Stage 4 – 9 March 2003 – San Dimas Criterium – 55 minutes

The course was essentially an L shaped circuit with 6 corners.  It was held in clockwise direction and took us through a residential area, past the civic centre and finished along the tree lined Bonita Ave.

Before the race, our TDS team visited one of our sponsors, Derek of Sock Guy who had a great display set up at the race finishing area.  We are now well equipped with some fantastic Sock Guy products and I took the opportunity to show off a pair of grey Sock Guy bootie covers during the race.

There were a few minor attacks during the first 15 minutes however the peloton was quick to prevent these riders from getting away.  Megan Elliot (Saturn) attacked after the 20min sprint and soloed for 2 laps.  Alison Dunlap (T Mobile) then went out after her with Karen Bockell (Rona) on her wheel.  I watched the 3 join up and knew it was the break to go with.  Saturn, T Mobile and Rona were already on the front shutting things down with the break already about 15sec ahead.  I attacked as hard as I could and buried it at 51km/hr.  I caught the break within half a lap and spent the next half lap recovering from my effort.

We all worked well together and established a 25sec lead.  Bockell was working harder than Dunlap and Elliot, who had both been present in yesterday’s break.  My team mate Joan, alongside Rona, Saturn and T Mobile helped shut down a few persistent attacks and ensured no one got across to our break.

In our final lap, I was sitting in 2nd wheel coming into the final corner behind Bockell until she swung wide.  I moved with her but she continued to slow down and eventually forced me to the front.  I didn’t want the pace to get too slow in case someone jumped from behind and I couldn’t react in time, so I lifted the speed and moved hard against the left railing and rode with my head cocked to the right to watch for any jumps.  At 600m I thought the moment was right and I buried it.   I went as hard as I could and with only 10m to go, I saw Bockell come up along side me.  I threw everything at the line and hoped I had won the stage.

After 15mins of studying the photo finish, the judges declared Karen Bockell 1^st, myself 2^nd and Alison Dunlap 3^rd.  I had lost the stage win by half an inch.  I was a little disappointed to have missed the win by so little but I am pleased with my current form and am looking forward to our Team TDS having further successes during the year.

Stage Results:

1^st Karen Bockell  Rona
2^nd Helen Kelly                 TDS Telecom
3^rd Alison Dunlap T Mobile

Overall General Classification

1^st Genevieve Jeanson        Rona/Esker
2^nd Amber Neben                T Mobile                        2.16mins down
3^rd Sue Palmer-Komar        Genisis Scuba/FFCC      2.46mins down

16^th Joan Wilson                   TDS Telecom                7.02mins down
18^th Helen Kelly                   TDS Telecom                7.10mins down
43^rd Shawn Heidgen             TDS Telecom                12.40mins down