Baby Tour of Ohio Stage 2

This was the second time I've raced on this crit course (last time they called it a road race), and I have to say it's not bad. I'm not a fan of the one sharp turn near the main road, which I could never do right, but I loved the sequence of turns just before it. It was my own fault I creatively off-roaded it on the uphill turn a bit later. I was feeling really good, despite the morning TT, and led a few laps, threw in some attacks. I didn't mean to split up the SH women the way I did, but this was the first time I've raced with teammates other than Wendy. I was trying to wear down Erin, who had taken 2nd in the morning TT. I didn't have enough common sense to realize I was hurting my team. Thanks, JoMay, for reminding me of one of the strategies Cindi had given us during the women's weekend. If only I had thought of it. The last few laps it was just Erin and me. In the final lap, the men's 4-5s lapped us (again), and she and I tried to let them get past cleanly. They got by, then we ramped up our speed faster than the end of the field. We got tangled up with them for our finish. Erin came out of the corners better, and accelerated sooner than I. I needed a few more yards to finish the charge I had started. Still, I'm pleased with the sprint I had left in my legs, and can't complain. I'm looking forward to racing with my teammates again, and seeing what we can accomplish. I second Wendy's thanks to Chris--it was great getting encouragement each lap.

This crit should have been a gimme for SHC (4 SHC and only 2 other riders) if we had worked together as a team, but we gave it away. The race course wasn't as threatening as the guys said it was earlier this spring.

This was fun, too. I don't normally like crits and I can't corner to save my life, but this course was fun. Great pavement, and the roads were wider than some of them will be for next week. It was really nice that we were the only women's team there. I'm just sorry I fell of the back and couldn't be of more help to Shari and JoMay. Great effort from Brooke and thanks to Chris for cheering and encouraging us all on.

This race made up for the time trial it was a lot of fun. An ausome course to ride on nice and smooth. I think the whole team learnd a lot from this race or hopefully have and will show to moe and win. Sheri your a beast.


Brooke

I have never been the smartest cookie when it comes to race tactics. I just know how to hurt and what hurts everyone else. Being the lone savage hill rider in the field I tried to do too much and cover too much. I took the first prime for series points, which was a good thing, but there was one person I should have been sitting on waiting for "the" move. Of couse I did not sit on that persons wheel and did not make the move. Needless to say there was a four man break with all of the riders from the same team, all eating up the primes for series points. That was a hard pill to swallow. dohhhhh!

The pavement was good. The course wasn't as bad as was eluded to. For a 4/5 race it seemed like a fairly small field only about 25 riders. The race accordianed from the get go and I felt I did a good job of keeping right in the field. About half way through I guess I felt a little frisky and decided take a flyer. It didn't last too long and I never got more then about 20 meters. Oh well, had to try. Once back into the pack another accordian hit and somehow I got seperated, I think i followed the wrong person into the turn. I never got reconnected with the field. Another lap or 2 later Randy fell off the back and we started working together. Fairly uneventful remainder of the race. For having done the time trial in the morning I really didn't feel bad.