Iowa City Road Race Starts Season

The last Saturday of April marked the start of the road race season in Iowa. The Iowa City Road Race in Kalona brought forth a typically windy day on the open fields of Iowa. The pink team sent three stalwart ladies to battle the conditions in this race that runs 13 miles per lap.

A strong winter training regimen helped Megan hang on the main pack and finish just off it in 5th place. She used a great plan in hanging with the pack to finish near the front of the field.

Lee survived a crash that took her off of the road and put fellow biker and pink-friend Kim Topp on the ground. Shecame back with a nice pull from Kim and took 2nd in the Women's 35+ category.

Dee toed the line with the big gals in the Cat 1/2/3 race. She battled the wind and took 9th over all in this tough division that brought in highly competitive teams (that took 6 of the top 8 spots) from outside of the state.

Congrats to all of the Pink Ladies that showed up and rock the road in Kalona.

Your Flying and Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Old Capitol Crit

Three Pink Gals rode hard in the challenging crit last Sunday in Iowa City. This is a race that starts with a steep downhill into the 90 degree right turn, a sprint to the next corner with another 90 degree turn into an uphill climb that will take the power from your legs and the breath from you lungs. A few rights and lefts and a sprint into the strong Iowa wind before you head downhill at breakneck speed. It takes nerves of steel to not jamb on the brakes before the turn at the bottom. Medical personnel man the post at the bottom of hill, hay bales line the poles and spectators hold their collective breath as the bikers whip down and into the turn.

Megan, Lee and newcomer Melinda Reese showed up on the cold and windy morning to tackle the Old Capitol Crit..
Megan stated out strong leading the pack to the first corner. She showed no fear, cut the sharp angle and took off down the straight away. Lee started off with the front line but eased into the turn and fell off the main pack. She battled back up the hill eventually overtaking sometimes-pink but racing DMOS orange Laura K. Lee and Laura battled it out for a fun finish with Lee showing her year's experience in beating Laura to the line.

Newcomer Melinda showed up and made this her first race. What a tough course to battle through. Congrats and continued success to Melinda! She makes Pink proud.



Meghan finished 7th in the Cat 4 with Laura behind her. Lee took the podium with a 2nd place finish in the 35+.



Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann


Thanks to Joann for the photos and her support!!!!