Tina missed the big Chicken!!!

The US 10 K race on Labor Day for the women goes by in a flash. It is a unique event as the organizers put up a lot of money for just 10 kilometers on our bikes. No, its not a track race, nor is it 10 laps of a 1k crit course - its in a straight line, over many rollers, the exact same course that the runners, roller bladers and wheelchair racers do. And the announcers call us cyclers.

She's a tricky one, this race. Its rollers are hard enough, the descent finish is tricky and has to be timed perfectly, usually windy, there are 2 primes along the way, and it is short, so you have to watch out if someone attacks.

Tina and Laura Van Gilder are the only ones that can win the NRC competition at this point in the season, so Tina kept an eye on her while I tried to control the attacks. As I brought one of the attacks in closer, they all gave up except Lauren Franges, who continued to dig. The result was that the hesitation of the rest of the field allowed her to stay ahead by 100 metres, which was enough for the win. Meanwhile, Tina missed the big chicken!!!

The big Chicken is the landmark on the course that signifies we are at the last roller, after cresting it, it is the downhill finish....you have to be in position or be fighting to set it up by then to have a good shot.....

Well, we were scrambling this time...didn't go as well aswe hit it last year, this year only 5th and 11th.

Andrea said she was having her morning coffee in her kitchen at the time we were racing and was thinking to herself: oh, they shouldbe starting about now...finished her cup and said to herself, they should be finished now.....

That about sums it up how quickly the race is over with.....

next up: Michigan and Tour of Missouri............