by Karen Ulrich

It’s hard not to be cynical about global warming when it’s May and it feels like we’re racing in March, but at least the rain, if not the winds, held off for this year’s Jiminy Peak. With 40 starters in the 4’s, the start was a little squirrelly until the first climb split the field. Following the descent, we strung out single file along Route 7 and fought the fierce cross/head winds, (with at least 2 groups chasing, until they became one and too large to coordinate a catch) some of us taking pulls at the front until we caught a group of women’s 2-3’s who yo-yoed us for a while (much to our dismay—if we were men, either their or our pace car would’ve let us pass, no?). Our single file now split into two lines, Allison Powers and Beth Miller did most of the pulling, until Powers stepped on the gas and carried us past the group of chasing 2-3’s for good. Knowing position was crucial going into the climb, holding a wheel before the descent wasn’t easy. I couldn’t tell how large our

group was (not daring to look back), but going in to the final climb I noticed at least 12, as out neat double line folded then exploded; I strove to pass, without caring if I had a wheel or not. Reaching the short flat before the final ascent, we picked up speed and held it until the finish, where Miller took first and the women who’d been riding at the front followed to claim the classic Jiminy mug—Guarnier came in at second, Ford third, Lampilar forth, Ulrich fifth (how was I erased from the final results?), and Powers at sixth. Not knowing the competition before the start, I was impressed by the depth of the day’s 4’s; I think only three of us were crazy enough to race the William’s Criterium the following day.