Road Nationals 2010

60K 2laps, hilly circuit

Started the race at the front of the group and stayed there until the first 'real' climb (up to the feed zone) where I started to dwindle off the back a little bit. I refused to get dropped so I fought as hard as I couls to regain my ground. As I did, I immediately moved to the front, talked to Kendall (my teammate) mentioning I didnt feel great but to counter my attack. I went, solo at the right turn before the really steep section, stayed off until the gradient eased up considerably. I got back in and soon the groups pace slowed. By this point I figured that I would do everything to get Kendall the win. On the descent of the second and final lap I attacked before the first roller, didnt gain much ground but Coryn was forced to work to pull me back. Waited a few K and the group was going super slow because noone would pull through to the front past Coryn. I was in 3rd wheel, and as Coryn was moving to the gutter forcing the girl in front of me to pull I attacked. I was at the base of a small roller right before a steep windy descent. I reach the top of the roller and see a shadow following me. Assuming its the group I swing off, look back and see only two other riders then a descent gap. I quickly yell to them that theres a gap and to go, so we do. We were working really well together, but were nearly certain the group was nearby. A motor pulls up, 50 seconds, then we really ramp up the pace. Pretty soon we had a minute and thirty. We hammer the descents, and the small size of our group allows us to take them fast. When we get to the hills though, I start to hurt (I had been doing a large chunk of the work) The two riders with me gap me just a little bit, but we are still off. Nearing the steep and long hill, Coryn comes flying by me and within a second is past the other two. Next is Katie Antonneau, and as soon as katie is at me I hear Kendall yelling for me to jump with her. She was off of Katie by a few seconds. I jump on Kendalls wheel and quickly pull through bringing her to Katie. The 3 of us work together to bring back Coryn, but before we catch her the group catches us. I make one last hard pull, and then drop back in the group when we finally catch her. I stay with the group up the steep part of the hill, but I am spent. When on the final little riser Coryn attacks, bringing Kendall and Katie with her, I fall off the group and crawl to the line. One girl catches me with 1k to go and I force her through with 500meters left. I put everything I had left into the sprint and beat the girl by mere inches. I ended up in 13th, and Kendall got 3rd.