From Cycling News (L-R): Nikki Theiman (Team CF), Jenn Maxwell (Van Dessel Factory Team), and Lenore Pipes (The Wistar Institute) make contact in the sand on Saturday.
Day 1
I’ve been wearing a facemask all week because of a lung infection from
racing the previous weekend. So, I wasn’t too confident going into the
weekend. I wasn’t even sure I should be racing this weekend because I
couldn’t even finish the local cross practice we have on Wednesday
nights. I know I have some good fitness coming off the road season,
but it just didn’t translate too well at Nittany. My plan was to do a
couple laps and just take it from there because of the infection. My
start was fine and I was 5th wheel behind Laura Van Gilder, Kristin
Gavin, Deedee Winfield, and Arley Kemmerer. I tried to hang onto the
front group as long as I could and people were trying to pass me also.
I lost contact with the front group after the dismounts/remounts
(gotta work on that) in the first lap, and rode much of the race with
Nicky Thieman. As we tried to battle it out, Jenn Maxwell came flying
by but later suffered a mechanical. With about 1 to go, my road
teammate, Erin Silliman finally caught up to us. Erin attacked Nicky
through the paved start/finish and I stayed glued to her wheel. I was
able to pass Erin by riding the sand section, and almost caught 5th
place finisher Erica Yozell by a few seconds. I finished 6th on the
day, which is my best UCI finish ever. I finished 15th in this race
last year, so it feels really good to be improving.
Day 2
I still didn’t know if I was going to race this day because of my lung
condition, but I was surprised by yesterday’s result so I figured I
should at least start. My start was fine again except this time, Jenn
Maxwell crashed about 1/4 of the way through the first lap and I went
down right behind her. I was bummed to be quickly dislodged from the
front group because of the crash but I was determined to still have a
strong race. I was able to catch up to Nicky before she dropped me and
I spent most of the race solo (not a good sign for me!) until I was
caught by Katrina Dowidchuk and Erin again in the finishing laps. They
were able to get around me in those last laps but I finished a few
seconds behind them for 8th on the day. Another top 10 UCI finish for
me. It’s been great racing this weekend and I feel like once I get
over my lung issues, I will feel alot more comfortable in the races.
I’m excited for Adam Myerson’s race next weekend with a different
crowd, and I am looking forward to Mayor’s Cup as well to conclude my
2010 road season.
