Squaw Creek Crit

The opening race of the Iowa Cup proved that  February may bring 80 degree days but the first Cup race of the season will be cold and windy.   The grey skies held off the rain long enough for the eight-lap race to take place.   The Cat 1-4 women all lined up together near the apex of the hill.  The perilous start line would also be the challenging finish line.  

As everyone worked to clip in and start to pedal prior to falling over, the race took off in a flash.  One way to get your heart rate up quickly is to climb out of a dead start.  The Cat 1-3 ladies formed a gap by the mid-point of the first lap.   Lee and Erika fell in to the group of Cat 4 racers.  The winding roads and rolling hills did little to break up of the group.  However, the long steep downhill that slams into a sharp left turn separated out the group into two distinct sets.  Eventually there were three groups making the rounds.  As each rider made the long and winding climb to the start line, another lap was counted down.

Lee found the wheel of a stronger racer, traded places for a few laps and set up for an exciting finish.  She came around the bike in front for what was a two person race for placing.  She was not quite able to close the gap and lost out by less than half of a wheel.   Lee took fifth. Erika held on strong to take 11th place in her first crit race.

Kudos to both ladies for getting out and representing The Pink Biker Chicks in fine fashion.

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

DEE TAKES IOWA STATE ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP

VeloRosa's own Dee Mable took her bike and her metal to West Branch on Saturday to race in the Iowa State Road Race Championship. The 54-mile, 2-lap race was a test of strategy as well as stamina. The first lap was rather uneventful as the pack stayed tight. That all changed with about 5 miles left. Cara Hamann with the Iowa City Cycling Club charged away from the pack. Dee accepted the challenge and took her wheel. They worked together through the remaining miles. Dee plotted her strategy and made an aggressive move near the end. She was able to beat Cara to the line to take home first place.

This win puts Dee a bit further ahead in the 2010 Iowa Cup Point Race. Dee is expressed excitement at being able to come home for the next point race--VeloRosa's Big Creek Road Race on August 21. The final race in the series is the East Village Crit on August 22.

IOWA CUP POINTS RACE--GO DEE!

The Iowa Cup Cat 4 Women's race has been very close all season. The level of competition has been very high all year with several women on the cusp of moving up to the Cat 1/2/3 level.

VeloRosa's own Dee Mable is currently the points leader. She is duking it out with Cara H. who is with the Iowa City Cylcing Club. There have been many sprint-to-the-finish endings for these two gals. With three races remaining, it will be a fight to the end.

Two of these races take place right near Des Moines with VeloRosa's own Road Race on Saturday, August 21 and the East Village Crit on the 22nd. Last year's East Village Crit was the deciding factor in the final 2009 standings.

So get your cowbell, cooler and lawn chair and come out and cheer on our teammates! Or get your helmet and bike and join in the racing.

Luanne