Kelly Cycle Coaching had 2 elite women participate in the Bay criterium events.  Jessica Laws raced on Day 1 whilst Carley McKay started Day 2.  Here is what Jess had to say about her bay criterium experience.

Bay Criterium – Stage 1 – Jessica Laws

If someone had told me a few of months ago I would have had a start in a Bay Criterium in 2012 I would have told them they were dreaming! Fast forward to January 1^st 2012 and there I was at the start of Australia’s biggest criterium racing series and perhaps the fastest in the world! I had only started increasing my road endurance in the 6 weeks prior to this and I was coming from training as a pure track sprinter, some might say it would be a challenge. Not that I am foreign to taking up a challenge, having been training and racing as a track sprinter for the last 5 or so years and going from wife, mother, world masters champion, three consecutive years as an elite women’s state track team representative at national track champs and racing two world track cups, you could say I was up for it!

Nether less, there I was ready to have a go. The lead up had been relatively uneventful. My prior Criterium experience was minimal to say the least, I had raced a couple of Glenvale crits in December and really that was about it. Helen had me slowly increasing road kms to ‘gently’ ease me into the world of endurance and I was practicing left hand u turns to build confidence. Of course going from predominantly 3 track sessions, 2 weight sessions, ergo, rollers and recovery road rides of no more than 1.5hrs a week, to doing longer road rides with efforts nearly every day does have a tendency to confuse the body. But I was definitely getting fitter and building aerobic base.

So why was a track sprinter even attempting to race at a ‘Bay Crit’? Well obviously it was to win – no just kidding, it was all about the experience and the learning process. Everything I do now is all for next summer when I aim to race track endurance and all the major criteriums, so Helen and Bob suggested racing at one the crits would be good so next when I race them I know what to expect. The decision was made to race the first stage on Ritchie Boulevard.

After having a pleasant (and early) new year’s eve with great company in Geelong after dropping my son off with his nana, the morning of the race was like any other morning of a competition and I did all my usual pre-race routines – rollers, good breakfast and chill. Only difference was this was on a road not a track! I did go down at lunch time to check out the course and have a good roll around – get the turns in my head – I could have stayed out and played all day but at the advice of Bob I went back to the Hotel and relaxed.

An hour and a half pre-race I rode back down to the Kelly team tent and set up ready for warm-up. I am no foreigner to rollers so that was my instrument of choice. Helen had suggested a good warm-up format – the key is to ensure your body is really ready so a hard warm-up is vital. Once the men’s race had finished I went out onto the course and rolled around to get a feel of the course again – the crowd was pretty good. It was quite nice seeing some old track friends and state teammates, who I must say seemed quite surprised to see me there! The commissaire stopped us near the starting line – at the front. Great, I thought, just the perfect place to start! However, he then proceeded to call team members up to the line. I was a bit confused and other riders went in front of me – but I was here first. Next thing I know we get told to roll up and I’m at the back – darn!

Unfortunately that was the common theme for a short time after the start of the race until the chief commissaire pulled me off the course. I barely got going! I wasn’t embarrassed just frustrated that I didn’t stay in longer, although I did get to watch the race from the sidelines and I didn’t crash! But as I learnt, not only do you have to be in that ‘sweet spot’, being at the back at the start is also detrimental. I suppose I should have asserted myself and pushed my way up, but as it was my first race on a ‘foreign ground’ I lacked a little confidence. I tried to hear if Phil Leggett mentioned my name, but I think you have to be up the front for that.

The good thing was I didn’t put any pressure on myself (which I can do at times) and so I really did have fun – the cornering was great fun and the atmosphere was cool. I did learn a lot and it was also great to see how the Kelly coaching team do their stuff. It’s funny too because some of the women who finished I have raced against and won against on the track. By having this experience it has fuelled my desire and made me want to have a good, hard go next season. It will be a long and hard process but I’m up for the challenge so watch this space!