Sanford & Lake Mary Criteriums: Jackie Kurth

ABDer's,

This weekend was my first weekend of races of the year! I did four challenging races, women 1-3 and juniors 15-18 both days. On Saturday we were in Sanford for a chilly morning for Florida standards. I lined up for the LAJORS juniors race surprised to see about 35 other junior men and there was me… the only girl. The race started out ballistic hammering the 0.6mile four corner course. I sat in for a great training race and finished 8th place with the pack. Later that day I lined up again with the women 1-3. The race was represented by some prominent teams including Aaron's Furnishings and Cycle Science. With strong showings from each team it was hard to match their impeccable team work. Rebecca Larson (Aaron's Furnishings) and Jackie Crowell (Cycle Science) created a break early into the race. With much chasing, but even more blocking from teammates they managed to lap the field not once but twice. Disappointed but not defeated I sprinted at the end finishing 9th place.

Day two of racing started out even colder with temperatures in the low 40's in the morning. With about five layers of clothing I got to the race early to watch my dad race and waited anticipating the junior's race. Finally it was time for my race, I lined up with about the same amount of juniors as the day before. Today's junior race was even faster than the day before. The high speeds were due to the wide open course with a few sweeping turns. There was a constant stream of attacks shooting off the front of the peleton. One strong break looked as if it would hold so I moved myself to the front and bridged all the way up to it. Unfortunately we were caught a short time later. In the end I finished coming through the line not even with a standing sprint, my legs were so sore. About four hours later with the wind gusting now, I was on the bike again for the women 1-3 race. My legs were still incredibly sore after my previous races. We started the race and only a few laps into the race a break with Tina Elliot of Cycle Science and Larson went off the front. Knowing this was a break that would surly last the whole race, many of us contributed in the chase to catch them. After I pulled off the front from an attempt to bring the break closer, Crowell with Cycle Science and Kristin Sanders of Aaron's made a hard attack and bridged up creating a four person break. They maintained about twenty seconds off the front of the peleton for some time. With consistent chasing from a number of people in the pack we still lost time, they then went completely out of sight. It came down to the final sprint where my legs literally felt like they were going to fall off. I crossed the line 9th place.

It was a fun first race of the season. Even though I did not do as well as I would have liked in the races I have many more to come!!!

At the race it was a wonderful surprise to see a fellow ABD rider, Dixie Devry!!! I want to say congratulations to her and hope to see her at more races!
Jackie Kurth