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THE PROGRESSION A TRUE CYCLO-CROSS PEAK
4/7/2010
After winning late-October's Westwood Velo Cross, Laura Winberry of Team Campmor really found her stride, improving with each race, aiming to peak 100% for December's NJ State Cyclo-Cross Championships! Here is the story of her progression…
At the Beacon Cross on November 1st, she finished 7th, feeling strong but saddled with stomach issues. She was able to battle in the top-5 all day, but she wasn't 100% concentrating on the final lap and misjudged the finale, slipping from 4th to 7th... Well, it's good to get these bad days out of the way NOW!!! They WILL happen, and it's important to learn from them...
At the Highland Park Cross the next day, Laura took a stunning 2nd. Total mudfest, and Laura's incredible mountain-bike skills came to her benefit! She noted she was having severe stomach cramps for first 15 minutes of the race, and then the pain subsided and she was able to fully get into the racing action. Once going, Laura was in the lead for a bit, feeling strong, then was caught and dueled it with one rider to the finish... On the riser, the girl opened a gap, and immediately another girl caught Laura, helping the leader establish her gap on the wet circuit. On the final lap, Laura was able to gun it and drop her companion and close on the leader... only to run out of pavement...
On November 14th at the USGP West Windsor Cross, Laura took 4th in a hard day on the bike... She took the holeshot and screamed off for the lead... and held it until the final lap -- when she was caught by several women. Laura was down and out but clawed her way back, catching everyone but the two leaders. Coming into the final straight, 2nd place seem so far off but Laura but her head down and -- foom foom -- emptied it and was able to catch the woman RIGHT at the line, stealing 2nd place. What a finale!!!
Day Two at USGP West Windsor brought on more muddy conditions and even more running. Laura took the holeshot again and was able to stay off the front with another woman... Near the end, Laura attacked her on the harder ground, trying to get a big lead going into the soupy mud... It worked -- Laura was able to maintain the lead and hold her off 'til the finale... Victory for Winberry!
The following weekend saw the cross tour hit the Hamptons, out on Long Island... The course turned out being one of Laura's favorites, passing through the woods, bermed turns... After a solid 45-minute warm-up, Laura was again able to get the holeshot. Was off front for first lap, and then Mainer caught her, dropping her, putting a good 20 seconds into her in half a lap. FAST! Laura rode hard but within herself, biding her time... On the last lap, Laura knew where to blast the jets, coming up JUST short, a few seconds off Mainer's rear wheel. 2nd place, not too shabby!
Day Two of Southampton's Super Cross Cup ran the course backwards. Now there were three run-up sections, one short and steep, one long and steep, and another in sand with natural log barriers. Laura started the race with heavy legs. Laura again nailed the holeshot and ripped the first lap, opening a mean gap. Laura noted she had a decent gap all race but kept the hammer down as if Mainer (her main rival) was right on her wheel. She noted she had the best legs of her year, which was good news because States was JUST around the corner! 1st place.
At the Sussex Cross Weekend, Laura picked up where she left off in the Hamptons and was on fire. She noted she wsa on fire, that she felt she could not push hard enough, just endless strength… The course was fast and she jumped with the holeshot again. She even started catching men halfway through, just ripping at full metal. Go, girl! Laura ended up soloing in for ANOTHER 1st PLACE. Things are certainly coming together as they should…
On Sunday, Laura was tired from Saturday’s effort – but apparently not too tired. The course was another super-fast one. She caught the holeshot AGAIN and torched the first lap. She was able to power away from the field, open a minute lead right away. Laura dealt well with the sand runs, and she’s really becoming a complete cross rider, able to ride well on all different types of courses… She was jumping barriers at high speed as she was coming out of a fast downhill turn. As she was in the lead, she continued to practice good form – which is efficient and faster – and not get sloppy. On a great sunny day, Laura took home her 4th victory in her last 5 races… Can you smell a peak coming?
Laura was on such good form here, I was actually worried she had peaked too soon, but the following week, Laura fought hard and WON the NJ State Cross Championships, breaking the race apart in the second half and going off the front… Laura Winberry earned another State Championships WIN and finished the year as the #1 Cat-2 Cross Racer in the country, as ranked by USA Cycling…
In other Elite Endurance cyclo-cross news, Nick Salerno of Death Row Velo had a scorching weekend in November, taking 2nd place at the Horseshoe Scramble and then WINNING the Hidden Valley Cross race!!!
Nich Salerno’s full race reports and pics can be found on his blog, http://www.dirt-merchant.blogspot.com/.
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