There were 27 women registered for the scratch race, necessitating heats to qualify for the finals. SBW had three women in the scratch race: Christen, the 2007 scratch race national champion; Becky, the 2007 points race national champion, and me. I am not a great scratch racer, but wanted to try to help Christen and Becky out.
Thinking that they would just eliminate enough racers to reduce the field to 24 for the finals, I was prepared to just need to beat out a few other racers to make the finals. When I got to the track on Thursday afternoon, I found out that I was in Heat 1 with Christen. Our heat had 13 racers, and Heat 2 consisted of 14 racers, including Becky. The communique said that they would be taking the top 10 from each heat, so I now had to beat 3 others. Then, the officials reduced it so that only the top 8 would advance to the finals.
I wanted to make sure that Christen advanced, but I also had to adjust my race plan so that I could hopefully qualify for the finals. I attacked early and went off on my own, hoping that I could maybe get away and lap the field. No such luck. I was out there alone for about 5 laps, then the field brought me back in. I attacked a few other times and covered attacks made by Anna Lang (Aaron's) and a few other riders. Anna Lang put in one final attack, but I didn't try to chase her down, thinking someone else would finally do some work. Instead, nobody reacted, and Anna would not be brought back. When the field finally reacted, I wasn't able to match the acceleration and had to chase. Julia Cross and Christen's mom were up in the center of Turns 3 & 4, and I could hear them yelling to me that I needed to catch a few more riders. Unfortunately, I came up one rider short and finished ninth. Christen rolled to the finish in 4th, easily advancing.
Becky had a relatively easy time in Heat 2. Kat Lundby (Helen's) went off the front early as I had done in the previous heat, and the field was content to allow her to stay out alone for about 6 or 7 laps before they reeled her in. Becky always kept herself in great position, matching every acceleration and avoiding putting too much effort in to save herself for the finals. She easily advanced to the finals, coming in 4th.
Finals (15 km/60 laps) - October 3Photo of Becky, Christen, and Shelley Olds (Proman) talking in the ready area before finals. CyclingNews.com/Rob Evans
Becky and Christen took to the boards to represent SBW in the finals. Alison Powers (Colavita) was very active throughout the race, but the field always seemed to let an attack go for a few laps before bringing it back. Becky and Christen once again kept themselves in good positions, and both worked the front to bring back breaks before they got too dangerous. With about 4 laps to go, Shelley Olds (Proman) and Kacey Manderfield (Verducci) got away together
and the field was unable to bring them back before the finish. Becky was able to hold off a charging Anna Lang to take 3rd, and Christen took 9th. They were not the results that Becky and Christen were hoping for, but SBW once again had a rider on the steps of the podium with Becky's bronze medal.
Becky and Christen took to the boards to represent SBW in the finals. Alison Powers (Colavita) was very active throughout the race, but the field always seemed to let an attack go for a few laps before bringing it back. Becky and Christen once again kept themselves in good positions, and both worked the front to bring back breaks before they got too dangerous. With about 4 laps to go, Shelley Olds (Proman) and Kacey Manderfield (Verducci) got away together
and the field was unable to bring them back before the finish. Becky was able to hold off a charging Anna Lang to take 3rd, and Christen took 9th. They were not the results that Becky and Christen were hoping for, but SBW once again had a rider on the steps of the podium with Becky's bronze medal. Becky on the podium(CyclingNews.com/Rob Evans)
Left: Becky in the Finals (CyclingNews.com/Rob Evans)
Right: Christen in the finals (CyclingNews.com/Rob Evans)
