2002 Georgia State Criterium Championships

Race: Georgia State Crit Championships
Date: 6-29-2002
Place: John's Creek Park, Alpharetta, GA
Distance: 13.0 miles
Speed: 19.5 mph
Time: 39 minutes

The Georgia State Criterium Championships was held at the John's Creek Technology Park in Alpharetta, GA, which has hosted the championships the last several years. The course was approximately 1 mile with two 90 degree left hand turns. Several brick crosswalks provided a little excitement in the corners. The start was flat into the first turn. The back side of the course was downhill until the final turn. The finish was on a slight uphill after the last corner.

Only three women lined up for the Cat. 4 State Crit Championships. I was quite surprised that there were so few women. I knew Leigh, the winningest Cat. 4 this year, was up north at the Fitchburg Stage Race, but that still left about 18-20 other Georgian Cat. 4's that have raced this year. Also on the line were Rachel, the Genesis Junior, and Stephanie, a new racer. We set out for 30 minutes plus 3 laps. The first few laps were spent establishing the rhythm of the race. It looked like it was going to be another paceline event with no one attacking. We switched the lead position every lap by the start. The pace was very consistent. Along the backstretch, we would go 22-23 mph and along the front side of the course 15-19 depending on how hard the lead lady wanted to pull up the hill. I noticed that both Rachel and Stephanie were climbing the hill in the little chainring while I was using my big ring. Were they tiring on the hill, not as strong on the hill, or just conserving energy? A few laps into the race, I decided to spice things up by sprinting out of the first corner. I dropped both other racers; I don't think they were prepared for it. I sat up on the downhill and let us regroup. The rest of the race was the same-a rotating paceline. My heart rate never got about 170. With 3 laps to go, I came up the hill looking for where I wanted to sprint from. A fire hydrant surrounded by hay bales appeared to be a good place. I positioned myself, so that I would be 2nd in line coming up the hill for the final sprint. Even with 2 to go, the pace was the same. My adrenaline started to flow. With the bell lap, I prepared myself for the sprint. As we rounded the final turn, I positioned myself behind Stephanie. Suddenly, she swung off to the side and slowed down. I looked back and saw Rachel on my wheel. We just approached the hill, and I decided to try to sprint early. I downshifted and stood up, dropping Rachel. I crossed the line several bike lengths ahead of the next rider.

With the win, I was named the Cat. 4 Women's Crit Georgia State Champion. Not bad for a mountain biker!

The group working together: Rachel Coy (Genesis), Trish Albert (Nalley-Eagle), Stephanie Kingery.

The group during the middle of the crit.