Cat's Hill Criterium

By Victoria Vallstrom
Date: May 13, 2006
Category: Women 3/4
Filed Size: About 30-40
Teammates: Holly, Katie, Bri, Lex, and Elizabeth
Results: Victoria 4th, Hollie 5th
Winner: Amanda Eaken, Metromint

Criteriums are not my favorite; mostly due to the tight pack - but when the a criterium has the word "Hill" incorporated into it, it does make me a bit excited.

10 laps, 6 turns, 1 steep hill, 1 flat finish, and most importantly 5 PABW Powered by TIBCO ladies at the start line.

Race tactics were for Lex and Katie to work in the beginning, ALWAYS have a TIBCO lady in any attack, and in the end (2 laps to go) I was to go to set up for Bri to take the flat finish.

First time I got the tactics down before the race; now the hard part: putting them in action.

Race started and the moment we hit the hill I was in the front pack; a Metromint lady attacked and I followed (in my mind I heard Linda: one of us had to cover the attacks especially the Metromint or McGuire ladies).

But 2nd lap I was still in the front of the pack - especally when hitting the hills. I looked back and I would see Bri, and Holly was right next to me. This is were I should have slowed down a bit so the pack could reassemble, but no, I kept on going (don't ask me why, just blame it on the Victoria that also chases her teammates down).

On the 3rd lap Bri biked next to me and gave me the mayday for her race, and that she could not stick to the plan. I heard her but did not listen so when we hit the hill and Bri was gone I started to wonder what she tried to communicate to me - so I kept on going thinking that she was telling me that she was shot; but would stick in.

So there I was in the front on every lap up the hill. With 2 laps left I stepped it up a bit further but could not drop the metromint ladies enough to be able to take the flat sprint.

Looking back, I should have slowed down on the 4-5th lap and rested more and let others work, and then with 2 laps to go REALLY attacked on the hill and gotten a gap :)

At the finish the two Metromint ladies attacked and got 1st and 2nd. I got 4th and Holly was just behind me taking the 5th.

It was a great race; lot of people watching; and we had a sponsor tent at this event which was really fun.

We got 4th and 5th which is great; and as always I learned some lessons to have in my back pocket for next time

So what I learned this race was:

LESSON #1: Bri told me before the race to make sure my chain line was good for a shift to small ring - Great advice Bri, worked great.

LESSON #2: Listen to your what your teammates are saying; and then confirm you heard right.

LESSON #3: A race does not have to be fast, it is OK to go slower (noticed that for sure on Berkeley Hills the next day)

P.S. I did put lesson 2, and 3 in action the following day at Berkeley Hills. It was a really slow race (Lesson #3) until the last climb and I did stick to the plan the whole time: being on Brooke's wheel, sitting in the pack, and not working until Brooke asked me to attack, I confirmed with her that I heard right (Lesson #2) and was very excited about the task :).