San Ardo Road Race
August 27, 2005
Place: 3rd
Field: 19
Report by: Betina Hold

This race is relatively flat with a few rollers. It wasn't hard physically, but rather mentally for me. I was racing with 5:1 odds. Amber from Palo Alto Bicycles (PAB) is number one in Cal Cup and I am sitting behind her with her crit points separating us. The flats suit her well, and so did her 5 teammate team.

The first lap started fast. Some PAB women were trying to drive it, and attack, as well as these two girls from Amgen who I have not seen before. I covereed a few attacks and then realized quite quickly that PAB wasn't going to let anything with me in it go up the road. Finally, a group of 4 got off with Judy Hay from PAB, a McGuire girl, an Amgen girl and a TBB woman. I didn't feel threathened by this one, so I, along with PAB and Maria from Left Coast (who is sitting in 3rd in cal cup) let them go.

At this point I was starting to wonder what PAB, under the direction of Linda Jackson, had in mind. So, I decided to find Amber...I dropped back...hmm not here...dropped back some more...still not here...dropped back to the end, and voila. Here was Amber sitting on nicely getting some rest. So, for the entire next lap I was a piece of tape watching her every move. I hated sitting at the back like that. It was stressful not knowing what would happen and constantly being alert in case her or Maria who was sitting closer to the front, would try anything. I did however have time to think. I was telling myself over and over again to be patient. I was telling myself, that this is how Christine feels in a stage race... She has to sit and be patient, riding easy but forever alert for any sudden action... Man it was hard! I was even thinking of stopping to pee and then chase back on for some fun, but figured if Amber saw that she would attack...

Then lap 3 proved a little more interesting, because we started catching the breakaway. First 1, then the remaining 3 were swallowed up. After that point, Tait from Los Gatos dropped back and we chatted. She did some of the pulling at the front to help bring it back which was a nice help for me. So I told her to watch me and sit on my wheel. One one the the next risers, I flew up the hill, and got a gap. Then I heard Linda scream.."Amber.....go...", Just over the top, I saw a cloud of blue behind me and I sat up......drifted to the back again and said to Tait with a smile . "Looks like I am being marked..." Then I decided to keep watching Amber, which probably annoyed her a bit.

Before the finish, I told Tait my plan. I said just stick to my wheel and you'll get something, since I was going to stay glued to Amber. Two reasons, one she helped pull the break in, and two I figured she may not try to jump me if I offer her a plan and a potential result.

A few miles before the finish, the pace picked up. You could see PAB moving up, and some of the other flat-riders also moving up. I was glued to Amber's wheel. Then Linda went to the front and drove it up the hill. We were going single file and I was fighting real hard for Amber's wheel with Lori Cox from Velo Girls. I never gave up and after about 30 seconds I got my spot.

About 200m from the left hand turn (with the uphill to the finish), Jen Tafoya from PAB attacked and got a gap. It was small and no one was chasing. ... We were getting close to the left hand turn and Amber still hadn't made a move....I could feel the swarm coming because Amber was slowing letting Jen get a bigger gap. Then Maria from Left Coast got impatient and jumped..I was watching for her moves as well since she is 3rd in Cal Cup.. So, I jumped on her wheel... About 15-20 meters after the turn she faided... Then I heard Ted yell go, and I went. I jumped, and guess who was on my wheel? About 50 from the finish, Amber jumps me, gets a gap... I then jump on her wheel, and try to come around, but alas she got me by a half-wheel at the line. Jen got first, Amber second, Betina third and Tait got 4th.

Funny, a 3-hour race really boiled down to about 5 minutes of racing..

So, I am still second to Amber in Cal Cup. But I am sure getting much needed sprinting experience.

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