Bow RR: Cat 4 and Masters Women Race Report - Cathy Rowell
Women’s Cat 4 – 23 starters
Carrie Lemieux – 2nd, Shannon Madison – 6th, Erica Mains – 10th, Michele Harrison – 14th
Masters 35+ – 5 starters
Janet Ramos – 4th
Masters 45+ – 13 starters
Annette Kennedy – 9th, Julie Lockhart – 10th
Carrie Lemieux: I set my goal to stay with the lead pack and try not to do too much work in the front. I felt I had to finish every climb in the top 3 in order to not get dropped on the descents. I finished the climb of the first two laps in either 2 or 3 position, so I could hold onto the pack for the descent. In the last lap as we started the QOM climb the pace motorcycle told us he was going to neutralize our race because of the men’s masters behind us. We didn’t want to do that in the very middle of the climb – so he told us we better ride faster. As a result I think some of the girls pushed harder. There were 5-6 of us cresting at the top at the same time in this final lap – this was not good for me as it caused the initial descent to be faster. I had less people behind to grab onto. As a result, I started to get dropped…couldn’t catch onto the first two riders from behind me. The next 2 riders came up and we probably could have closed the gap if we could have pace-lined together. Unfortunately, I seemed to be in the front of these two with no help. I couldn’t close the gap by myself- so we got dropped from the main pack. I then pulled these two riders the entire back half until another pack caught up. Shannon was in that pack, so it was nice to see a teammate. I think the group may have split again at the small climb prior to the descent past the fire station. It seemed there were less of us as we made the final sprint to the finish. I think I managed to cross second in our sprint group. I wasn’t sure where I finished in the race because I couldn’t tell who was Masters vs. Cat 4. I was very happy to learn I ended up 2nd Place in the Cat 4 group. I wish I could have stayed with the main pack to the end. All in all a good day racing and a tough one.
One of the riders kept aggressively trying to bump me off my wheel on the back half of maybe lap 2. I was really tight on the wheel and it was pissing me off. I didn’t realize it to be a tactic. I held my position and was getting really mad and we finally did the sideways shoulder bump off of each other. I stayed on my wheel, she didn’t get it. She said “wow those NEBC people taught you well”...so I wanted to give kudos to my NEBC coaches :-) Little did she know I was really close to giving in to her…except it was making me mad.
Shannon Madison: After doing the Tokeneke road race last weekend, I figured that there werenât many races that would challenge me so much due to the elevation traversed. The Bow course sure came close! The pack started the race together, at a moderate pace. The first major hill caught me behind some weaker climbers and I had to claw past them to bridge the gap that had been created between them and the stronger climbers. I made it back. Then came the KOM/QOM hill. Goodbye lead pack. My legs were not prepared for that long hill. Luckily, I was able to race my way back to the group after cresting the hill. That definitely took some effort on my part though. I told myself that I couldnât let that happen the next lap around. Well, it did. And then it happened again. That hill killed me on all three laps. Fortunately, I was able to regain my position each time. The third lap was really difficult to get back on, but I did have the help of a few others who had experienced the same wall that I had on that hill. Unfortunately, the lead few had broken away by this time and we had nearly a zero chance of being able to catch them. We were able to get back on the wheels of the 2nd group and I hopefully was at least a little bit of help to Carrie, who had been pulling that group for miles! The race was finished with a lot of effort, which always makes it more fun. I ended up 6th place in Cat 4, which I was happy with (one higher, however, would have put me in the money). I enjoyed the course and it was a terrific day for racing. Thanks to everyone who made this event so spectacular!
Erica Mains I started the course really excited. I liked the rolling hills and steep âshortâ climb to the top of the QOM. Unfortunately all of my grand plans of success fell apart on the very first climb up the QOM. With the neutralized start I didnât pay much attention to my placement at the start, which was a mistake. I started towards the back on the inside of the right hand turn out of the basketball court. Usually I have no problem working my way through the group and heading towards the front and along the yellow line (my favorite spot), but as we headed in the first hill I found myself being pushed to the inside and squeezed to the back, before I knew it I looked behind myself and realized there were only 2 people behind me. I looked ahead and could see some of the strong climbers pulling slowly, but surely ahead of the pack. Maybe my emotions got the best of me (or maybe, just maybe Iâm not back to 100% quite yet), but I just couldnât work my way up and around the people near me fast enough. By the time we got to the QOM the strong climbers were bombing down the other side while I was still working my way up and a gap opened up in no time. I spent the rest of the race time trialing/pace lining trying to close the gap to no avail. I managed to work together with an extremely nice and strong beginner who I taught how to pace line during the race. She picked it up fast and was incredibly helpful, even cheering for me as she zipped up the hills on her triple. Despite not staying up with the front pack (my goal) it was definitely great to be out racing again!
Michele Harrison: After pre-riding the course at 7 AM, I knew that the race would be tough, but I underestimated just how tough. The neutral roll-out of the parking lot was a little more aggressive than I expected and somehow I ended up at the back of the field for the first climb which was a huge tactical error. I lost the pack and spent the rest of the race working with random riders to avoid going it alone and to try to move up. The Boston Scientific women were awesome, as usual, and I worked with them for quite some time. In the back half of the final lap I lost Carol’s wheel and chased unsuccessfully. I picked up another rider who rode my wheel to the final climb to the finish line and passed me. Need to learn how to ride smartly…chalk this race up to a huge learning experience!
Janet Ramos: This was a tough day for me since I am not a hill climber plus I laid it on the line for the crit. At the start it was nice to see a large women’s field (cat 4, master’s 35+, masters 45+) so hopefully this will continue into the future. Unfortunately, I was only able to stay with the field 1/2 way through the first climb (ugh) but I kept them in my sights until 1/2 way up the KOM climb. I raced the first lap with Carol Decourcey one of my former teammates and we cruised on the back side of the course. After the 2nd time through the start/finish I was on my own so my goal was to finish and get more miles in even though my legs were not happy. During the race I kept thinking to myself ‘I am like Tom Boonen at the Tour, you only see me at the finish with the pack on flat stages’. Yay for all the Tom Boonen’s out there who do these hilly road races maybe next year I will be more like Levi or Contador. ;)
Annette Kennedy: Not much to say. Lee informed me of the start and how it broke up other packs. So I was ready…so I thought until my chain fell off as I saw Janet, Lexi and the pack take off. I was a little 8%&#! off. I tried to get back on but they were just too far ahead. Julie tried to give me a pull and encouraged me to go so I did .I did pass two riders but at that point I thought I could catch the group so I choose not to work with them. I wanted to give up on the 2nd lap but Cathy was there telling me to keep going and catch the rider 20 seconds ahead of me. So off I went. Did not catch her and rode entire race by myself.
Julie Lockhart: This was a really tough race. Great for me to test my mettle ⦠Got to work on those hills. Brooke was fabulous. I could see the pack for the first 8 miles, and then I dropped my chain (what the heck!!!) but just dealt, and got on with it. It was all about the hills, and I felt that I learned a lot about myself. I am fully recovered.
This was a GREAT JOB by the whole team. The course was difficult, but everyone hung in and finished, and was still smiling at the end. Congrats to each of you on a great accomplishment!