Sunday, November 2, 2008
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.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
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.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Manchester World Cup Training Day 2
We just finished training session #2 and all is going well. Quinny starts racing tomorrow at about 10:30 AM California time and I'll update sometime after that. Points Race is Friday. Ta-ta for now.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Manchester World Cup Training Day 1
We made it to Manchester without too many problems. Flights were tight but that just meant that we hopped from one to the next...but bikes were not as lucky. Bikes followed however and Becky was on hers by the evening. With a confusion in time changes which may have happened last night...a mid-week shift?? We showed up an hour early to the training session- better to be on time wondering why we were the only folks here. We'll take some pics and update tomorrow morning at the track session but all is good and racing starts Friday afternoon. Weather is as cold and rainy as expected...hey it's England.
Becky and Neva
Becky and Neva
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Elite Track Nationals - Points Race
Finals (25 km/100 laps) - October 5
Becky (2007 National Champion), Christen, JennX, and I took to the boards in the points race on October 5 to close out the 2008 Elite Track Nationals. SBW had a great presence with four riders out of 22 in the field. All four of us were very active from the beginning, attacking and trying to establish breaks. Becky looked to have gotten into a promising break, but it wasn't long until the field decided that was a dangerous move and reeled them back in. Christen got into a great break and managed to lap the field to earn 20 points.
Unfortunately, I was sent crashing to the boards on lap 50. However, once the doctors and paramedics checked me out, and Shimano got my front wheel changed out, I was able to get back into the race when they restarted. It was a bit difficult getting moving after going down hard and having several minutes of inactivity, and I ended up losing a lap on the field.
Becky (2007 National Champion), Christen, JennX, and I took to the boards in the points race on October 5 to close out the 2008 Elite Track Nationals. SBW had a great presence with four riders out of 22 in the field. All four of us were very active from the beginning, attacking and trying to establish breaks. Becky looked to have gotten into a promising break, but it wasn't long until the field decided that was a dangerous move and reeled them back in. Christen got into a great break and managed to lap the field to earn 20 points.
Unfortunately, I was sent crashing to the boards on lap 50. However, once the doctors and paramedics checked me out, and Shimano got my front wheel changed out, I was able to get back into the race when they restarted. It was a bit difficult getting moving after going down hard and having several minutes of inactivity, and I ended up losing a lap on the field.
With about 27 laps to go I went off the front of the field and was joined by Kacey Manderfield, Megan Guarnier, and Julia Manley. (PictureWe worked together really well, and with about 5 laps to go, Kacey, Megan, and Julia jumped to lap the field, but I just didn't have any sprint in me to go with them. Once they had rejoined the field, I ended up alone to take the final sprint.Christen's efforts in lapping the field earlier in the race earned her a 4th place finish, and once again SBW was present on the podium.
With that, the season came to a close for most of us. Becky will be out there on the World Cup circuit, hopefully laden with medals on her return flights!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Elite Track Nationals - Scratch Race
Heats (7.5 km/30 laps) - October 2
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 3
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)
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