Ruth Winder (16yrs) wins Snelling Road Race (Cat 3)

Cat 3
1st Ruth Winder (16 years old)
(Ruth has upgraded to cat 2 now)

Yesterday was my first road race of the season, Snelling.
Luckily when the race started at 12:30 the rain had stopped and the sun came out. The roads were mostly dry apart from the huge puddles(or lakes as people were calling them). They had gone down significantly by the time I raced, though it was still like having a bucket of water dumped on you every time you went through one of these puddles.

Going into the race I knew that I wanted to attack and try and get away in a break. I attacked once on the first lap and that was chased down right way. I went with a few attacks but they all came back. The second lap was very uneventful, a few attacks but they all came back. At the start of the third lap I attacked at the crest of the finish line hill, hoping someone would come with me...no such luck. I was caught at the feed zone. It was the longest I have been off the front of a race before, by myself at least! After I was caught I sat in a little and rested. The rest of that lap was a few attacks none stayed away.

Start of the fourth and final lap, I attacked again but didn't have as much luck as the first time and I was brought back right away.
Myself and a few of the other girls tried to get a break. Nothing was going to say away though. There were no teams there everyone was racing for themselves.

Coming up to the finish line it wasn't very fast. I was 4th wheel coming around the last turn I followed wheels and went for it.

Second year in a row I have won Snelling. Last year it was my last race as a 4 this year it was my last race as a 3. I feel totally ready to upgrade to a 2 now. I feel I have proved to myself that I am strong enough to upgrade; attack, cover attacks, help pull on the front, and still win. Hello cat 2 upgrade and big girl scary races!

Ruth Winder





Cat 1/2
9th Katharine Carroll




Get ready for 'Cooking with the Carrolls'