Valkenburg World Cup

After the Zonhoven race we had the whole week to recover and train, which meant we had plenty of time to explore Sittard and the surrounding area. It is a pretty awesome little town, typical European style with a big town center and intricate brick streets and buildings. It was fun to visit all the little shops and experience the culture.

The rest of the week we trained as a team ripping around Belgium, Holland and Germany as well as putting in some skills work on the slick European mud.

Saturday we all drove over to Valkenburg to pre-ride the course. After lots of video analysis we thought we knew what to expect but it turned out to be a very different course. With lots slick off camber sections and tricky downhills it was a lot like a mountain bike course. After a few easy laps and a hard lap we packed up and headed home for dinner.

The next morning we piled into the vans and headed over again. At 8am it was only 35 degrees F and huge clouds of fog rolled up the Cauberg and onto the course. Lane, Ben and I did one lap on the course to dial in our lines and tire pressure before hopping on the trainers to warm up.

Unfortunately my random draw for start position was not so good. Technically I should have been about 6th row out of 9+ rows, but in Europe there's not really such thing as rows like we have in the US. Instead everyone crowds forward as far as possible forming one giant disorganized blob, and I ended up at the very back of it. When the light turned green I sat there for a few seconds waiting for the blob to get moving and was about 8th from last into the first corner. I stayed on the outside down the first descent, avoiding the carnage and moving up as much as possible.

I stayed on the gas, pushing it as hard as I could on the technical sections and sprinting up the two long run ups as fast as I could. On the third lap I moved up ten spots and continued to test the limits of my traction in the slick mud.



On the fourth lap I caught a rider from Luxembourg after the twisty start descent and made a tight pass on the outside. Right before the corner into an off camber sections he tried to get me back and I put my elbows to good use forcing him to hit the brakes rather than stack it into the metal fencing. Speaking of stacking it, shortly after I slid out in the off camber sections but only lost a few seconds and gained a little dirt.

Going into the fifth and final lap I just emptied the tank. I moved up a few more spots and just barely missed catching a big group of 6-7 riders. I ended up finishing 37th out of 60 riders, not what I was hoping for but it was an amazing experience to race my first World Cup!

This trip to Europe was pretty incredible and has been something I've dreamed about for years. I learned so much, had so much fun and experienced so many new things. The racing was so different and fantastic. As Chris McGovern (coach for the trip) said, "It's not about flow, it's not about ripping one corner well, it's about hitting it f**kin' hard out of every single corner. We're racing a different sport than in the US."

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and made this trip possible, I really couldn't do it with out you all!  I would also like to Marc Gullickson, Andrew Hawkes and Chris McGovern from USA Cycling for facilitating everything from meals to race registration. Lastly thank you to my coach, Joseph Maloney, my family, and my team Trek Cyclocross Collective for all their support as well as Trek Bicycles, Bontrager, SRAM, Honey Stinger, Mike's Mix and Englewood Grass Farm!

Polderscross and Zonhoven Superprestige

Time for a write up on my first and second European races! I landed in Brussels on Thursday morning, built bikes, and went for a spin with the rest of the group. It was pretty awesome to get my first taste of Europe and then I slept for 13 hours to get rid of the jet lag.



POLDERSCROSS, KRUIBEKE
Friday we did some efforts to open up our legs and early Saturday morning we hopped in the vans and drove the hour and a half to Kruibeke. After trying to find parking and inscription (registration) for awhile we finally located them and the team camp. Lane, Ben and I got kitted up and did a few laps on the course. It was pretty slick and pretty simple, with a few good climbs, plenty of off camber sections and huge flyovers.

After preride we pinned our numbers, warmed up on the trainers, and went to the start. I was third row call- up in the random draw. When the light turned green I shot up the right side and started to move through the field. I stayed on the gas and caught Lane and Ben by the second lap and kept on the gas. My accelerations felt very strong and I used it to my advantage to keep catching riders.

On the fourth lap I was just off the back of a group of six or seven riders and was having a little trouble with my shifting. I made the mistake of thinking I would lose more time if I pitted and waited to do so until the fifth lap. Not pitting actually cost me time and I didn't make the group. My back started to tighten up on me but I held my position for the last lap and a half riding as smoothly and cleanly as possible.

It was a fantastic and extremely fun first race in Europe and I was pretty happy to be the top American and finish only one spot out of the money in 16th place.

SUPERPRESTIGE ZONHOVEN!
Sunday we only had to drive 45 min to Zonhoven. Same as the day before, we kitted up and hopped on the course. This time we knew what to expect, Zonhoven is one of the most iconic races in the world with huge sand drops and run ups. Just riding the course was amazing and racing it was even better.

Once again, we warmed up and went to the start. Today I was not so lucky with my call up... and was second to last out of 70 riders putting me in the 9th row. When the light turned green it was total chaos, I weaved my way around crashed and slower riders, charging into the first corner. When I got to the first sandy drop in there was so much carnage that I had to run down the sand dune dodging fallen riders and broken bikes. Seconds later I hit the first run up and moved past a few riders before dropping into the sandy bowl again, followed by an even larger sandy run-up.

Those first two laps I moved up thirty spots but going into the third lap my back started to hurt more and I began to lose my power. Now I was stuck racing one of the hardest courses in the world at half strength... but what can you do? What I did was tough it out and maintain my position for those last couple laps to finish 42nd. It was a far cry from what I wanted to have accomplished but it was still an incredible experience.

I've been having an awesome time training and racing here in Sittard, NED and I can't wait for the Valkenburg World Cup this Sunday. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement!

Katie, Ben, Me, and Lane

 

KMC Cyclocross Festival

Super late, but here is a quick update on my races at the KMC Cyclocross festival. Starting one week before at Jingle cross I got a super gnarly cold that took a while to get over. Going into the weekend I was still a little sick and it took a lot out of me. I ended up 11th Saturday and 13th Sunday. It was far from my best but considering how sick I was there wasn't much more I could do.