But before all that, we raced through downtown Beijing.  We passed by Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and then continued on through roads with layers and layers of people stacked along the sides.  There was an almost constant chant of “Let’s Go” in Chinese.  It was broken only one time by a pocket of Americans chanting U S A-U S A-U S A.  Chills

We continued out of the city and north toward the Great Wall at Badaling.  Prior to the weather changing, the pace was easy and there were a number of riders who were too hydrated and took advantage of this slower pace… me included.  Thankfully, the TV cameras did not show this.  However, once the rain started, the speeds picked up, and the attacks started coming.  And the rain did more than just start.  It was dumping.  There was so much water falling from the sky that there were multiple sections of standing water reaching over our bottom brackets.

Honestly, the rain did not bother me. We train and race in the rain throughout the year, so really it was just more background noise.  I just made the mental switch, and I started to do the little things that need to be done during those conditions.

The first real move of the race came from a Russian who escaped during the lead in to the circuits. She rode strong and developed a solid gap.  Just before we entered the climbing circuit there was a small crash.  Kristin went down but was able to get back up front by the bottom of the circuit.

Once we got onto the climb, Christine surged hard.  We wanted to make the first climb hard, so Christine used her climbing strength to put in some hard surges.  In between, I found myself riding a little on the front to prevent a complete shut down of speed, since we were trying to make people feel this climb, and since the Russian was still away.  At the top, the Russian still had a 1:10 advantage.  The USA was racing for a chance to win, and we did not hesitate to ride.  Christine drilled the chase down the backside of the circuit, and by the bottom had cut the lead to 30 seconds. 

As we came through the start/finish, Emma attacked.  She had a small gap, but the chase was on, and I followed this.  She and the Russian were picked up quickly.  I was sitting comfortably within this small, strung out group.  And just as the hill was beginning to pitch again and the surge was about to happen again, I shifted to my small ring in preparation.  And even though I had clicked up three gears in the rear before doing this, ensuring that I was in the middle/bottom half of the cogset, my chain flew off.  Unbelievable.  I quickly shifted back to the big ring and tried to slow pedal the chain back on, but it wouldn’t catch.  I drifted to the back of our bunch.  It still would not grab.  I had no choice.  I jumped off the bike and yanked the chain back on, but it was too late.  The group was gone.  I didn’t quit, though… I chased hard.  I was getting close, but about two minutes from the top, it happened again.  I never made it back.  Even if I would have, the split of 5 would have already happened.  I continued to ride hard to the end, finishing a very disappointing 33rd.  That’s bike racing, though.  And unfortunately it happened in a big race.  There are no guarantees, but I would have at least liked the chance to try.  It is one thing if you do not have the legs.  It is another if you do not even get the chance to find out.

Congrats to Cooke and the Brits.  They rode a great race.  Christine rode hard, but unfortunately neither Kristin nor I could build off her effort.

For me…I am fine.  It is bike racing.  I will continue to persevere and enjoy chasing my goals.  God willing, I will go for London and have another chance to dream of gold.  In between, the sport is filled with plenty of beautiful races to keep me motivated and moving forward.

My Cheering Section: Brooke, Clint, Laynee, Jason, and Amy taking the picture

Our Team Race Doctor. This was a few days before the race on the circuit. The wall IS there.

Race day rain cleared things out.

The top of the race course went through the wall.

The wall from the top of the course.