Track World Cup #4 - Copenhagen, DenmarkThe 4th and final World Cup race was held in Copenhagen, Denmark over the weekend. I raced in 3 races at the World Cup. Saturday was the Pursuit and Scratch race and Sunday was the Points race.
Individual Pursuit:Personal best performances and strange races were the theme of the day on Saturday. I did a 3:55Pursuit, a personal best by 0.2 seconds and 5 seconds faster than I did at the LA World Cup, where I was sick. My first lap was a bit slow and I threw in a quick 2nd lap and set a good pace on the third lap. I started to fade a bit in the 2nd kilometre and was passed by a Russian rider as I came into the home straight with 4 laps (1km) to go. This is usually good motivation for me as it gives me something to focus on and a rabit to chase. Unfortunately, the Russian slowed down after passing me like someone had jumped on her back. I actually had to back right off to avoid drafting just when I wanted to give my finishing kick. I even contemplated repassing her, but that is illegal by UCI rules, and I would have been disqualified had I done that. So for my last kilo, I was stuck behind her going slower than I wanted to. It was quite a strange situation and I was disappointed that I couldn't have really killed it in the last kilo, as I felt that I may have been able to take up to 2 seconds off my time. However, it was a personal best and that's always a good thing! End result: 20th.
Scratch Race:A few hours later, my focus was on the Scratch race qualifier. I had the race of my life. I felt strong, confident and raced better than I’ve ever raced. It was 20 laps (5km) and 12 riders from each of the 2 heats go through to the final. Once the pack got rolling, the speed remained high for the duration. I felt comfortable moving around the pack and my legs felt great with the quick pace. With 3 laps to go, I jumped into a hole in the pole lane and the wave of riders seemed to be moving well in that line. I was in a great position coming into the bell lap (1 lap to go) and just needed to hold my position to get through in the top 12. We crossed the finish line and I had no trouble hanging onto the group. I even had the feeling that I could have gone faster if there weren't riders in front of me. I finished somewhere in the top 12 which should have put me through to the World Cup final. However.....
As we approached that last lap, going into what I thought was the finish, the bell rang again. Some riders heard this and some didn't. Some riders slowed down like the race was over and some sped up like they were going into the last lap of a scratch race. As a result of the confusion, there was a crash and the crash was right in front of me. I had nowhere to go but over a person/bike, and down I went. I suffered some scratches, bruising, and a good hit on the lower back, which seemed to shift my back and pelvis out of whack. I also cracked my helmet and took a piece out of my disc wheel.
I am quite sure that the person who was running the lap counter screwed up. Early in the race, a solo rider took a lap on the pack. That meant the pack should race for only 19, not 20 laps. I believe that the first finish bell was for 19 laps when the race really should have ended and the second bell was for 20 laps, and was a mistake by the officials. I was given a result based on the "second" finish (after I crashed). Because the crash took place within a lap of the finish, they still gave me an official placing of 15th - everyone who crashed got placed at the back of the pack, but it was not enough to go through to the final.
As much as the end result was disappointing for me, I knew that I had raced my best ever scratch race. My preparation was good, my speed was great and my fitness was there.
Points Race:I woke up Sunday feeling pretty banged up but warmed up and got ready for the points race. The race was 10 km with 4 sprints. The gun went off after the neutral lap and I attacked. 3 of us were off the front. As soon as I tried to put power on the pedals, I knew my legs weren't going to cooperate. The hit I took on my left SI joint from the previous day's crash had shifted my lower back and pelvis and I had trouble putting out power. I struggled to pull through with my breakaway companions. We stayed away for the first sprint and and I picked up a point which put me in 4th position after sprint #1. The pack caught us somewhere between the first and second sprint. It was all I could do to sit in and when the pace picked up, I was off the back alone. Eventually, I was lapped by the field and finished outside of the top 12. I knew why I was hurting but at least I'd tried something in the race.
My coach, Steve, puts things into perspective and I'll quote him directly: "There's an important lesson here. Sometimes you actually ride very well but things happen that make so that the actual quality of your effort doesn't show up on the scoreboard or results. In those instances, it's very important to be aware of what you've accomplished and how it is good. The results only tell a small part of what actually happens in a competition."
My preparation leading up to this weekend was good and I felt that I was on par with the best in the world. This weekend marks the end of my track season and the beginning of a short period of rest and relaxation before road racing season begins. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank those who have made it possible for me to compete on the 2007/ 2008 International Track cycling circuit.
Firstly, I am grateful to Planet Energy for sponsoring the Team R.A.C.E. Pro Track Team for the second year.
Thank you to my sponsors at Oakley and System Fitness. I am grateful to my coach, Steve Karpik, whose dedication and belief in me is unwavering. Thanks also to my strength trainer, Dennis Lindsay.
I was very touched by the generosity of several individuals who made donations to my World Cup racing fund. I'd like to acknowledge each one. Thank you: Peter Mansbridge, Deen Karim, Donna Morissette, Nancy Kelly, Abby Thom, Ian Kalushner, Andrea Cardillo, Mary Mather, Nicholas Tustin, Ronda Clanfield ,Knowlton Nash and Lorraine Thompson-Nash, Geraldine Connelly, Monica and Jonathan Whitten, Richard Rogers, Elizabeth Johnson, Tamir Kojfman, Leslie Stojsic, Mark and Rhonda Bulgutch, Gail Chang, Jennifer Leask, Micheal D'Souza, Melinda Lehman, Anne Carroll, Toni Tosti, Michael Santianni, Alison Smith, Mark Harrison and Jennifer Harwood, Steph Jenzer, Vish Gajadhar, Jeff Goldhar, Terry Auciello and Ruby Buiza, Romilla Karnick, Kalli Roger and Stephen Booth, Carmine Caravaggio, Jeff Keay. Thanks also to Fred Parker who helped drum up support for my endeavours.
I must also thank Todd Hayes for loaning me his front disc wheel for the Pursuit.
As always, a very special thank you is reserved for Sherali, who has been a constant source of support and inspiration. And finally, to my family and friends who are always supportive of my endeavours to realize my potential as an athlete and proud of me no matter how things go.
