Race Report: 2024 Cal Aggie Criterium - Women’s 3 & Masters

Date: January 27, 2024

AVRT Racers: Kristin Hepworth, Lora Maes, Louise Thomas, Rachel Hwang, Steph Hart

Top Result: 2nd - Rachel HwangCourse: 3 turns, ~1 mile loop, 40 minutes

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/10643495881

Race Recap (Rachel Hwang):

Going into it, our strategy was to lead me to win the field as I have the strongest sprint in the team. With that goal in mind, Louise and Steph traded attacks the entire race. While nothing stuck, this forced people on other teams to constantly chase them down and slowly tire out some of the riders.

As this was the first race back this calendar year, people were nervous and jumpy. There were a couple close calls and sketchy moments of people bumping elbows and cutting one another off.

I sat in the last few spots of the bunch for the majority of that race, until 3 laps left to go, when I wanted to move up and feel comfortable with people nudged up against one another. The idea was on the last lap, I would be in the first few spots out of that last corner, and Louise or Steph would lead me out.

With half a lap to go, Steph started leading out. I tried getting behind someone's wheel, but got caught in the wind which slightly burned me out, behind a couple Terun riders. By the last corner, I was able to find Steph. Steph was able to lead me out through the last corner, at which point 3 other sprinters were coming up fast behind and past me. I finished 4th in the field sprint, 2nd in Cat 3.

Nutrition: 1 cliff gel double espresso on the start line, 1 bottle liquid IV during the race