Celebration of New England Ladies Cyclocross

This is a blast from the past podium pic of local ladies, Libby White, Crystal Anthony, and Elle Anderson at one of my first cyclocross races- Gloucester 2008 women's 3/4 field.  Since then little Libby has grown up and gone to college, now racing for UVM.  Crystal had a very successful year last year on the mountain bike and I got some motivation in the winter reading her Facebook posts about 4 hour mountain bike rides.  I met Elle in 2008 at a road race when we were both Cat 3 riders finding our way in the race scene here.  After this picture was taken, we hung out on the rock that overlooks the course at Gloucester and watched the elite women race the tangle of turns and sandpit below while chatting about Elle's studies at UVM and ambitions.  In 2010, we raced a bit together on the NEBC road team.   2011, she joined a local development team and I saw her at the races making solid improvements in skill and strength.  I didn't see her much after that as I stopped racing to focus on finishing my masters degree and lead a work team while Elle joined a pro team and traveled. 

Last weekend I had the pleasure of watching the 3 of them race in the elite field at Gloucester.  Elle came back home to New England and what a success!!!!!   It was thrilling to watch her win both races at Gloucester, riding away several of the highly accomplished women that we had watched from that rock in 2008.  Elle rode away from famed riders Helen Wyman, the British National champion, and Laura Van Guilder - an incredible sprinter who I view as a superhero, among others.  She even rode away from her current teammate, former road national champion Meredith Miller, wow - I can't even imagine warming up on the trainer next to her - Elle is with the big dogs now.  Crystal had great rides as well and is right up there with the top ladies.  Libby rode in her collegiate kit, right in with the elite level racers. 

Yesterday we went to Providence to cheer for Elle on the same course as the American National Champion and cyclocross phenom Katie Compton.  I'd never seen Katie in person before, but I did watch her ride away from the field one year at the National Championship thanks to streaming internet and thereafter regarded her as legendary.  What a sight to watch Elle and Katie ride together through the turns, up the hills, and over the barriers!  Elle finished second yesterday; Katerina Nash was out of sight on the last lap.  If you are interested to see the background of Olympian Katerina Nash it is easy enough to look up on the internet.  Let's just say that to have her rear wheel in view means that Elle is up there with the best!!!

On a somber note, one of the racers that Elle and I watched from that rock in 2008 died this week.  Amy Dombroski, a young racer in her prime, was killed during a training ride.  Horrible news for a week filled with joy.