. The gap yo-yo'ed a bit, the hill took its victims, and by the fifth lap, there were only 9 of us in the front group (2 Touchstone, 2 Proman, Metromint, TIBCO, Erin and me). Touchstone did a great job blocking, and a concerted effort to bring back the break never formed despite Mary Ellen and Erin's valiant efforts on the front; eventually it had 4 minutes on us. On the last time up the hill, I nearly popped, but managed to convince myself that the race was in front of me and hung on to the Touchstone climbing train led by Maria M. Six of us crested the top together (2 Touchstone, TIBCO, Mel from Proman, Amanda Eaken from Metromint, and me). In the last 300 meters, Maria M. attacked from the back. I hopped on her wheel and came around her in the last 75 meters, but I was no match for Mel Metzger's wicked uphill sprint and took 2nd in the field sprint for 4th overall. I was stoked to have survived the race with such a strong group of women (a bunch of climbers, no less)! And the Women's U23 District Road Race title was icing on the cake. I had fun racing with such awesome women and teammies (Erin 10th and ME)!
Thanks for reading,
Kim
Kim has also made her presence known at the U23 National Championships taking 7th in the road race and 14th in the criterium. Great work Kim!
Fort Ord, a race of attrition if there ever was one. The U23 women were racing with the 1/2/3 women's field for the NCNCA district road race championships in each of our respective categories. Technically, I wasn't racing against all the "oldies" (don't take offense if you're over 23--you're just older than me), but I was still looking forward to racing against all of the women not in my category, just to see where my fitness was at. 6 laps of the infamous Fort Ord course, slightly changed from the year before to include a lollipop turnaround less than 15 minutes from the start and another 180 degree turnaround on the out-and-back section. One nice long pedaling descent before a sharp, quick lefty into the hill.
Things mostly stayed together for the first two laps. Then, on the third lap, Touchstone decided it was time to get something going. Kelly M. threw in a good attack but it was brought back; Maria M. threw in a good attack and it was also brought back. And then, on the climb, Olivia D. got a decent gap, taking the solitary Jazz Apple woman with her. The field was content to let them sit about 500 meters off the front for a few miles but wouldn't let anyone else off. The gap yo-yo'ed a bit, the hill took its victims, and by the fifth lap, there were only 9 of us in the front group (2 Touchstone, 2 Proman, Metromint, TIBCO, Erin and me). Touchstone did a great job blocking, and a concerted effort to bring back the break never formed despite Mary Ellen and Erin's valiant efforts on the front; eventually it had 4 minutes on us. On the last time up the hill, I nearly popped, but managed to convince myself that the race was in front of me and hung on to the Touchstone climbing train led by Maria M. Six of us crested the top together (2 Touchstone, TIBCO, Mel from Proman, Amanda Eaken from Metromint, and me). In the last 300 meters, Maria M. attacked from the back. I hopped on her wheel and came around her in the last 75 meters, but I was no match for Mel Metzger's wicked uphill sprint and took 2nd in the field sprint for 4th overall. I was stoked to have survived the race with such a strong group of women (a bunch of climbers, no less)! And the Women's U23 District Road Race title was icing on the cake. I had fun racing with such awesome women and teammies (Erin 10th and ME)!
Thanks for reading,
Kim
Kim has also made her presence known at the U23 National Championships taking 7th in the road race and 14th in the criterium. Great work Kim!
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