20 December 2008  |  Race Reports

Cyclocross National Championships: Race Report

The race in Kansas City was shaping up to be the complete opposite from last year- the course was dry and fast, and the temperatures were relatively warm. But for ‘cross you always have to prepare for the worst- so I brought all my warmest clothing, booties and gloves just in case. It turned out to be a good move because although when I left the hotel it was 60 degrees, and by the time I got to the course (10 minutes later) the temperature had dropped at least 20 degrees. I had a decent start, and after the first few corners I was on Katie’s wheel. We weren’t going that fast, and I almost went around her because I didn’t want someone else too, but by the time we got to the top of the course, she had ramped it up a bit. I was a little slow going around the chicane at the top of the course, and gave her a few bike lengths, and from then on I was chasing. Rachel was only a few seconds behind me, but nothing changed for the rest of the race. I was bummed. Not so much because I didn’t win (although that would have been nice…) but because more than anything I wanted it to be an exciting RACE. And it really wasn’t. So that was a bummer. In any case, I had a solid race to finish second. Again.

So now I am in Sochaux, France, getting ready to race in my first ‘cross World Cup tomorrow. I arrived yesterday: I flew into Frankfurt, Germany and then drove the 3.5 hours to Sochaux. My rental car, although brand new, had major issues, and I barely made it to the hotel. It was towed, but I haven’t yet gotten a replacement, hopefully that will come today.

I am going to go check out the course today, see how different these euro races are.