Stage 3 – 60min criterium – 30 June 2002

Conditions: steady winds, 23C, sunny,

There were still 95 girls in the race so it was really important to get to the front and not get stuck down the back where it is harder to ride.  The clockwise course was about 1km long and was designed like a U, with 8 turns, 6 right handers and 2 left handers.  The top 3 GC positions were held by Saturn and were not under threat, however I knew Saturn would be looking for another stage win, and would be trying to set up a break with Saturn in it.

In the first 10mins, Bruckner attacked with two other riders.  I came around the bunch and sprinted across, and with the bunch hesitating we soon had a 15sec gap on field.  Bruckner was driving so hard I was hardly able to pull a turn.  After being away for three laps, a young boy decided to rollerblade right out on the course heading straight for us.  I was 4^th wheel and watched as the first two girls made it passed him, while the girl sitting 3^rd wheel slammed on her brakes and having no option, I did likewise.  We both swirved violently, and only narrowly avoided him.  I almost lost it as my back wheel locked up.  I sprinted back to Bruckner but the bunch was closing in so I sat up and recovered.

The rest of the criterium was made up of countless attacks, but all breaks were closed down.  There were a number of primes (sprint laps), however I wasn’t able to contest any of them.  The final lap was hectic and on the 3^rd last corner, two Amoroso girls touched wheels in front of me and wiped out across the road.  I manoeuvered out of their way and sprinted hard to get back to the remaining peloton as we reached the final corner.  It was too late to get positioned for a good finish but sprinted hard anyway to claim 20^th.  Teutenberg (Saturn) won the criterium from Arndt (Saturn).

Overall our team finished in 8^th place.  The GC results for the Solano Classic are:

1^st Judith Arndt
2^nd Lyne Bessette 0.04sec down
3^rd Kimberly Bruckner 4min52 down

Our team finished up as follows:
26^th Erinne Willock, 16min58 down
30^th Helen Kelly, 17min14 down
36^th Hiroko Shimado, 17min56 down
76^th Julia Farell, 29min36 down
92^nd Petra Ford, 48min49 down