The Champ Speaks

There was a lot of big talk all over Big Ring land about taking home the Stars and Bars jersey from Bend. Ali came damn close, me not so much. In the end it was Dr. Kris Wlaker who walked the walk and took home the hardware. Here is how she did it in her words:

Earlier this month, I raced the master’s and elite nationals cyclocross races in Bend, Oregon. I was not that confident going in, as my season had been less than ideal. I broke my collarbone in August (on a time trial bike!) and then got a weird virus in my chest muscles in September. So, it was a slow start and those first few races HURT! Then, right before nationals, I noticed that Karen Brems was in my age group and racing. Hmmm…..her last name used to be Kurreck and she is a past Olympian, national road champion and WORLD champion in the time trial. So, I was pretty sure the race would be for second and thought that getting on the podium would be a good result.

Bob and I got in Wednesday and walked around the course. It was snow-covered, twisty and turny, but not that slick (yet). It looked like a fun course. Thursday, we pre-rode it before Bob’s race and it was a super fun course but very slippery. Friday, I was even more nervous. Pre-riding was encouraging–the course was technical, with icy ruts. I got to the start line and got called up first in our group. Catherine Walberg was right next to me. We spoke a little and I mentioned how nervous I was about Brems and she gave me some good advice, “Just race the course.”

They started the 40-44 age group before us, and as soon as we rolled up to the line, they sent us. They had over 50 women in their group and we caught up with them at the first corner. As I was negotiating the turn and the traffic, I looked up and saw Walberg riding off about 10 riders ahead of me. “There goes the race,” I thought to myself. So I did my best to pass as many of the younger riders as I could as fast as I could. I finally caught up with her, but I didn’t know if anyone else was in front of me. I kept riding hard and passing people and a lap or 2 later, I caught Beverly Chaney, who was second last year. I passed her but still did not know if I was in the lead or not. On the 4th lap, the announcers reported that I was “unofficially” in the lead. The course was softening up and becoming less technical and more of a power course. I knew Chaney and Brems were close and a less technical course would favor Brems’ power, so I rode the last lap as hard as I could. I got to the grassy section and got behind some lapped riders and had to stop in a corner and had to elbow another out of the way over the barriers, but I was still in the lead! (Unofficially) I made the turn into the finish stretch and suddenly there was someone on my inside. And she was sprinting! I actually thought she must be in a different category, but I sprinted her anyway. At the finish line, it was too close to call. Well, it turns out that this gal was Karen Hogan and she WAS in my age group AND I won the sprint!

The elite race was on Sunday. I got a good call up for me—4th row. Things were going well, not that many people had passed me, until the first corner. I got my handlebars caught in the tape (even though Ali warned me NOT to get my bars stuck on the tape). 20 or so women passed me as I got untangled. Then it was just pass as many women as I could. There were lots of crashes, especially on the off-camber grass, so I passed a lot of women. Then, on the 3rd lap, I almost crashed on the pavement. My bike fish-tailed so hard, I could hardly believe I saved it. Then I went into the hill too slow, lost momentum and tipped over. I landed on someone’s front wheel. I got up pretty quickly but several women passed me then. I kept riding hard and was able to catch a few more women and ended up 26th.

The Champ!

5 Responses to “The Champ Speaks”

1. MK says:

   December 22, 2009 at 7:12 pm

   Big Ring indeed…
2. Tim Az says:

   December 22, 2009 at 10:44 pm

   Congrats!

   Tim Az
3. ali says:

   December 23, 2009 at 8:19 am

   strong work Kris!
4. Chris says:

   December 25, 2009 at 8:09 pm

   Great Work Kris!
5. patrick says:

   March 1, 2010 at 12:32 pm

   i think you mean “stars and stripes”….”stars and bars” refers to the confederate flag.