Race Recap | Truman Cup Omnium

For me, a bike race is as much a battle of wits as it is a test of fitness. The structure of the Cat 1/2/3 races has become increasingly better as the race season has progressed. I knew coming into this race that there was a team of four women who have worked together and who know how to dig and put in attacks. We had four laps in a 3.6 mile loop that began with a 1 mile climb. The climb wasn’t too bad, it was just long and hot and had zero shade. We were greeted by fans and people with squirt guns shooting us as we passed by. At the beginning of the race, I tried my best to read the race situation. The race had a team of four and then a team of two with a combination of several other solo riders in the mix. We roll off the start line at a neutral pace, dropping us into the bottom of the one-mile climb. All of us fresh and excited, we settle into the climb, once at the top, a flurry of attacks starts happening. Electra sends one girl after another and my heart it still pounding from the climb. I chase, another girl chases, we brought it back together. We drop into a long descent and I attacked when I saw everyone was coasting. This shook the group and we dropped a rider or two. After 2 more laps and probably five or six solid attacks, the group is gearing up for the final lap. I expected the two teams to do a lead out for their strongest rider. They attacked at the top of the climb and I chased as hard as I could. We get to the long and steep descent and I knew from the previous laps that I would need to be third or fourth wheel to get the most momentum to sprint on the final climb to the finish. No matter how well I read a race, if I don’t have the legs to go when it matters, there’s nothing I can do about it. I saved as much energy as possible for that final lap and an attack went into the descent. I make the break and there are only 3 of us leading into the final corner before the up-hill sprint finish. One girl dropped off before the climb and the other slipped her chain in front of me almost crashing. I make it around her and a girl comes in hot behind me, her momentum carried her almost to the top and she was able to out sprint me right at the line. I finished 2nd in one of the hottest races of the year. I loved this course and the race directors who put this race together. I highly recommend you check out this race weekend.

A special thanks to our sponsors, City Title & Closing, Smithfield, Shoulder Center of Arkansas, The Bike Route, Clif Bar & Custom Electronics for making it possible for our team to travel around the region doing what we love.

The Numbers
Distance: 16 miles
Avg. Speed: 19.0 MPH
Power: 160 AP/180 NP
Avg. Heartrate: 170bpm

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