First Road Race/ Criterium: T.O.N.B

I have to say, I am soo Excited about our team. I had so much fun hanging out with all you guys this past weekend. I loved racing with you all, Sharing Good times and Laughs. I knew we had a strong team, but I am really impressed how we all came together out there "on the court" . We all had our Game faces on for opening Weekend, well, maybe not exactly, but felt like it anyway.. Now, I can just imagine what people are saying now, what a Great Looking Squad!! Yes, those Kits had everyone talking. I have never received so many compliments regarding Kits, Thank you Bibi, are Senior Art Director designed our kits this year. Boy they look Sharp! And the Hot Socks! Yes those are a Smith Special :) Go to Harlotwear.com they are the Einstein Socks
T.O.N.B. What a Beautiful Place, Both events the criterium and Road race were both great Courses. The Road race is held in a Coach Oulet Mall Parking Lot. As our princess, Tammy Wallace enjoyed the shopping, she had every reason to celebrate, what a race she had. 4th in the field sprint, on Sunday. There were a lot of Strong girls in the Womens Open field,quite impressed, especially seeing Joyce Basinger finishing with the pack, way to go. Pro mountain Biker, Kim Jennings and team mate, really made some girls work ! What is so cool, Is they haven't seen nothing Yet. Kim's Legs stretching the peloton out, one by one.. falling off, only leaving the strongest to be there for the finish. I do have to say the Lone Star Works will be the team to watch. What a great start for the season. We Had a Win for both days!!!

The Crit on Saturday, I think I was a " in the right place at the right time, kinda win",I mean, the course is not known of breaks sticking. I never really think about that during the races I guess. As Michelle can give a better race report then I can for the crit ;).

Michelle Montoya, does make the first move, I have to say, it is pretty tense within the first 5min of the race when their is an Attack right off the back , driven by Michelle Montoya, a strong Lone Star Works rider, the group stays together, despite all of the hard attempts, Mel Brown, Solar Eclipse, even Lori Barrett takes off, a little too excited, she over shoots her turn and ends up in the grass, as the group comes around to swallow the San Jose rider, whom finishes her race with a flat. Natalie Klemko apparently a race favorite, sat in for the sprint, as they say, Close but no Cigar, to finish with a 2nd Place. The One that Got away, For the last lap, Kate Sherwin makes the move, without thinking I jump and bridge up to the pro. I let her know to keep going, that I will fly down this descent, sure enough, were off, with the group chasing close behind, they keep us in sight, as I am pretty nervous to use my energy, as all I can think of, is Winning this race at this point. At one point, I look back, thinking we were going to get caught, okay , I didn't want to get caught, Kate never says anything, I start to put a bit more into this break, as I can't believe the finish is coming near, we approach the ambulance, (which was on the course from an earlier accident in the cat 4 race) 500 m?? not too far. I come around Kate and Sprint to the finish, I hear the spectaturs, yelling ," there coming!!!!" :o. I make the last shift on my super stiff, sprinter friendly New Giant, provided by Colonels . I do have to say I can't wait for a Sprint, that Bike Is Awesome. Thanks Doug and Rick from Colonels!

The Road RAce...... do believe it was one of the toughest road races I have attended. Now, that may have to do with all of the attempts we had to make to try to get a break, but everyone was hanging on. As, the new strong San Hose girls did there share of pulling and working.
This course appears to be well suited for the chics from Lone Star Works, it had a fair deal of rollers, false flats, fast descents, and some pretty sharp corners, I especially love the descent to the 90 degree turn onto the uprutted chip and seal, or do we just call it gravel here in Tejas? :o. Unfortunately, they don't require mountain bike lessons for roadies. I am talking about some of the girls that are racing out there. Strong enough to hang on to the group, but can't keep a straight line. Come 'on girls.. go back to the basics here.

Michelle made some early jump attempts to start the games . One break, I guess it was just too early on, we had several strong riders, including Natalie Klemco pro from Advil Chapstick, Tammy Wallace, , Tracie A. Christina S. . . The group would keep on reeling people back to the peloton. It worked out pretty well for the one that finally did stick. Apparently two girls got away, Chris Wolfe from San Jose, whom is pretty strong, and Annick Beaudet from At&T she was formerly on Austin Flyers. Well, the peleton passes on the opportunity to chase,two riders were not going to stay away, If Smith and Tracie Akerhelm, couldn't keep the hungry pack away..., they just kept the two in eyesight. A chase group forms from the peloton, I know Lone Star Works, Tracie Akerhem and Solar Eclipse Kim Coilli whom was working through out the day forms a get away. As the peloton is not too far behind the chase group, I look ahead we are approaching a slight decline to a sharp turn, that shoots you up hill. I know I dont want to be behind everyone as we make this descent and corner, I knew I could bridge up to the two who got away. I make the attempt, one hard jump and I hammer through the corner and "Yell" to the chase group, "UP "UP "UP"!!! :o. Thankfully for me, Tracie jumps on to my wheel and I bridge up to the two, feeling like I am going to die, as we get up to Chris Wolfe, and Annick B, Tracie comes around and starts to pull.
Sweet. We are making short hard pulls, I keep hearing Tracie scream, in a soft voice, Yeah! as I remind her, we are not in the clear yet. I know the break would not have stuck unless we had at least 4 girls, we pushed hard for a lap and 3/4 out of the 4 laps which, were 12 mile loops. Apparently, the San Jose girl, Chris Wolfe, tried to attack ? As we were already going pretty hard, I just thought she was making hard pulls. I guess she thought I was getting tired, since we both reminded her to ease up on the pull throughs . Tracie remindes her that she is going to drop someone, that someone ended up being the AT & T , Annick Beaudet. The wheel truck pulls up along side and announces the left turn is soon approaching to the finish , this was about the time our group realizes, We all Made it . I decide to come around in front to pull through the corner, but, I didn't jump, I slow up just to the inside of the turn, probably not the best spot, since there was a cross wind coming on my left side, I know it had been a tough race, not sure how much effort I was going to have to put out as Tracie and I both had her covered, waiting for the "jump" Well, it really never came, I am assuming she fell off, or didn't want to contest the sprint? Or maybe she just ran out of gas, before the finish line, as Tracie and I acclerate up to the finish line, and no there was no Thelma & Louise Finish. 1st Traice and 2nd Christina, an awesome finish. We spin around to watch the field sprint, as Kim Jennings, Strings the pack out along the 1/2 mile finish stretch. Sheri Roth, Austin Flyers on Kims wheel, whom played a smart race to win the Field Sprint, and Lone Star Works, Michelle Montoya just a breath behind Sheri followed by Shelby with Sugar Cycles for 3rd, just in front of 4th , Lone Star Works, Tammy Wallace, following behind with enough energy to get a top 9th finish overall from the Lead out lone star Work Kim Jennings.

I do have to say, a lot of nice girls out there racing. Now, I can't wait when we have everyone out , Cassandra,Becky, Kelly, and the Beebs. This is going to be So Awesome!!! It was a great Circuit Venue, I loved the course or "route" as you roadies may call it. Tobin and Jennifer put on a great RAce, and we will always Return to T.O.N.B, as this is always a Favorite. Tobin and Jennifer also were great Hosts, as they opened their homes to the team.