It's fallen on my shoulders to report the ins and outs of the Atomic BC Cup Road Race (June 10). This is normally one of my very favorite courses, and I've podiumed on it twice (but never that illusive win rrgh). Sadly, though, the legs were a little rusty after some time off the bike for exam period, which finished June 6th.
Nonetheless, the entire Giant team had high hopes going into another road race tailor made for our resident climber, Leah Guloien. The course is mostly rolling, with one more significant climb right before the start finish, but is consistently difficult, and rewards the fittest riders.
Before the race, it looked as though we would be racing in a downpour - it was coming down HARD. But, somehow, the Cycling Gods smiled on us, and the skies cleared just in time to start our 60km race through the country roads of Abbotsford.
It started out so well - on the second lap Leah was in the break, the rest of us were in the pack, and working to get another Giant rider up to the break (or reshuffle the deck, whichever came first). Then as we rounded a corner on the back side of the course, who did we see? Leah, on the side of the road, with a flat. Claire selflessly gave her a wheel, and waited for the most incompetent wheel car ever to figure out whether she needed a front or rear wheel (you kind of have to expect this in local races). Needless to say, we no longer had a girl in the break, and there were only three of us left in the pack.
By the last two laps, the breakaway had lost its third rider, Sarah Stewart (Wedgewood), and we drilled it to catch her, but, as she later told me, when you're riding with the fear of being caught you can go faster than you expected. It also didn't help us that she's a triathelete, and well suited to time-trialing.
We managed to salvage a pretty disappointing day with our new addition, Laura Brown, taking the bunch sprint for fourth. I, on the other hand, was just lucky to finish with the bunch (not usually my attitude). I was in a world of hurt... but after this weekend's training camp, things are coming around - Watch out!
Results:
| 1 | 218 | Marni | Hambleton | Symmetrics |
| 2 | 210 | Leah | Goldstein | Symmetrics |
| 3 | 230 | Sarah | Stewart | Wedgewood |
| 4 | 211 | Laura | Brown | Team Giant |
| 5 | 220 | Danielle | Kenny | H&R Block |
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