Orosi Road Race

By Victoria Vallstrom
Date: March 25, 2006
Category: Women 3/4
Filed Size: 15
Teammates: None
Place: 1st

For everything to go so wrong in the beginning I did not expect things to end so well.

First I forgot my helmet -- luckily they had spares. Second, I forgot my pump and I had put a wheel on I had not ridden for 3 months, but of course there were plenty of pumps to borrow before the start. Finally, I was convinced this was to be a dry race, and just before the start the rain came down. Luckily Tracey was there and she had a spare raincoat that she lent me. Thanks Tracey :)!

We were about 15 Cat 3/4's starting the race; rain was on the agenda for the full race. There was a 4-mile promenade to the start of the race. Once on the course loop, the climbs started. Two ladies and I immediately broke away from the pack. About 10 minutes later Lisa Penzel fell off the pace. The remaining lady was pushing hard on the climbs and was scary fast on the downhills. I immediately knew that the downhill was where she could break away from me - and I did all I could to keep up (at times I was really scared). During the first lap we had a good pace, working together taking pulls and passing several Cat 1/2 ladies who started five minutes ahead of us.

My companion was really strong in the first lap; however, just as the climbing started the 2nd lap I noticed how she fell back. I felt good and since she was so fast downhill I decided to gain a lead on the hills. I stepped it up a notch and she fell back more and more until I could not see her. Rest of the 2nd lap was pretty uneventful -- I expected my competitor to catch up on the downhill, but I never saw her again. About 15 miles left to go I passed a 4th 1/2 lady and by the time I reached the 5 mile flat finish I could see the 1/2 ladies and their sag car far ahead. I finished a few minutes behind the 1/2 ladies pack (Jane Depas had broken away from the pack and won their category). It felt great to win; more hilly races for me!