#163: Downers Grove
It probably was crazy to think I would be alright racing a fast criterium (Elite cat 3 crit at Downers Grove) with 7 days off the bike and a 18 hour journey with jet lag. Things started out okay and I was moving up but the hill took its toll after 15 minutes. I started to move back and was gapped up the finish grade and had to cover a few times. A few laps of this and I couldn’t do it anymore. Dropped. I am pretty disappointed despite all the reasons why I shouldn’t be. I was hoping that I could at least hold on.
Andrea had a better day on Saturday, taking 25th in the non champ race (P/1/2 women). The big event was a lot longer and faster and she wasn’t able to hang with the group. All-in-all, it was an exercise in humility, for me it is that you cannot race a big race with the wrong leadup and for her, a reminder of the gap between her and the top level pros. Not an unmanageable gap, but something that will take some time.
I took a bunch of photos of the women’s elite race and cut it down to 120 or so… here is the album.
[...] These are a bit old, but I just got these. Brian was up at DG along with Lauren… he took these photos (Andrea and Lauren were busy warming up for their race). He managed to snap a few pics before I was unceremoniously dropped. [...]
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