Quad Knopf Sequoia Valley Criterium

Report by Webcor rider, Helen Kelly (Australia).

On Sunday 18 March, I raced the Quad Knopf Sequoia Valley Criterium with 3 of my Webcor team mates, Amber Rais (USA), Rachel Heal (Great Britain) and Laura Yoisten (Canada).

Amber and Rach both felt a little sore from the previous day’s time trial effort, however, after our warm up, we were all fired up and ready to race hard.  The course was flat and fast with 6 corners per lap.  Each lap was 0.7 miles or 1km for the metric readers.

Our strategy for the race was to keep our sprinter, Laura protected and as rested as possible for the finish.  Rach, Amber and I had the job of watching for attacks and ensuring that at least one Webcor rider was represented in any break that went up the road.

The race was fast with attacks starting on lap 1 by tmobile.  Riders from Colavita, Aarons and Cheerwine teams also rode aggressively and kept the pace high for the entire race.

With so many good sprinters in the field, a bunch finish seemed inevitable and none of the many breaks ever gained more than a 10 second advantage.  With 10 laps to go, the field was together and the major teams jostled at the front to help position their sprinters.

Unfortunately, there was some confusion towards the finish as the lap counter erroneously showed 2 laps to go and then proceeded to display 3 laps to go on the following lap.  As a result, a few riders sprinted for the line, only to hear the bell ring, signally one lap to go.

Showing good early season form, Susanne de Goede (tmobile) took line honours, ahead of Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) and Rebecca Larson (Aarons).  Laura sprinted to 6^th overall, Amber 8^th , Rach 16^th and I was 13^th.