Pemberton Classic Criterium - 1 March

The Pemberton Classic started with a criterium up the main street of Pemberton, in the late afternoon on Saturday of the long weekend. It was a hot day, but cooled down to a pleasant temperature by race time.

I raced in women's B Grade, we had a good sized field of about 9 women. The race organizers started 3 different race groups together: B women, C men and under 17 boys. We started all together as one peloton, but spilt up quickly and were quite spread out even after one lap.

Each lap started with a downhill into a right hand corner, then a flat back straight with a tailwind but on a bumpy pot-holed road, then a nasty little climb back up to the start line.

I was riding in touch with a small group with two other women and a couple of under 17 guys. However, with the downhill and uphill each lap the gradient controlled each person's pace and we weren't really able to work together in a bunch.

I finished fifth in Women's B Grade, not far behind 3rd and 4th, who I'd been in touch with for most of the race. I was very happy with this result, as I have not raced many crits lately and I've been training long distances for Three Peaks, which is next weekend!

It was a great atmosphere, terrific watching all the grades racing at dusk through Pemberton. We had a big group of guys and girls from Hall Cycle Training so it was a fun social afternoon.