Where have all the Cat 1/2's gone? And Tour de Mont Pleasant...

This year has been a strange year for women's racing in Michigan. There are a lot of strong women who haven't been racing that usually do. I miss them a lot, in a weird sadistic way, but because they made the races exciting. I was usually off of the back by the end, but it was a hard work out, challenging, and left me wanting to train harder so I could just be able to stay in the pack and finish with everyone. Cyclists crave suffering. Yes, we are a strange crowd.  This year there have been just a few Cat 1/2 women at the races, with the majority of the field being Cat 3. The races have felt a lot like the Cat 4 races did. We Cat 3s need the Cat 1/2's out there to show us how it's done. I hope they are able to get to more races this season. Since there really aren't that many women who race in Michigan, I actually do know where most of the Cat 1/2 women are, and honestly what we really need is just more women who want to race!

Women's 1/2/3 start

Anyway, I raced Mt Pleasant last weekend (I only did the RR, my son was in a play and I had to miss the TT and Crit). They moved the race this year from downtown and out to the casino. This was my second road race and it went much the same as Frankenmuth...pretty flat, with people trying to attack and get away, but yet not able to. The whole pack chases down each attack, even when it's their own team mate out there. I did chase down one attack, but otherwise sat in and watched the riders. The pace was steady, not too slow but not much faster than a good Sunday group ride. I chatted casually with a few of the girls, commented on the weather, the scenery, the races so far this season. 

Then I felt like what the hell, so here we are again, just riding to the finish line and sprinting again. Which to me feels almost like a toss of the dice as to who will win. Coming into the last few miles I decided to try and attack, and see what happened. I went out as hard as I could, stood up for what seemed like forever, and looked back and there was virtually almost no gap. Settled back in, took a break for awhile, and attacked again. Joann Cranson was out with me and we tried to stay away together, but got reeled in again. 

At least this got the pace up, and as we entered the road before the last turn, we were going pretty fast and we were pretty close together. My heart was racing,  we were going about 24 miles an hour, someone's handlebars were bumping my ass on the left, and the person on my right was equally as close. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I started to slide back my position to get some room and when we came into the corner everyone was in front of me. I looked up and there was the whole pack on a one lane road one kilometer from the finish. 

Shit. I noticed that no one was over the white line on the right, so I edged back and went over to shoulder of the road, and having no one to draft off of, pushed it and moved to the front. We were probably going about 25 mph here, and I was neck and neck with the front line of women, when at about 200 meters to go they kicked in their final big push and I had no more to give. I saw the woman next to me stand up and and and...I couldn't. I watched them all ride on by. 

Everyone else pretty much finished up where they came into the corner as there was no room to go around anyone in the sprint. It would have been nice if they could have at least opened up two lanes for the finish. I missed the old start/finish in downtown Mt. Pleasant. 

So, no big podium at this race, but at least I experimented a bit and tried something new. Thanks to  Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce for continuing to put on a great weekend of racing! My vote is to move the road race back to downtown or find a way to open two lanes for the finish. :) And thanks to Kim and Dave for letting me carpool with them!

Women's 1/2/3 results

Crash number 437

This is from me trying to be cool. I should know better by now. Bella looks worried for my sanity.