Race Report: Merco Grand Prix

I admit that I've moved past judging the quality of my performance on my placement overall. I love competing on my bicycle and fully believe that there is nothing negative that can come from racing, no matter how “poorly” I place. Despite finishing 20th out of 24 in the Merco Grand Prix, I ended my first road criterium feeling proud of myself and incredibly happy with my performance. I went far outside of my comfort zone, played by the rules of the game, and learned a great deal in 17 miles. I also didn’t crash, a big plus in anyones books.

It’s impossible to fully explain that I had no idea what to expect. At this point I had one road race (Merco last year) and one Early Bird Criterium (also last year) under my belt. Honestly, the only crit I attended was the Giro di San Francisco (again, just last year). Once the announcers called the race prior to ours, I got off the trainer and onto the pavement for a warm up lap. As I rounded the last turn I noticed my entire field at the starting line, ready to go. Shoot, so much for starting in the front. Off the line, the girl ahead of me dabbled getting into her pedals, and I slowed to the right, maneuvering around the hazard.

Somehow I started the criterium chasing. I fell off the pack before our first turn. Strange. At first, my fear of the pack outweighed my desire for positioning well. Staying on the outside through the turns, I struggled alone in the head wind chasing the pack out of the turn every time. Finally the mentor commented on my stupidity (in a nice way, she gave me kind advice). Furman and Wikie came to mind. This was about going out of the comfort zone right? I bit my lip and carefully maneuvered to the inside. Oooh, this was so much easier. Holy crap, there was a turn, and this is much different.

Approaching that first turn at speed, on the inside, with lord only knows who squeezing me into the curb I thought “I’m a mountain biker. I can handle my bike. I know how to turn. I know how to lean. I know how to dig for traction. I know how to look through the turn. I’m a mountain biker. Who cares if the pavement is broken. That little yellow bump aint s***.” Yes, cocky I know. But sometimes we have to boost ourselves up to overcome scary situations. I often fake bravado in hairy situations as a survival tactic. Judge me if you like. *smiles*

And I survived.

 I will say the last three laps of a criterium are much faster than I could have imagined. My race was spent fighting for a position. At lap three I foolishly thought I could get my position at the last moment. Stupid. With one lap to go I was off the back. The possibility of a win was actually 0%, but I never think about that. I always tell myself “stay hungry for the win”. I kicked my hiney into gear and sprinted that last lap to make up the gap, vowing not to finish last, and to finish with the pack, which I did.

And I’m happy.

For the numbers geeks like me: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/26270792