LadiesFirst Racing

Race Report by Christina Tamilio

With only one crit under my belt, I was happy find that the roads were dry and the skies looked clear at the starting line. I figured this would make for a much safer race! Our pack of 25 or so started the 20 mile, 32 lap race at a brisk pace. The course was an interesting collection of right and left turns, some sharper than others, leading back to a slightly uphill finish. I quickly learned the tactics of how to take the corners and when to shift and realized that I had a lot to learn as far as crit strategy! I spent the first half of the race playing catch up out of my saddle after each corner and wasting too much energy on the left side of the pack, where the headwind was strongest. I finally found the sweet spot and learned where I could move up in the pack with about 15 to go. Without dropping names, there were certainly a few incidents that spiked my heart rate, but I managed to stay in the clear and keep the rubber side down! Phew! The race was fairly uneventful in that there were no breaks given the nature of the course, but the field rode aggressively, fighting for key positions. With two laps to go, I worked my way into a strong position that was sure to take me into a winning sprint! It was clear that the sprint would be all about who made it through the last corner first. With two turns to go before the sprint finish, I was surprised by a few women who tactically moved ahead, positioning themselves ahead of me into the last turn. Before I knew it, the last corner was in front of me and I was too far back! I felt strong sprinting the last 250 meters to the finish and took a few women on my way, landing in 9th place. All in all, it was a good race and a great learning experience!