Breaking
biking news
2005
Cyclocross:
Christine
Vardaros last 10 races!
From
8 October to 20 November
Going
into this season, I have felt stronger than ever before! It is partly
due to my taking a much needed break from cycling
for a few months over the summer. And the other part
consists of my listening to my coach, Elmo, for the first time and
getting extra much needed support from friends, family, and sponsors!!
I am
truly humbled by, and immensely thankful for, all the support that has
been pouring in this year!
Enough of the
mushy stuff – below are details of the cyclo-cross races
I’ve entered so far. I have included links to much of the
press/media coverage and to some of the photos I have
found on the internet. I’m sure I’ve missed some
sites here and there, but the info below should give
you a good idea of what’s out there!
And attached are
two articles that were in VeloNews magazine, one of which includes me in a Top 10 list of women cyclo-cross racers to watch
(with photo) and the other is an article
on the Velo Bellas and
includes a
HUGE photo of me – yippee!! What an honor!!
I have also
attached a photo taken at last Sunday’s race in San Francisco and a superb photo taken during
Gloucester’s epic snowstorm event.
***************************************************
RACE
#1
Stumptown
Classic - US Grand Prix #1 – UCI Cat. 1
Portland,
OR
October
8
Result:
DNF
The course was
muddy, slippery, undulating with lots of twists and turns
– loved it! I especially loved how I felt in the race
for the first thirty seconds when I
was in 2nd
position, getting ready to pass 1st…..until 1st place gal slid
out in a turn and I went crashing into her.
Tally of damage: concussion, whiplash, torn deltoid, elbow, hip,
knee, and shin gash, tweaked knee, broken
handlebar, broken rear derailleur, bent derailleur hanger,
twisted levers. Luckily, my team, art and megan (our
host housing folks), and on-site ambulance guy were
there to put me and my bike together so that I
may show up at the starting line tomorrow to have
another go at it! (will prove to be a dumb idea, though.
Athletes have a unique talent for minimizing injury –
I’m a pro at it!) Lyne Bessette of Canada won the
race.
Pezcyclingnews.com
story that I wrote on the weekend’s
festivities – full details of the first two races !
MUST READ:
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=3564
Velonews.com
pre-race coverage:
http://www.velonews.com/race/cyc/articles/9011.0.html
***************************************************
RACE
#2
Rad
Racing - US Grand Prix #2 – UCI Cat. 2
Tacoma,
WA
October
9
Result:
10th
I stood there at
the start line in full denial that I can barely lift the
bike over the shoulder, bend my knee or turn my
head. But there I was in search of gold. For the first
few minutes of the race, denial was on my side. I
even attacked the field just before the treacherous
run-up. By the top of the run-up, I
was passed by
Lyne Bessette and my teammate, Barb Howe. One by
one, gals passed me. I was definitely lucky to make top
10! Lyne Bessette won the
race…again.
Great
photo of me taken near the top of the first run-up – before reality set
in!
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=278560&image_id=10
And
another one of me – headless and taken in one minute into the race:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/473156541/473158725HmrkyL
Photos
taken later on in race – my one arm warmer is up to hold my arm in
place!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/473156541/473179967FVphis
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=278560&image_id=31
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=278560&image_id=67
***************************************************
RACE
#3
Wooden
Wheels – UCI Cat. 1
Granogue,
DE
October
22
5th
place
1st
Place – masters 35+ (should I have mentioned this?
Hahaha!)
Still recovering
from various injuries sustained recently in the
Portland event, I rode ultra-conservatively
to hold my place in my recovery process. With that
said, I stayed upright at all times during the muddy,
slippery, rain-drenched race. Lyne won.
Photo
from first moments of the race:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51218293
***************************************************
RACE
#4
Wissahickon
– UCI Cat. 2
Philadelphia,
PA
October
23
3rd
Place
1st
Place – masters 35+ - I’m starting to get an age
complex!
This event went
a lot smoother than yesterday’s. The couse was very
twisty, turny, dry and fast with only one real climb – the
paved start/finish straightaway. I had an excellent
start and grabbed Lyne Bessette’s wheel straight away.
But when she passed Georgia gould to take the lead, I
found myself stuck behind Georgia through all the
twisty stuff while watching Lyne take off, never to be
caught again. Eventually, barb bridged to me and we
worked together to drop the rest of the field but
losing about 45 seconds to Lyne by end of the race. In
Velo Bella style, we sprinted for 2nd place – I lost.
Cyclingnews.com
coverage:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2005/oct05/wissahickon05
bikereg.com
coverage:
http://www.bikereg.com/News/Results05/20051023-Wissahickon-Cyclocross.asp
velonews.com
coverage:
http://www.velonews.com/race/cyc/articles/9072.0.html
Cyclocrossworld.com
coverage:
http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/News.cfm?Action=Edit&MenuKey=14&theKey=489&ShowDisabled=0
PHOTOS
This
was the moment where Lyne Bessette passed Georgia Gould just before
tight, twisty single-file trail:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51218293
finally
past Georgia and in pursuit of Lyne:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51238292
Still
in pursuit:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51238297
Now
you know what the back of my helmet looks like:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51238303
Barb
Howe bridges to me and we start working together:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51238325
Still
working together:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/crossphotos.php?id=photos/2005/oct05/wissahickon/W02
Hopping
together too:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51238330
Here
I’m getting my butt kicked in a sprint with Barb:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51238349
I
like podium appearances!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/crossphotos.php?id=photos/2005/oct05/wissahickon/W05
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51238356
***************************************************
RACE
#5
Michelob
Ultra – US Grand Prix #3 – UCI Cat. 2
Gloucester,
MA
October
29
4th
Place
The day started
off chilly and rainy, but within the first few minutes of
the race, the rain turned to heavy snow and
chilly turned to bitterly cold. My hands were tingling
five minutes into the race and within seven
minutes, I was having a tough time trying to make my hands
work to shift or engage the brakes!
After a
not-so-stellar start, I crawled up to 4th place, dangling off
of 2nd and 3rd places by six to ten seconds for the
last couple of laps. Lyne Bessette
was again off
the front. Barb took second over Wendy Simms of Canada. As
a side note, I was the second American finisher
today.
velonews.com
pre-race coverage:
http://www.velonews.com/race/cyc/articles/9097.0.html
cyclingnews.com
pre-race coverage:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/oct05/oct26news
Great
photo that says it all!
http://www.jsmcelvery.com/photos/2005/cross/glc1/05glc1vardaros1.jpg
***************************************************
RACE
#6
Michelob
Ultra – US Grand Prix #4 – UCI Cat. 1
Gloucester,
MA
October
30
9th
Place
Feeling fully
recovered from yesterday’s race in truly epic weather, I was
ready to race! The gun sounded and I was on the lookout
for Lyne’s wheel. Once she came around me, I
immediately grabbed her wheel. Soon, it was Lyne, Wendy
Simms, and me. It was pleasantly funny how the pace seemed
easier at the front! My plan was playing out
perfectly until the bike stopped shifting correctly – chain
skipping from sprocket to sprocket. I watched the gals
ride away from me as I skipped along. Soon, the
legendary Ann Knapp – Queen of Cross passed me, then
Rhonda Mazza. Once I found a gear
that worked, I
passed Rhonda. As I attempted to make my way back to the
front of the race, I shifted gears – wrong thing to do!
The bike started to mis-shift again. While
fidgeting with the gears, Rhonda tried to pass me again – this
attempt was not as successful as the first. She
tried to squeeze by in the space of twelve inches and
failed – both of us ending up on the floor. Luckily, she
was fun. I was not so lucky, though. The Portland
wounds were re-opened and my knee blew up to the size
of a cantelope! AND the bike was even worse off.
After spending a bit of time trying to get the bike to roll
(while simultaneously watching about twenty women
pass me), I coasted to the pit and picked up my backup
bike. I picked the riders off, one by one, but was
only able to get back to 9th place. Yes, Lyne
won. Ann Knapp took second!!
***************************************************
RACE
#7
Lower
Allen Classic – UCI Cat. 2
Camp
Hill, PA
November
5
DNF
The course
layout was spectacular! It was twisty, undulating and
contained TWO sand pits! Unsure of my fitness, I went into
the race with no expectations.
From the start,
Georgia Gould was off the front. Barb and I worked
together to chase her down until I slid out on a grassy
off-camber section. I immediately got back on the bike to
catch up, but instead of catching anyone, I was
caught…over and over again! Finally, I pulled out of the
race and chalked it up to my still recovering from
injuries sustained last week. But upon inspection of
the bike, I noticed that the rear wheel was locked in
place – the brake pad was jammed into the tubular
tire, digging into the sidewall.
Cyclingnews.com
coverage:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2005/nov05/lower_allen05
The
Sentinel coverage:
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2005/11/08/sports/sports02.txt
Cyclocrossworld.com
coverage:
http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/News.cfm?Action=Edit&MenuKey=14&theKey=522&ShowDisabled=0
***************************************************
RACE
#8
Highland
Park – UCI Cat. 1
Highland
Park, NJ
November
6
1st
Place
The course was
mostly flat with a twisty, muddyrun-up, a power climb
and a couple of extended mudgardens. After
yesterday’s debacle, I was still not
sure if I had
any fitness or if all my energy was still being used to
heal the body. So I rode conservatively
(aside from momentarily 86’ing this plan after the gun
went off so I could chase down hole-shotter Rebecca
Wellons.) Once I got back to the plan, I sat up and
waited to see who would join us. A group of four formed
– Barb, Georgia, Mo Bruno, and me. After
taking turns with barb to jump the field, we were all together
in the final lap. Since previous experience taught me
NOT to get into a head-to-head sprint with Barb, I
jumped the field about 500 meters to go, barely
holding her off for the WIN!
Here’s the coverage that was found on
a collection of sites:
**From
the first lap, Vardaros had realised that Gould was having trouble in
two places, the mud pit and the ride-up hill. "I told Barbara we have
to go fast," she said later, "she was privy to my plan." The plan could
have been taught as "Team Cycling 101" at neighbouring Rutgers
University.
With
the course too fast to launch any attacks, the two Velo Bella riders
simply took advantage of their numerical advantage and Gould's
weaknesses. By going fast through the mud pit and the ride-up, they
consistently gapped Gould, making her use extra energy to keep catching
back up. When Gould would try to pass or control the tempo, Vardaros
and Howe would take turns accelerating to make Gould use up even more
energy. In the meantime, they were able to get a gap on Bruno-Roy to
make it a three rider race. As the lead trio crested the ride-up for
the final time, less than a half mile from the finish, a small gap
opened as it had every other lap. But this time, Howe attacked with
full force with Vardaros in tow, quickly opening an insurmountable gap
on Gould. The finish at Highland Park is a long, flat asphalt road that
everybody thought would favor "Barbarella" in a sprint, but Vardaros
had other ideas. "I knew I could get around that last corner around the
tree faster than anybody," she said. The two teammates fought the last
sprint like fierce rivals and Vardaros' speed out of the final turn
allowed her to hold off Howe at the line by about an inch.**
Video
of sprint finish:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid193/p4252f0582029b331251623411c6abc2a/f18cf067.mpg
VeloNews
coverage:
http://velonews.com/race/cyc/articles/9140.0.html
cyclocrossworld.com
coverage:
http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/News.cfm?Action=Edit&MenuKey=14&theKey=526&ShowDisabled=0
NCNCA.org
coverage:
http://ncncacxnews.blogspot.com/2005/11/velo-bellas-double-up-in-nj-pa.html
Cyclingnews.com
coverage:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2005/nov05/highland05
veganrunners.net
coverage:
http://www.veganrunners.net/eng/index.html
mbcx.com
coverage:
http://www.mbcx.com/news/article.php?id=215
PHOTOS:
Great
photo of sprint finish!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/crossphotos.php?id=photos/2005/nov05/highland05/5569
first
lap of race – I’m in 2nd, chasing down lone leader:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/crossphotos.php?id=photos/2005/nov05/highland05/5468
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51939664
Taking
it easy to prepare for inevitable chaos in the race:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51939675
still
relaxing at the front:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51939683
Barb
blocking Georgia with use of her trusty steed:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51939688
Starting
to think about the finish:
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51939692
Love
the mud pit!
http://www.pbase.com/dens/image/51939696
http://www.mountainbikeracer.com/upcomingraces/display.php?raceid=364&gid=269&page=pictures&img=65
http://www.mountainbikeracer.com/upcomingraces/display.php?raceid=364&gid=269&page=pictures&img=51
***************************************************
RACE
#9
Velo
Bella’s Surf City – US Grand Prix #5 – UCI Cat. 1
Watsonville,
CA
November
19
4th
Place
It must have
been the hottest race so far! It was about 80 degrees and
very sunny. I went into the race feeling as good as I
could considering I, too, wilt in
the sun.
Although I live in California where it is theoretically warm
all the time, my little town of Mill Valley is one
of the coldest spots in the whole state! The heat was
a shock. But since I tell myself “all courses are good
for me and all weather is good for me” the weather
was just fine.
The course was
quite hilly and contained two decent-sized
run-ups. Even
before the races started, I suffered from cotton-mouth from
the dry, dusty air. My start was mediocre, but within
a couple of minutes, I was in second place behind
Lyne, soon to be passed by Canada’s Wendy
Simms. Eventually, I was in a group of three – behind Lyne
and Wendy who were up the road. With two laps to go,
Georgia attacked us and I had no interest in going
with her (surely due to heat/fatigue).
But with one lap to go, I figured I’d try (for the first
time) to give it everything I have and to break through
my usual pain threshold. It worked!!! I suffered
like I’ve never suffered before, but I gained twelve
seconds on Melissa Thomas to take 4th place.
After the race,
I severely paid for my efforts. I was dizzy and nauseated
for two days! That night, I had a tough time eating –
the smell of food made me ill. My roommate was so
supportive by washing my bikes. He even made a trip to
the market in search of non-offending foods,
but to no avail. Note to self,
when feeling
this way, I must avoid potato chips with vinegar!
But the
suffering was well worth it! I was the second American finisher
today.
USGP
cyclo-cross coverage:
http://www.usgpcyclocross.com/PR/20051119.asp
cyclocrossworld.com
coverage:
http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/News.cfm?Action=Edit&MenuKey=14&theKey=557&ShowDisabled=0
ncnca.org
coverage:
http://ncncacxnews.blogspot.com/2005/11/what-weekend.html
Santa
Cruz Sentinel coverage: – November 17 -
World-class bicycle racers flock to town
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/November/17/sport/stories/06sport.htm
PHOTOS:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/crossphotos.php?id=photos/2005/nov05/watsonville051/usgp5_wat_0733_R
***************************************************
RACE
#10
Clark
Natwick Golden Gate Cross – US Grand Prix #6 –
UCI
Cat. 1
San
Francisco, CA
November
20
13th
Place
Even though I
was still nauseated and without appetite as I stood there at
the start line, I was determined to have a great
race. The course was mostly dusty, sandy, tightly
twisting, undulating singletrack – perfect for my pro
mountain bike racing background. I also enjoyed that
it’s one of those courses that offer no periods of rest;
every few seconds, you’re sprinting out of a
turn. I
had a front row call-up, but unfortunately the one spot left for me was
way on the left side – on the sandy side of the
course. I was careful to be safe going around the
first turn, but just as I rounded the
corner, there
was a huge pile-up of bikes and body parts. I almost made
it through the crash but pulled a peanut move instead;
I pushed off of someone’s wheel to maneuver through
the crash and my foot got caught between the spokes.
I tried riding away, with bike in tow, but could only
do that for about 10 meters before I came to realize
that I can’t win a race with bike in tow. So I stopped to
release my foot and watched the whole field ride
away from me. Once I was ready to ride, I found myself
about 15 seconds behind the last place rider – I was
rider #49. By the end of the race, I passed a
bunch of women, some of whom did not give up their spots
too easily while others made way and even blocked for
me (namely Ann Fitzsimmons and Erin Kassoy - my
exceptional teammates), to finish
13th – a few
seconds off of a group of five racers.
Although my
result is not what I wanted, I did attain a valuable tool to
add to my war chest – I now knowwhat it feels like to
have that “f_ _ _ y_ _ “
attitude,
something I’ve never mastered until this day. I will
cultivate it and bring it out before every race from now
on - Grrrrrrrrrrr!
Cyclingnews.com
coverage:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2005/nov05/golden_gate05
I came across
this entry posted by a guest on the Velo Bella yahoo group
site. It was great to find that someone noticed my
hard work off the back of the field!
”I
was especially shocked by Peanut's exploit that same day, moving up
somewheres around 35 places from damn near last position after being
stopped in her tracks behind a melee on the very first corner. She also
recorded, by my clock, the fastest lap (lap #3 ?) of any of the elite
women on the day. Holy s**t! Keep it rolling, Bellas - next stop,
national championships . . .”
I sent an email
of gratitude to the guy who submitted the above comment
and got the following reply:
“I
had been checking the lap times of the leader, who happened to be Wendy
Simms, from the start. Agog at how swiftly you were moving across
during Lap #2, I became curious to see whether you were in fact gaining
time relative to the girls in front. Your teammate Howe, although
riding strongly, gradually lost time to Simms on each lap, and while
Bessette and Knapp probably put in fairly fast final laps, recapturing
a handful of seconds, neither of them could possibly have gained
twenty-six seconds over Simms in the space of a single circuit (the
amount by which you yourself were faster than she on Lap #3). Otherwise
the podium would have been in rather a different order! But maths
having been my speciality in university, I believe this
is correct.” Very cool.
PHOTOS
I
particularly like dustball-assisted missing tooth
effect in this photo!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/crossphotos.php?id=photos/2005/nov05/golden_gate05/tg_05
***************************************************
MY
RECENT WRITING GIGS THAT YOU MAY FIND ENTERTAINING:
Cyclo-Cross
Season update – USGP Series, events #1&2
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=3564
Published
in Bay Area Business Woman (online and in print)
Velo
Bella: A Cycling First for Bay Area Women
http://www.babwnews.com/article.php?id=426&action=
***************************************************
GENERAL
MEDIA SPOTS
Interview
on mbcx.com:
http://www.mountainbikeracer.com/interview/interview.php?id=67
Interview
on veganrunners.net
http://www.veganrunners.net/eng/index.html
Interview
in VegNews magazine out next month!!
www.vegnews.com
Interview
in Yoga Journal magazine in progress!!
***************************************************
And my upcoming schedule consists of:
December 4 –
Verge series finals in Warwick, RI
December
11 – CX National Championships in Providence,
RI
December 22-23 –
travel to Belgium to stay with good
friend and
supporter Jan Goeman!
December 26 –
Hofstade World Cup in Belgium
December 28 –
Azencross UCI Cat. 2 in Loenhout,
Belgium
December 31 –
Hooglede-Gits World Cup in Belgium
January 1 – G.P.
Hotel Threeland in Petage, LUX
January 11 –
Antwerpen CX in Belgium
January 15 –
Lievin World Cup in France
January 22 –
Hoogerheide world cup in Netherlands
January 29 –
Cyclo-Cross World Championships in
Zeddam,
Netherlands
January 31 –
head back to California
March 1-August 1
– travel through Europe for full road
season as a
member of a Belgian UCI Professional Trade
Team!(more about
this to come!)
August 1 – back
to California
October 10 –
back to Belgium for Cyclo-Cross (to be
confirmed!!)
Some of
this schedule is posted on my website:
www.christinevardaros.com
6-11-2005
Christine
Vardaros won another race in New Jersey, a UCI
Category 1!
link
to race/results
Pic
credits: dennisbike.com
Ciclocross:
Christine
Vardaros: Cyclo-Cross
Season started off with a VICTORY!!!
02-10-2005
I just raced last sunday at Pilarcitos' Super Prestige
Race in San Francisco after a 4-month hiatus from
racing. Unsure of where my fitness would lie, i was quite pleased
with coming through the finish line - hands raised!
I started the race in the second row and entered the singletrack in
about 7th position. I quickly passed all but one of the gals - my
teammate, sarah kerlin, was up the road! It took me about 1/2 lap
to catch her. Once i did, we traded places a couple of times until i
passed her for the final time and settled into my race rhythm.
Winning this race definitely gave me a boost of confidence i needed
before competing in the first two events of the US Grand Prix
cyclo-cross series. The first event is this saturday in Portland, the
second in Tacoma the following day.!
great
shots from my first win of the season.
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=267152&image_id=155
I
can finally run!
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=267152&image_id=33
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=267152&image_id=71
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=267152&image_id=131
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=267152&image_id=72
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=267152&image_id=70
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=267152&image_id=4