SHELLEY OLDS 12th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Images by Rob Evans









































































I went into the race tonight with intentions of making the race fast and racing aggressively. I feel I did what I came to do.

How it all played out: There was an attack by the Canadian rider, Tara Whitten within the first five laps. She didn't separate herself from the pack, she simply got the field strung out and chasing hard. The pace was pretty high for the next 10 laps and then there was a lull with about 20 laps to go, so I attacked solo from high on the track. I got a good run off the banking and created a nice 1/4-lap gap from the field right away. For the next 5 laps, I was off the front and extended my lead to 1/2 lap on the field with 2 riders chasing and making their way across the gap. It was the Canadian and the Spanish rider. As soon as they caught me, I pulled up track and got back on the back of the group to try and work together to gain a lap on the field. Unfortunately, the Canadian rider was the only one willing to work and I was knackered from being off the front by myself for 5 laps. Eventually 3 more riders came across the gap and now the group was 6 and too big for organized work. So, we ended getting caught by the field with about 9 laps to go and then the crash happened. After that it was fast and the bunch was all together with the sprinters sitting comfortable in the pack waiting for the bell to ring for the last lap. I tried to stay near the front, but the accelerations for the finish proved to be too much for my legs after my attack and I could only manage to follow wheels to the finish line.

I took a chance and it didn't work. I feel I made the race though, and on any given day, that move could have worked. I buried myself to try and make it work and when it came back together with 9 to go, I had nothing left in the tank to sprint. I raced and I have no regrets. Next year I will come back fitter, faster, and smarter and make the move that works.
~ Shelley