Melbourne World Cup Race Day 2 Points Race Final

Wow, what a race. Becky placed 4th but that hardly tells the story.

After the qualifying heat where Becky was in a major crash, we started formulating a plan to just get her and her equipment prepped for the finals. We had a lot on our plate with two broken wheels, two broken pedals, and Becky's bumps and bruises. So the plan of attack was dealing with one issue at a time.

• Pedals- she rides special pedals and only one other team uses them- we needed to find a set for the finals to buy or borrow. Bob and John B. helped situate that plan into action.
• Wheels- we thought she taco'd her font wheel only but then we saw a fracture in her disc. She could ride her training wheels but we needed pit wheels. Start the search and ask for some big favors- favors were given by some old coaching friends, thank goodness!
• Gearing- with Becky's leg really roughed up- she had sustained a small hema-tomato as I call them and a massive bruise to the glute/hamstring we would need to under gear her- we figured it out.
• Bruises and bumps- minimize the swelling and impact over the 7 hours between racing- a massive ice/rub regiment took place- Becky was the perfect patient and did everything she needed to do.
• Skinsuits- she mangled her skinsuit so we thought we were short 1 and did a massive search in her gear bag to figure it out- we found one that she would use.
• Food- she needed to eat and hydrate which was a priority- with all of the caos we needed to make sure that was a priority.
• Mental aspect- a lot of things going on, a sore and hurt body, and a final to prepare for. Some friends from CA, family, and myself all said the same thing- hurt now, hurt later- what's the difference- just go ride and give it 100% and never give up...a "die trying" attitude.

With all of that we headed back to the velodrome to warm her up and get the equipment situated. Everything came together in an orderly plan- everybody did what they said they would just when we needed it. Becky was ready to go. My last advice was from her nephew Benny- "have fun Aunt B!"

Race starts and Becky gets into the pts in first round with 2nd. Becky stays back for 2nd set of pts and adjusts for 3rd set of pts- 2nd again- now Becky is tied in 2nd. The field is rolling, things are moving but nobody is letting off so to limit the attacks. Becky has had to roll into a few breaks from the pts but is doing well. 4th pts Becky misses the pts by a hair and it was a tough sprint- recovery is key and Becky has a pretty awful look on her face. I know I have to say something to keep her focused- I look up at the leader board and she is still in 2nd! I yell that to her and she livens a bit and situates for pts but has to wait until the 6th set and gets a pt. She is now in 3rd. 2 sets of pts left and the field is still rolling. 7th pts are fast and furious. Becky still in 3rd with 7 other riders who could take the bronze and I yell again to her- "everything Quinn, everything"- she is in the back and the field finally for the first time slows up and she jamms to the front just as the pace quickens and with 2 to go becky is 2nd position and the Ozzie starts jamming like no tomorrow- the final two laps was heart stopping- Olds gets on Quinny's wheel and sweeps and the Ozzie Goss is jamming like no tomorrow in the front and Quinn almost gets around her- game over- Goss gets 5 pts, Quinny 3...Goss wins the bronze by 1 pt. What a race.

Becky gave 200%, stayed in the race 200%, and raced a near perfect tactical, physical, and mental race. Knowing how many obstacles she had to overcome with her crash a few hours before it was a testament of what a world class athlete this woman is. She had a job to get done and no excuses. So coming up empty handed with a podium on this one was mixed emotion- it was a great race. the podium winners had massive team help- the Russian was protected by her counterpart, the Spaniard the same, and the Ozzie had 4 other Australian's in the race. So smarts, heart, and soul were Quinny's team and it was well noted by the coach's who knew her situation. It was a pts race where 6 women all won pts in 4 of the 8 sprints. The top 6 had been in the first qualifying heat of which Quinny and Clif-Ryan contested. It was a tactical and sprinter race. It was a race and Quinny executed an inspiring race.

Thanks to Bob the Ozzie mechanic, Gary W., John B, Tone, the Quinn's, John L., Dave, Becky and the Oz race crew, Old with a great wheel sweep at the end, theresa and Gary, and everybody else who kept Becky in the game with support, help, and encouragement.

Melbourne World Cup Day 2 Pts Race Qualifier

The women were first to go today and the air was a bit electric with the women ready to fight for the 24 positions. 36 total were in qualifying again. Becky and Theresa were in the qualifier of "sprinters" and Shelly lucked out with mostly pursuiters- which can be dangerous however.

The 1st heat started out fast and Becky positioned for the first sprint and won 3 pts. Taking the 2nd sprint as a recovery, Quinny sat back and after the 2nd sprint the field kept pace when out of the blue 3 riders flew in the air in turn 2 (3 for those who count the 4 corners). My heart sank when I saw Quinny flip over. Bob the Ozzie grabbed the wheels and we ran full tilt. Bob changed out the smashed 808 and I got Quinny in with 15 to go and she immediately got in the field and settled in. Armisted who also went down was spewing blood from some cut but also got back in and Theresa Clif-Ryan was on the apron and got a throw in as well but she did not go down luckily. The final sprint ended with a break of 4 getting pts and Armisted trying to be 1st across the line for a position finish but it wasn't good enough, nor was her health- she was a bloody mess- really a bloody mess. Quinny made it through in 5th or 6th place and is one big bruise. her disc was also cracked in two and her pedals bent. So now we have to find a 2nd pair of wheels and pedals. Malaysia/John Beasley, Ozzie Gary West, and Bob the Ozzie mechanic have been fantastic and offered help which is really beyond belief- I can't tell you how appreciative we are.

Oh and I forgot to mention yesterday 4 minutes before Becky's heat her race front wheel got a hole and we were saved by Malaysia with a back up wheel for the pit while Bob the Ozzie helped get a new tire glued on.

Finals in 5 hours. Quinny and Olds were the 2 who made it through BTW for the US.

Melbourne World Cup Day 1 Scratch Race

Day one was quite an excitin' one down her in Oz. Becky and some fellow USA riders Theresa Clif-Ryan and Shelley Olds all toed the line in the qualifiers. 36 riders, 24 go through. Becky rode a perfect heat- text book so she was through. Both Theresa and Shelly made it through- Theresa with an impressive fight to the line.

In the finals things were kicked off with the Korean attacking from the get-go. Theresa at one point was in the counter move and was off the front for a while but the field stayed motivated- laps would be hard to take with that attitude. About mid-way through after a constant pace of attacks a group of 7 splintered off and had about 40 meters and growing so Becky dove and bridged and passed several riders who did not have the energy to hang on but the field had already organized and had slowly been reeling the break in. Theresa ended out in front again with another rider but the field was rolling so both Shelley and Becky pulled through.

With 4 laps to go things were a tidy mess with speed, legs, bikes, and bodies just rev'd up. Becky was in good position but was being tailed by Armisted (sp? sorry) and Cuccinata from GB and Italy (two of the best scratch riders)- somewhere between 3 and 1 to go Armisted with an Ozzie in tow bumped Quinny from below just as some other riders pinched her from above- it was going down to the wire- bumping and shoving landed Quinny in 6th and Armisted in 1st. Quinny came off the track with a big grin despite her lack of podium- it was her style race and she loved it.
USA: Quinny 6th, Olds 11th, Clif-Ryan 19th.

SBW UCI Track Team Heads Down Under

SBW will be heading to Melbourne, Australia for the 2nd World Cup taking place 11/20-22. Updates on the race will be posted on this blog site daily! Good luck SBW!

Manchester World Cup

Manchester World Cup Racing Day 2 Finals

Well- I must say it was the best scratch race I have seen Becky ride. The field started a furious bunch of attacks that left the field strung out for the first 17 laps. The Brits had 4 riders and were just sending attack after attack. The Netherlands and 2 other riders countered just as the field let up and they moved into a 1/2 lap lead without any contention from the field. Quinny made a decisive move and in an amazing move shot out of the field, caught them completely by surprise and bridged up to the break within 3 laps. Unfortunately Shelly Olds with a late move trying to match Quinny motivated the field with two Americans now out in front and they followed Olds in tow- it was too bad because the move Quinny made was brilliant. Now with 16 laps to go things heated up again and Quinny needing a position move made another monster move over the top of the field and got into perfect position with 6 to go. Machacova from CZE came over the top with 4 to go and Quinny was clearly in the cat bird's seat if Machacova could hold the speed but she died and the field caught up and Quinny was now swarmed and blocked in- just when there wasn't any hope Whitten from Canada broke away with 2 1/2 laps and gave Quinny and out who was in 3rd position on the Spaniard- but both Whitten and the Spaniard were dying and a GB girl came down on Quinny and boxed her in- Quinny can get out of almost anything but unfortunately not this box and the sprint was contested by 5 riders of which Quinny finished in 5th in her boxed in position. Shelly finished 6th, her best World Cup finish.

Manchester Racing Day 2

Becky just rode a perfect qualifying race for scratch. Shelly slid into the final round too after a crash at bell lap- whew, US is OK- Swiss and Italy banged up. Both Americans in final!

Manchester World Cup Racing Day 1

Great racing!

Becky won 3 of the 4 sprints in qualifying and handily made it through as did other American Shelley Olds who won pts in a sprint.

Finals- Shelly Olds scored pts in 2nd round and Becky in 3rd and 4th. Becky was in 3rd and then Shelly scored in 5th while Quinny blocked and then Becky scored in 6th round and they were placed 2nd and third with 18 to go. Sheer pandemonium happened and the field splintered apart and 7 folks somehow made it off the front as individuals which sent the Brits into a dither and the 4 Brits somehow managed to organize into a 2nd break of 3...3 of the splintered caught with 10 to go and 3 of the Brits...so now 6 had a lap up. Becky not knowing if they caught scored pts in the sprint but they were given to the break who had not officially caught. Shelley ended with 8 and Quinn with 10th. A good race but not good enough for the US to podium.