MM Racing |
NEW ENGLAND CYCLOCROSS & ULTRA CYCLING TEAM |
Maureen Bruno Roy 's Race Reports
Carlisle Cross Carlisle, PA and Capital Cross Reston, VA
December 1-2, 2007
So the last race report I sent out was after our return from Belgium. Four days later, we hopped on another plane to Baltimore for the final 2 races of the Mid Atlantic Series. My long time friend Rachael hosted us for the weekend. We picked up the rental car and headed for Arlington, VA to Rachael’s and on the way took a small wrong turn and found ourselves driving into the Pentagon. Hmmmm……Matt’s quick thinking led to rolling through a stop sign at the end of the ramp and blue lights flashing behind us.
When the officer asked Matt is he knew why we were pulled over, he admitted that we were lost and he had rolled through the stop, apologizing profusely. Her answer was this “actually sir, there’s a “no left turn” sign at the bottom of the ramp that you also rolled by”. This was one of those moments that I could almost hear Waylon Jennings narrate as if we were in the Duke of Hazard. Luckily the officers were willing to help us with directions and gave us only a warning; even as the second officer remarked that the big bike bag was in fact obstructing our view out the back window. UGH!!
We arrived safely and settled in for the night. The next morning was cold and very blustery as we arrived at the fairgrounds for the race. The course was very flat and wide open with one hill that the course just zigzagged over repeatedly. The course also zigzagged over broken pavement with loose gravel and pock-marked grass most likely from horses. It was a very bumpy rough course and I looking forward to having it over with.
Off we went as I headed into the lead. It was windy and cold, so I really had to keep my pace up. I was also feeling tired from the travel and my legs were a bit heavy. I stayed in the lead trying to push the pace up and down the hill and held onto a 30 second gap all the way to the finish. In all, it was a bit of an un-exciting race, but I was grateful for the win and the camaraderie of the local riders.
The following day was supposed to rain and snow but it was dry as a bone for my race. This course was much more hilly and rolling with some twisty downhill sections, a short run up and some slick corners from condensation. I was looking forward to a better course and another win; which would allow me to take the overall win for the Mid Atlantic series. Much like the day before, I moved right into the lead and was able to push the pace a bit. The course was smooth and fast and I stayed in the lead to the finish. Behind me, local riders Erica and Betsy worked together and were able to stay close making me work hard and be careful to not make mistakes. In the end, I was awarded the overall win for the series.
Pictures and reports can be viewed here:
Cyclingnews:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2007/dec07/carlisle07/carlisle071
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2007/dec07/capitalcross07/
capitalcross071
Velonews:
http://www.velonews.com/race/cyc/articles/13752.0.html
http://www.velonews.com/race/cyc/articles/13756.0.html
Also, Matt posted a handful of pics on Picasa taken by our friend and fellow New Englander, Craig Roth:
http://picasaweb.google.com/matthewr8/CarliseCrossAndCapitol
CrossDecember122007?authkey=caJcdSZncEc
Thanks for reading.
-Mo
