How's the kid doing?

The reason I'm out here in Illinois, staying in Woodstock, about an hour and fifteen minutes, by train, outside of Chicago, is to transport, support, advise, coach, and generally accompany GeeVs. She's taken up road racing. Having competed in five races in the Tour of America's Dairyland in Wisconsin (and learning a lot), she needed/needs more experience racing, so we're out here for four races. 

Her first race was in the Sharon Cycling Classic (like mine), racing in the Cat 3/4 race, which is 20.8 miles (33.5 kms). She rode conservatively, and got a conservative result: 8th. Still this placing allowed her to collect more points that, when she's earned enough, will allow her to move up to the Cat 1/2 races in the future. 

The start.

The pack.

Heading through West through town, and then onto the highways. 

 

After a day off on Thursday, during which we spent about six hours in Chicago, she raced the Superior Ambulance Elmhurst Cycling Classic criterium today, in Elmhurst. We'd talked about how to be more aggressive today, and that she ought to make a plan, and then execute it. Her criterium was a 40 minute race around a short circuit of about one mile. They are more intense than a road race, as you are cornering every 30 seconds and then accelerating out of the corner.

The plan was to use her strength and fitness to hide in the front group for the first 30 minutes, and then breakaway with about four laps left. Which she did. She opened up a gap of 15 seconds and then over the course of the next three laps expanded it to between 20 and 25 seconds, and she won! This is more impressive given that the temperatures were up around 100'F (38'Canadian), and there was a stiff South wind on the home stretch!

In the breakaway.

Making a break.

Crossing the line!

Podium!!!
(A sweet jersey, a bag of coffee beans, and $50!)

Need I say more? No. Except ...

Our hosts, Steve Middaugh and Laura Witlox, and their family - Noah, Ethan, Alise, and Lauren - are just completely fantastic and supportive hosts. I can't really say enough about these folks. Steve rides and Laura organized one of the races in the series. 

Two more races to go, tomorrow and Sunday. Both criteriums. Stay tuned.