Article added Saturday, June 28, 2003
Chrissy Redden reports from Mt. Snow, Vermont - NORBA #3
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June 21,22, 2003
NORBA #3
We came, we raced, we're getting ready for the World Cup next week in Mt. St. Anne, Quebec!
This weekend was definitely a good weekend with Ryder Hesjedal placing 3rd in the men's cross-country and Chrissy Redden podiuming both days with a 5th and 3rd in the cross-country and short track, respectively.
We had much better weather this week with only scattered showers during the day and solid rain at night. (compared to rain, rain and more rain in West Virginia). The 7km cross-country course held up quite well, but still had numerous boggy sections. The downhill was typical Mt. Snow style.....technical!!
This is normally one of my favourite venues, so I was really excited to start racing. The pace went out fast for the cross-country and I found myself off the back of the lead group of four, Jimena Florit (RLX), Alison Sydor (Trek/VW), Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles) and Willow Koerber (RLX). I seemed to be plagued with small mistakes the whole race, each costing only seconds, but adding up! Plus, the others were on! By the final of 3 laps, Alison and Mary were attacking each other, and Jimena was making a final surge. The final result was:
1st Mary McConneloug Seven Cycles 2nd Jimena Florit RLX 3rd Alison Sydor Trek/VW 4th Willow Koerber RLX 5th Chrissy Redden Subaru/Gary FisherMy team-mates Mary Grigson and Walker Ferguson had unsuccessful days and ended up at the rig early. Mary had a bad crash, but is OK and will be resting up for.... (its a secret....)
The short track was looking really good, until it started raining an 1/2 hr before the start of the women's race. I didn't even notice. I had my special IRC tires on. I was there to win. I didn't.
Yes, I'm bummed, but excited for Katerina Hanusova (Luna), who did! It was a fast, technical, aggressive race with quite a few crashes. I really wanted to stay at the front and maintain a fast pace, but it seemed only a few would work and I was definitely marked.
I tried a few attempts to get away, but, the only thing they accomplished was to tire me out. With 2 laps to go, Katerina got a small gap, then attacked HARD! I tried to bring it back, but I had Sue Haywood and Alison Sydor on my wheel, they came by me at the 1 lap to go mark, and Katerina was actually gaining time! She was motivated and I could see she could hold it!
The three of us crested the hill and as Alison stalled a little, Sue got a small gap. By the time I got around Alison, Sue was gone! I rallied the downhill thinking the best I could do was 3rd, but then I saw Alison try a gutsy pass on my outside of a greasy, wet corner. All I could see was a Trek/Canadian team jersey going into the Shimano banner.
From there I crested the chairlift climb, but wasn't in the clear. It seemed that Mary McConneloug was catching me! When would this last lap end??
I turned the final corner into the finishing straight, but went wide and lost some time. I heard some huge cheering and knew that McConneloug was on my wheel. I just went for the line and had to throw my bike forward in order to capture 3rd. It was defiantly a photo finish! Exciting!
Results:
1st Katerina Hanusova Luna Chix 2nd Sue Haywood Trek/VW 3rd Chrissy Redden Subaru/Gary Fisher 4th Mary McConneloug Seven Cycles 5th Jimena Florit RLXThe men's race was equally exciting!! Seamus McGrath (Haro Bike) captured his first NORBA Win!!! The crowd went absolutely WILD!!
For complete results check out www.canadiancyclist.com
All in all, a fantastic weekend!! Thanks to Tyler and Judd for cheering from the heart and giving splits! You guys were EVERYWHERE!! The drums on the gravel climb were....inspiring!! You guys rock!!!!
OK, check out the pic from the cross-country.
til next week,
chrissy
