Shelby Criterium – 3 May 2003

The Shelby criterium held in South Carolina was an anti -clockwise loop with 8 corners which included a gradual down hill and uphill around the back end of the course.  The start/finish straight was also slightly uphill with a gentle cross headwind.  The course was open and wide with no sharp technical corners.

The race was aggressive, however consistent with the races last week, with Tina Mayolo-Pic’s (Diet Rite) fast sprinting ability, her Diet Rite team kept the race together to enable her to win the bunch kick.

My legs felt reasonable but I didn’t have the powerful kick I usually have which may have been due to the solid training I’ve been doing in preparation for the next stage race starting next week.   I got into a couple of breaks but the wide open course prevented a small break having any advantage over the peloton.

For the first part of the final lap I was well positioned however on the second last corner, Emily, Anne and I became boxed in on both sides and were disappointed to all finished outside the top 10.  Tina continued her strong form by taking out the bunch sprint.

1             Tina Mayolo-Pic (Diet Rite)

2             Megan Long (OBRU)

3             Shannon Hutchinson (Colavita-Bolla)

14           Emily Gloeckner (TDS)

15           Anne Samplonius (TDS)

16           Helen Kelly (TDS)