Category: UCI Junior Women Result: 4th Arriving on the Tuesday night before my Saturday race, I was able to settle in a relax before race day. I was greeted by my old and new teammates the next morning and we quickly built our bikes and got on the course. The course was conveniently directly behind the Bear Mountain Resort where we were staying. We all got on the course and to do some laps and check out the conditions. It had been cold, raining, and even some unusual snow fall in the days prior. The course was wet, but not too slick. The conditions were new and exciting. To say I was happy to be out there riding on my Trek Top Fuel would be a bit of an understatement. The Top Fuel was flawless on the slippery, rooty, and rocky course. We were able to work with skills coach Shaums March on the first time on the course. Shaums’ support and knowledge left me feeling confident and nothing but excited for race day after the first look at the course. We were able to work with skills coach Shaums March on the first time on the course. Shaums’ support and knowledge left me feeling confident and nothing but excited for race day after the first look at the course. The next few days were spent dialing in the course on our own, card games, and many, many laughs with the team. Friday morning arrived bringing a steady, cold rain throughout the day. I got a peek of the course during my spin to find it extremely slick and getting wetter. The condition of the single track had changed a lot since the first time on the course on Wednesday, only adding a bit more excitement and nerves. ;) The rain continued throughout the night and slowly turned into snow. I woke up Saturday Morning to 2 inches of snow on the ground and blue skies. The UCI Junior ladies didn’t race till 12:30, after a morning of amateur races on course, so I didn’t expect the snow to last. 12:30 rolled around and I found myself on the start line once again, the nerves steadily rising as I watch the Pro Women take off right in front of us. The gun went off and I started off with an excellent start. The course started off with a steep 2 minute road climb to the top, where it funneled off into single track. I knew I needed to be in a good position going into the single track. I was second up the first climb and into the single track, right where I wanted to be. Really soon we began hitting some pro traffic of riders who had started two minutes before us. The girl in front of me slipped by a pro rider and I was unable to. I tried to be as aggressive as I could but was unable to make a pass until the girl who was leading our category had made a gap on us. Once I got to the open fire road I pushed hard on the downhill to pick up speed for the climb ahead of me. At this point I wasn’t feeling amazing and knew I should have reserved more energy on that first climb off the start. I went into the single track downhill in third and focused on staying smooth on the slippery roots. Back on another climb, my legs were feeling pretty blown and I looked back to see fourth place right behind me. She slipped past me going into the steep single track climb. I knew this was my opportunity to grab her wheel and have her pull me. I stuck close behind her and was riding her wheel into the second lap. I kept running in to lap traffic and the girl in third slipped past a pro rider again and I was stuck behind. I fought to pass and when I finally did, the rider in third was out of sight. I put my head down and focused on staying smooth and taking the fastest lines that we had been practicing throughout the week with Shaums.
Going in to the third lap, I knew this was it. I pushed hard up the road climb, finding my rhythm through the pain. I stayed smooth on the single track and looked ahead. I could see third place ahead of me. I sprinted once I got back on to the open fire road and barely caught up to third place and second as I entered the single track again. Going in to the final climb second and third made a hard attack but I was too fatigued to stick with them. I finished fourth and was happy to grab some early season UCI points!
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AuthorSavilia Blunk, 20 | XCO MTB racer for Liv Racing Archives
March 2020
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