Stage 2- Time Trial
My start time was 11.13, it was windy and cold but at least it didn’t rain. My legs were still tired from the previous day, they felt ok in warm up but I knew with the wind and the first five miles being uphill I was going to have a hard time.
My half minute rider did not start so I focused on the rider a minute in front. The first mile was hard, with the wind, cold air and the rough road, eventually I got into a rhythm and found that even though the road surface was bad I had a faster pace in the big chain ring than I did in the small. I caught my minute rider within two miles then my 1 1/2 minute rider not long after.
The return leg was a tail wind but just after the turn it is uphill and my legs were really burning, eventually the downhill and tail wind kicked in and I had a good pace.
I finished 3rd.
Stage 3
Circuit Race
At the start of this stage no-one knew their overall position as no results were posted, so I just wanted to finish safely and decided that I would just ride in the middle of the group.
The race started at a steady pace and the group stayed together until the first time at the turn, one rider misjudged it and ended up sliding across the road. There was an attack not long after but the group responded and we were back together. The second lap the pace was up and down and then another attack, that rider was left dangling but we caught her before the town center. We eventually got the bell for the last lap and the pace was alot higher but the group only started to split as we came in to the finish.
I was in the middle of the group but a gap opened on the left and I took my chance and finished seventh in the group and fourth in my category.
At the end of the three stages I finished second overall, really pleased as I was riding on my own and apart from the winner who was on her own as well, everyone else had several teammates.
It would be great if we could put in a women’s team next year or even a team at the Mariposa Stage Race in May.