Gate City Women's - 8-9-08
Gate City Cyclone Criterium, 45 minutes plus 5 laps
August, 9, 2008; Nashua, NH
NEBC: Sally Annis (1), Mary Zider (2), Natalie Dumont (5), Rebecca Wellons (7), Cathy Rowell (9), Sam Dery (13), Susanne Delaney (14), Tami Buhr (16)
Race Plan
Since NEBC made up one-half of the field, we knew had to have good results at this race or go home very disappointed. We planned to be active, go after every prime and if the opportunity for a break presented itself, seize it. Otherwise we would wait until the finish and set up Sally for the win, this being her home town race.
How the Race Unfolded
Along with Sunapee, who had four riders in the race, we kept the pace high from the start. Mary and Sally went after the first prime, won it, and established a gap. The rest of the team got to the front and blocked widening the gap. They stayed out there for a few laps, forcing other teams to chase. We continued to go after every prime, winning most. After another prime, a gap formed that included Sally, Mary, Rebecca, Susanne and Tami, a Sunapee rider (Eve McNeil) and a rider from Mt. Holoyoke (Emma Bast). The remaining NEBC gals in the field did a great job blocking to help solidify this break. We won several additional primes with this break. Sally and Mary started to steadily attack the break. Eventually, McNeil and Bast quit chasing and Sally and Mary got away. Rebecca and Tami blocked and what remained of the break was eventually swept up by the field. The NEBC gals then did a great job blocking and interfering with any attempt to chase down Sally and Mary, who came across the line together for first and second. With two laps to go, the NEBC gals went to the front and picked up the pace. We were still at the front with one lap to go and had our train put together, but a momentary slow down allowed us to get swarmed by the Sunapee train. At that point, it was every woman for herself. We were disappointed to lose the top two spots in the field sprint, but Natalie, Rebecca and Cathy all finished strong in the top ten