McLane Pacific Cycling Classic – 22^nd March 2003

Course: 40 laps – 32 miles (51km)

Conditions: Sunny with minimal winds – 75F

Joan and I travelled 7 hours from San Diego to Merced on Friday 21 March to race the McLane Pacific Cycling Classic criterium and road race.  Our plan was to use both races as Solano preparation races and then continue northward to Fairfield where we will meet the full TDS team for the Solano Cycling Classic.

The criterium was held on a 0.8 mile anti clockwise loop with 6 corners.  The circuit was wide and fast, but was also bumpy due to the cateyes all over the circuit.  A huge women’s field containing 90 riders crowded the start line but I pushed up the side and had a great start position.  Without our full team, Joan and I could not cover all Saturn and T Mobile attacks.  We covered what we could and had to rely on other teams to chase down those that we couldn’t cover.  I felt quite ordinary today – my stomach was churning, I had congested sinuses and I just didn’t have the kick to do anything except hold a wheel.

The early sprint primes on laps 2,3 and 4 were for $100, $50 and $25, respectively.  Laura Van Gilder (Saturn) jumped on the 2^nd lap in preparation of the $50 prime.  I went with her and she led the entire lap with me just sitting on.  I came around her towards the line but she managed to edge me out on the line to claim the money.

Joan and I featured in a few early moves but most breaks were quickly reabsorbed.  The race was extremely fast and we completed the 50km race in just over an hour.  A trio containing Ina Teutenberg (Saturn), Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile), and Katie Safford (Minute Maid) formed early in the race but they never got more than 15 seconds on the peloton.  With 8 laps to go, the peloton reeled the break in, but T Mobile and Saturn were aggressive and continued to launch one attack after another.

With 5 laps to go Ina Teutenberg (Saturn) jumped away again, taking Dede Barry (T Mobile) and Carla Koehler (Minute Maid) with her.  The peloton was only 5 seconds behind the break but good defensive riding from the breaks team mates held the peloton off until the finish, with Teutenberg taking out the win.  In a congested field sprint, I came in 11^th and so behind the trio, I placed 14^th overall while Joan finished 19^th.

Results:
1^st Ina Teutenberg (Saturn)
2^nd Dede Barry (T Mobile)
3^rd Carla Koehler (Minute Maid)

14^th Helen Kelly (TDS)
19^th Joan Wilson (TDS)