VAlley of the Sun Criterium Current mood: accomplished Okay okay, I DID finally find where the race bible indicated that there was a time bonus at the end of the road race. There was also one at the end of today's criterium. My teammate, Helene, actually found where it said that in the race bible, so my bad. Either way it didn't matter because of bad luck before the finish yesterday and today. Erin Mirabella had 2 seconds on me today, and Anne Samplonius was 22 seconds behind me. There were time bonuses at the finish. I HAD to win the race to win the jersey back, and Erin had to get 3rd or not place in the top 3. My only hope was catching her off guard which would be hard to do since I knew she would be marking me like a Sharpie! Every time I turned around I saw Erin, but still I tried to get away several times. The course was technical in that the roads were rough. In one corner there were actually those little turtle bump thingys. There was also a chicane, and it was windy again. There were some attacks, and most people I let go unless Erin or Anne were in the breaks. The race was SUPPOSE to be 40 minutes long, but I don't think it was because all of a sudden I heard "4 laps to go." I had just drifted back a few spots and was next to Jen of Bicycle John's (Erin's teammate), Erin, and Anne when all of a sudden I hear this girl zipping to my inside trying to ride in the curb. Well guess what? She didn't take a good line, and she ended up crashing me. I hit hard on my right buttcheek and also hurt my right humerus and wrist. I jumped up quickly while yelling, "I can't believe you just did this to me!" I mean you don't try something THAT risky around the top GC riders when there are no more free laps. In criteriums there are no more free laps after 5 laps to go, so no matter what happens to you, you just have to ride it in. If the crash would have occured with 6 laps to go, then I would have been able to go to the pit and get put back in the race when the pack came back around. As it was I had to time trial for 4 laps just dangling off the pack all the while watching my 2nd place and a chance for the win ride away from me. It was SO frustrating for me. I had to keep riding hard to stay within 22 seconds of the pack. I finished behind the pack, but I didn't know how far back. I ended up holding on to my 2nd place, but it was only by about 1 or 2 seconds. Whew! I was more disappointed with not having the opportunity to go for the win because that's what I planned on doing. I was going to work some magic and try to take it all, but I didn't get the chance to. It is really hard to swallow knowing that I only lost the whole stage race by 2 seconds because I think back to all of the times I stopped pedaling during the time trial to shift positions on my bike. I think back to anywhere possible I could have gained 3 seconds, and there are lots of places. I should have ridden faster... I won the jersey, and I lost it. That's a tough one. I felt bad for my teammates because they were really excited to be in the leader's jersey, you know? Although they remained very positive the whole time, I felt like I disappointed them a little bit. I wanted the jersey as much for them as I did for myself and for the people in my club back home. BUT, I'm not banged up too badly. My pelvis is jacked up, though, because I tried to run and couldn't. I'm hoping that will get better quickly. AND I DID win the jersey one day, so that was cool. My teammates also rode very very well; they are coming along nicely, and I'm so proud of them. They overcame some personal hurdles which is wonderful. Helene stayed in the crit. and helped block the wind for me in the road race. She rode beautifully both days. Angie never gave up in the road race and finished just off the first pack. She was riding a great crit. unitil she flatted with only 3 laps to go. She went for all of the primes which showed her aggressiveness. I'm happy for them both. It was fun seeing old teammates and other riders. Everyone was sweet to me, and lots of women asked if I was Andrea and introduced themselves to me. That's interesting... I'm taking it as complimentary. Thanks for your encouragement.

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