Sun Prairie Cyclocross and Carpenter Park

Thankfully we only had to drive 20 minutes to the race on Saturday because we will be doing tons of driving for races starting this weekend. We will be doing St.Louis Gate Way Cross then Cincinnati Cyclocross festival, then the mud fund cup in Louisville and finally Jingle Cross in Iowa City.  I warmed up on the road, and then pre-rode the course and rolled up to the start line. I jumped in the front row and after taking my power gels the whistle was blown. I took a immediate second place right off the line and chased first place for half a lap. I stuck on his wheel until the second lap when I passed him before the hill, I rode it and he made a mistake and I never saw him again. I went super hard to stay ahead off second and hold a 20 second gap. He gained some time on me in the flats but I gained twice as much time on him in the technical sections before and after the hill and barriers. I was thrilled to win the race my team was putting!

The next day we drove down to Chicago for the Carpenters Park race. It was a huge event, very festive, over 700 racers and a great course! I was doing the Cat 4's at 2:45, my sister raced at 10:45 and clobbered the Cat 1/2/3 women for her fifth consecutive Category 1/2/3 win. I made sure to stay fueled up all day so that I wouldn't be low on energy. There were about a 100 people in my race and thankfully I got first call up because of CrossResults.com points. We started and I was 6th going through the first turn. I moved up into second while we were going through the whoops and the corn field. I chased after first place until the beginning of the second lap. I stuck right on his wheel for another two laps. I was stronger than him on the flats and cornered better then him so at the beginning of the last lap I took the lead and gave him a run for his money. I hit the technical sections and motored down the flats waiting for 2nd place to make a mistake. Finally right before the last set of turns he followed me too close on a corner on my inside and went down. I took off like a bullet! I smashed the little hill and took off, going 25 around the start to the finishing straight. It was a super exhilarating and a great learning experience. This was my first Chicago Cross Cup Cat 4 race and win, and I won $30 and a Surly flask. It was the first time I had won money! Next week I will be fighting it out with the 1/2/3/4's in St.Louis!

The Hill

Grafton Pumpkin Cross and Further Cross

Well I had heard this was a great race and a super fun course, so I wanted to race here badly and once I saw that it was going to be wet I was even more excited! We got there and I warmed up but my brakes were just not working how I needed them to so I ended up racing me and my sisters pit bike. They blew the whistle and we were off, I was trying to start my garmin and was a little slow but I was still second out of the first turn And passed into first 5 seconds later. From there I went super hard and pulled away immedietly, it was a super great course so I was happy to get a great work out in and get my second Cat 4 win by over a minute!

The next day we did further cross in Verona, it was only 20 minutes away from my house so I had plenty of time. I warmed up and went to the start, Craig blew the whistle and we took off I sprinted super hard because I wanted to be first going over the logs on the hill so that I could ride then and open up a gap. I was first off the pavement and going through a tight twist right before the hill two guys were overlapping my wheels and went down, halting the entire field except me, I road the logs and opened up a good gap. But coming to the gravel hill climb I got passed by a guy and couldn't hold his wheel. It happened again on the second lap and now I was in

third. I chased hard but I was tired from the day before and the course just took a lot more power than I had. I still got on the podium, had a great time, and was glad to come out and do a fantastic race! (I think it might be Cat 3 time!)

Bring The Noyes Cross and WORS#12

On Saturday we drove over to Milwaukee for Bring the Noyz Cross Day 1. I was super pumped and ready to win! I rolled up to the start line all warmed, and ready. When that whistle blew I was gone, apparently there was a big crash behind me right before the first turn but I had all ready pulled the holeshot and was building a gap. For the first two and a half laps there was one guy with me, but on the second lap I pulled away from him in some technical turns and then just rode away. I then rode solo for the last two laps and stayed focused until I crossed the line. I was super pumped for my first cat 4 win of the season and I hope for many more!

On Sunday I went up to the last WORS race  because I only had to finish the race to win the series. At the start a guy missed his petal and all most took out the whole field. I ended up having a awful start but I  moved up through the slippery muddy single track until I was in first. It was all going good until I slid out on a corner and bent my derailleur hanger and then I shifted it into the spokes twice. I lost a lot of time and dropped back to third but then moved back up to second.  I was mad but it was my own fault and I didn't need to win the race to win the series anyways. I ended up second and was disappointed but I still had a great time in the mud!

Before!

After!