Tour de Gastown -- July 20,2005

For what really happened, click here.

The Gastown race and I have a special relationship. Take into consideration my "love" of crits and add in cobblestones, a hairpin corner, some of the best sprinters on the continent and a chicane.... What do you get? A very hard race.

Last year I had bad luck in Gastown, when, right as the gun went off, my contact lenses went nuts. I guess they had dried up and tried to fall out, but couldn't quite make it, so they stayed in limbo, half on and half off of my eyeballs. Despite some serious blinking, rubbing and eye-closing (while trying to sprint off the start and navigate around the hairpin), the lenses just wouldn't settle in. And because of my lack of proper vision, I quickly lost contact with the pack and had to chase vainly by myself. Grr! Frustration!

I decided that this year would be better. I was ready, pumping myself up for a valiant effort in which I would stay at the front and make decisive moves.

My start was great. I positioned myself at the front and worked hard to stay there. I had friends cheering me on all around the course, which was awesome. The sheer volume of screaming, board-banging spectators was inspirational. Tanya even made me a banner! (THANKS!)

However, as the race wore on, my focus wavered and I slowly got stuck near the back, eventually getting gapped with some other racers. But I made it over halfway through the intense 30 laps with the main field and I didn't crash (unlike a lot of people)! The group I was riding with eventually got pulled, which was disappointing, but I've gotta say, it was WAY better than last year!

Next year, that race will be all me.

The Tour de Gastown was a part of BC Super Week. My friend, Mathilde, was staying with me during that time to get some more road racing experience. It was great having her around, since my parents were away and I would have been all alone otherwise.