The day started with the trip to Casey Fields to find
opposite weather conditions from the previous round 1 race. The sun was shining
and the wind was gusting in what seemed like every direction when warming up around
the 2.2km course. Once warmed up and
ready to go, the time trials were ready to commence in order to grade all the
riders. I was first up to battle out one lap on the windy course followed by
Carly, Nik, Lauretta and Kate. Once all riders had finished the prologue we
were broken up into our grade with Carly and myself narrowly being placed in
B-grade and the other BCS girls to battle out A-grade.
After a bit of a break of watching Cheryle Barker performing in the novice category and having something to eat, Carly and I were ready to begin. The wind had started to die down for the beginning of our race and I started off sitting on Carly’s wheel as we commenced our first lap. It was an aggressive criterium with each lap riders pushing to get to the front to take the lap point. This resulted in many attacks throughout the race, but most were brought back in very quickly. After positioning myself in the middle of the bunch, I sat in and held the wheel in front not bothering to sprint for the lap points.
After a bit of a break of watching Cheryle Barker performing in the novice category and having something to eat, Carly and I were ready to begin. The wind had started to die down for the beginning of our race and I started off sitting on Carly’s wheel as we commenced our first lap. It was an aggressive criterium with each lap riders pushing to get to the front to take the lap point. This resulted in many attacks throughout the race, but most were brought back in very quickly. After positioning myself in the middle of the bunch, I sat in and held the wheel in front not bothering to sprint for the lap points.
However soon enough the mid race sprint came around, I could see Carly had positioned herself well to contest and got 4th to claim 1 point. I stayed in my position and got Carly on my wheel giving
her a break. However the sprint had caused a gap in the field and a
breakaway had occurred.
The groups were about 50m apart with both Carly and I
in the 2nd group, once they started to get away we decided we needed to catch
them quickly. The pace was increased until we managed to join as one again
and then it suddenly slowed. Coming into
three laps to go we were both sitting in the middle of the bunch as the speed vamped up, with some futile attempts to breakaway, but with the
bell ringing and one lap to go Carly had made her way to the front and I knew
it was important to did the same. After several attempts to get to the front and
coming into the final straight I found myself stuck in the middle but could see
Carly at the front about to go for the sprint. Carly crossed the line in a very
impressive first position after a group sprint and I rolled through with the
rest of the bunch in 13th.
As soon as B-grade was over Carly and I warmed down as we watched our team mates compete in the A-grade field. It looked to be an attacking race with many breakaway attempts, including some attacking racing from our own girls. Kate picked up some points in the mid race sprint battling the Liv Giant girls over the line. A one girl breakaway attempt lasted into the final lap before the group brought it back to finish the race with a group sprint. Kate led around with Lauretta on her wheel allowing her to sprint her way into 4th position. Nik came through in 14th position with Kate closely following. It was a great exciting day and a great lead up to the final round ridden on March 23rd.
As soon as B-grade was over Carly and I warmed down as we watched our team mates compete in the A-grade field. It looked to be an attacking race with many breakaway attempts, including some attacking racing from our own girls. Kate picked up some points in the mid race sprint battling the Liv Giant girls over the line. A one girl breakaway attempt lasted into the final lap before the group brought it back to finish the race with a group sprint. Kate led around with Lauretta on her wheel allowing her to sprint her way into 4th position. Nik came through in 14th position with Kate closely following. It was a great exciting day and a great lead up to the final round ridden on March 23rd.
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