Thursday, November 7, 2013

Cinci Three Day Cyclocross Festival




This was the first time we went down to this race and I was not disappointed! We left late Thursday night and got to Indianapolis by 1:30. 
Day 1
We left the hotel at 8:00 and arrived at the race at 10:30 for my 11:30 start.
 I prerode the course and it was tough, there was lots of climbing and it was a little muddy. Luckily I got first call up to the start line out of all the juniors and cat 4/5's. They fired the gun and we took off, I didn't have a great start so I spent the first couple minutes of the race catching up to first. From there Enzo jumped on my wheel and we opened up a huge gap on the rest of the field. I made up time on him on the hills and finally towards the end of the second lap I pulled rode away from and got a good 40 seconds ahead of the whole field. I was thrilled to get the 15-18 win and the overall win!
Day 2
The mud cometh! Mud, true cyclocross conditions and this course had it all, stairs, almost unride-able hills, barriers and a sand pit. I was thrilled because the barriers were short! So I could bunny hop them, I have been practicing for a while so I was glad to use my new skills. I got first call up and  took my place on the line. We took off but I didn't have a great start. Once we got to the hill I passed every one into second and nick got away but I caught him on the finishing straight at the end of the first lap. After the hill I started to pull way from him because I was faster through the turns and I bunny hopped the barriers but once we got back to the finishing straight for the final lap he caught up again. I led until the big mound where I rode the technical hill and after the last climb I took off down the hill hard and once we went by the sand pit I looked back and he was way back, I rode the rest of the race solo. I was thrilled for my second win of the three day cyclocross festival and to have a great time in the mud!
Day 3
This was the final day of this incredible event unfortunately and by now, my legs were feeling pretty tired! The course was pretty average but had a nice sand pit and a run up with some ride-able logs. The gun was fires and we took off I almost pulled the whole shot and immediately jumped onto Nicks wheel after the first turn. I followed his wheel and we opened up a monster gap on the rest of the field. On the second lap I went down in a corner and spent the whole rest of the lap closing back in on him. On the second to last lap I figured it would turn out to a sprint so I mentally noted places were I could pass him and where I was faster then him. I was going through the last set of turns much faster then him so I knew that's where I had to be ahead of him. He attacked on the hills right before the last set of turns and I stuck with him. He relaxed for a second and I counter attacked him. I took off through the corners as fast as I could and opened up a 10 foot gap. I moved over to the right side as we were going onto the pavement so he couldn't force me to move to the outside and I managed to hold him off in the sprint for my third victory of the weekend. 

This was a amazing weekend of racing and I was super glad to be able to come and race down in Cincinnati. I was thrilled to take the win all three days on three different courses! My sister Emma Swartz who is 16 got 13th place on Friday in the UCI Women's elite race and 14th on Saturday, and Sunday unfortunately her back went out and she had to pull out. I'm looking forward to Louisville next weekend!






Where I dropped nick on day 2
Me sprinting for the win on day three

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