28.sep.04

Mammoth Nationals

WOW! I canÕt believe itÕs over. My season has officially come to a close after racing the National Championship at Mammoth Mountain this past weekend. Like Tonya mentioned, I raced my personal best in the cross country and the short track. I wanted my year to end on a positive note, hoping that it would make for a motivated Òoff seasonÓ. I tend to start each race a little slower then my competitors, in this case, I was the last one up the paved road, but because I conserved in the first three minutes I was able to pass about six girls on the first climb as the were recovering from their hard effort. As soon as I reached the single-track descent, I let her rip, and increased my cadence. I managed to pass three more girls by the time I reached the bottom and had more in my sights. About half way through the first lap I caught my teammate, Tonya. We rode together up the last three road climbs as we headed back to the start/finish and on to our second lap. I pulled away from Tonya and headed up the dirt road climb alone. I glanced back and saw a train of riders behind me, trying to bring me back, but I was feeling it. Once I dumped into the single-track, I never saw them again. I past a few more girls on the second lap and caught up to Maverick racer, Abby Hippely, with two small climbs left. I past her, but she attacked me and opened a gap. I was able to pull her back, but she attacked again and powered up the final climb. I tried to catch her, but I didnÕt have anything left. As I crossed the finish line, Larry came over the loud speaker and said, ÒCindi Hansen, riding for mtbchick.com, rounds out the top 15!Ó I was so excited and exhausted at the same time. A top 15 finish is something that IÕve set as a 2005 goal. I new I could do it, I just didnÕt know when. The next day, my husband, Ty raced. Ty was in the running to win the stars and strips jersey in the Expert Men 19-24 class after back-to-back-to-back wins at Schwietzer, Snowmass and Durango. Ty was in the leading group of three as they went through the start/finish line on the second and third lap. He attached the group and dropped the two other guys about half way into the last lap. His surge popped one of the guys, but the other didnÕt give up, and past Ty on the steep climb in the middle of the course. Ty dug deep and caught back up to him on the singletrack and they rode together on the last few climbs to the finishline. Ty was attacked, and again caught back up to him. Once they hit the straight-away, the other guy sprinted, but Ty came around him and beat him on the line! I wish I had my heart rate monitor on. I screamed as he won. It was so exciting. He was straining to breathe when I ran over to him. IÕm so proud of him. Sunday was the last day of racing. Ty and I both competed in the short track. Ty raced in the morning and once again put on a great show. With one lap to go, he attacked the group and won at the line. This was his second stars and strips jersey! After a good warm-up, I lined up with the rest of the pro women in anticipation of one more short track race. I started harder then I usually do, but I was still one of the last ones up the short climb. The first two laps I think my body was in a bit of shock and I was having a hard time recovering, but as the race went on I felt better and better, and began pulling people back. More then halfway into the race, I glanced down at my watch, I had survived for over 18 minutes. I came across the line and Frosty gave me the 3 laps to sign. That was the first time IÕd seen that. I thought I was going to actually finish the race. I caught one more girl on that lap, but got pulled as I came through the start/finishline. I was bumbed, but ecstatic at the same time. I placed 14th! My best short track. Ty and I had a great weekend. We both left Mammoth feeling like we succeeded. On the way home, a friend of mine asked me what was the first thing I learned as a pro. It didnÕt take me long to reply. My first NORBA race at Sonoma, I lined up on the forth row. The fans were banging on the banners that lined the start/finishline, the music was blaring and I was standing among some of the best women in the sport. The gun went off and I went, but there was a delay as the three rows in front of me waited their turn to get going. I had to grab my brakes! Lesson number oneÉwait for the delay. Lesson number two, donÕt get all caught up in the excitement at the startline. I have to remind myself of the job at hand and that IÕm racing in less then two minutes. I could go on about all the lessons IÕve learned as my first year as a pro, but I think IÕll keep some things to myself. This has been such an incredible experience and IÕm honored to have shared it with all of you and with my team.

24.aug.04

Snowmass

Off again- my short stop at home was a busy one. It was so great to see and play with my two dogs, Max and Ari. Two fast days at work; just enough time to make an appearance and check my email. Two days, and my bags were never unpacked, just refilled. A quick stop at the grocery store to stock up on race food, and back on the road. Fortunately, the drive was only six and half hours instead of 12. I arrived at Snowmass resort to gray, drizzly weather. It seemed more like Washington or Oregon then Rockies, but it was beautiful. My condo over looked the start/finishline and the entire shorttrack course. It was nice to be that close to the venue. The next morning I prerode the wet course with my brother and got a feel for what 3000 + feet of climbing looks like. The roots and rocks were very slippery, but the corners were tacky and fast. Once my preride was done, it was back to the condo to stretch and eat. One thing I?ve learned in my travels with friend and competitor, Kathy Sherwin, is that when you?re not on your bike, you are off your feet and the stress level is low. That evening, I went to watch a movie with Tonya and the rest of my teammates. When I walked into the condo, there were stacks and stacks of cookies everywhere! It smelt so good. I love cookies, but not the night before race day. The next morning my husband, Ty, raced. He was awesome. He threw the hammer down on the second lap and won the expert men 19-24 class. After Ty's race, it was my turn. I had a good warmup and was mentally focused on the race. I just wanted to get started. On the first lap, the first climb before the bridge, there was some commotion in the middle of the pack. Fortunately, I was able to avoid it because I started much slower then the rest of the field. Even before I began to ascend the singletrack switchbacks, I caught and past a bunch of girls. I was feeling pretty good, but didn?t want to push it too hard too early. I maintained my pace throughout the first lap, and tried to pick it up for the last one. I was able to pass a few more girls on the long climb and stay steady. I made a few mistakes through the rocky singletrack, but didn't loose much time or my position. As I flew through the trees of the last descent I was excited to be on my last leg. I still had some energy left and rode hard over the last few climbs. I finished 27th place. On a course like that, with so much climbing, I'm very pleased with my results. I don't think there was anything more I could have done. The next morning I was feeling the aftermath of the cross country race. My legs were fatigued, but as soon as I got on my bike and started pedaling, the blood started flowing and I felt good. I warmed up for about 45 minutes and put in a couple hard efforts to get my heart rate up. I rode the course eight or nine times to familiarize myself with the corners. I was called up and took my position of the fourth row. I was determined to have a better shorttrack today then I had at Schweitzer. My start was not as I would have liked. I got caught behind a bunch of girls around the first turn and had to fight to get through the field. My heart rate read 192 at the top of the climb. It took the first two laps before I began to make any headway. The longer I was in the race, the better I felt. I was beginning to move up in the field, and had just caught onto the tail end of a group when I was pulled. I hate being pulled, but I felt really good about my performance. I stayed in the race for about 15 fifteen minutes and finished 22nd.

18.aug.04

Idaho

I was really looking forward to NORBA National number six up at Schwitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho. The drive, on the other hand, not so much. Luckily, the company in car made the 12 hour drive go by fast. I was able to pre-ride the course on Thursday and Friday and get my lines all dialed in. I raced at this venue last year as an expert and most of the course was the same, dry and rutted, but fun. I felt great as I warmed up. I put in a few hard efforts and spun around till the start. My game plan was to start slow and build up my pace across the duration of the race. From the gun, the pack flew up the road climb. I think I was one of the last girls to hit the base of it. As I rode on, I caught and past many of those who flew by me at the start. I got into my rhythm and rode well through all the rutted switchbacks and over the rock garden. I found myself in 25th place going into the second lap. My legs still had power as I climbed the dirt road for the last time. I managed to pass a few more girls and had another in my sights as we neared the finished line. I caught her and made my move too early and she was on my wheel as we hit the short, steep hill to the feedzone. She attacked me, and I responded too late. I gave it everything I had to catch her, my body felt tingly and lungs were burning. She held me off and beat me by four seconds. It was a great race. I wish that I would have beat her, but knowing that I tried my hardest, made it okay. I had my best race as first time pro, finishing 23rd. I only wish that my shorttrack performance was as positive as my cross country race. Starting on the fourth row was a little discouraging, but I was determined to give it my all. The start was fierce. The first hard right was very tight and rocky. As we all filed around the small corner, I almost came to a dead stop as I waited my turn. I got my pace up and going again, I fought for some kind of position. I felt stronger the longer I stomped on my pedals. As I rounded one of the last corners of the course, I saw a small gap open as the girl in front of me took it a little wide. I gased it to pass her, but we came together and bumped each other. She held on, but I didn?t. I was able to catch myself before I went down, but was pulled as I came around through the start/finish. I finished a disappointing 31st. Shorttrack is a combination of being aggressive and graceful at the same time. If you?re not explosive you?ll be pulled just as you?re settling into your rhythm, and if you can?t stay upright, your race is over.

July 3, 2004 Brianheader

The always there trio were all present at the Brianheader, Dj, Pam and myself. I knew that DJ would put up a fight being her home turf and that Pam would be solid on the climbs, but after my last two wins, I knew I could beat them both. My legs felt great during my warmup. I put in a few hard efforts and rode the first climb to get my heartrate up and the blood flowing. At the startline, the three of us decided that along with our two big laps, we would also do the Lung Buster, a long, steep climb right at the end of the race. From the gun, DJ put herself into the lead. The first climb was about eleven or so minutes to the top, and I didn't want to set the pace. I grabbed DJ's wheel and Pam was on mine. Dj lead us into the first section of singletrack and we put a small gap on Pam. The two of us rode together until we hit the meadow climb half way through the first lap. Dj slowed her pace and glanced back to see Pam closing. I passed Dj and never saw her again. Pam caught me through the last section of technical singletrack and we rode together as we started our second lap. Pam lead up the long climb, but she was slowing down, so I passed and pulled away from her. I rode the rest of the lap alone. As I started the Lung Buster, I glanced back and didn't see a soul. I slowed down a little to ride comfortably and savor my win up the last climb. I rode consistantly to the top and burned it on the DH. I was so happy to be done. The race went by so fast even though I wasn't on the rivet the whole time. I was patient, and let my competitors reveal their weaknesses before I threw the hammer down.

2.jul.04

Powder Mountain Race Report (Intermountain States Cup) Man, IÕm sure glad that we didnÕt have to race on the road heading up to Powder Mountain. I donÕt know what the grade it is going up, but itÕs dam steep. The beauty about racing at Powder Mountain, besides the scenery, is that the race starts at the top. So, no climbing like Deer Valley, but this fun, fast race course is diverse enough to challenge any level of racer. The weathermanÕs rainy weekend prediction was fortunately wrong as we were blessed with clear blue skies and cool temperatures. The course had to be modified slightly to avoid a patch of snow that was covering 15 feet of the trail, though competitors didnÕt seem to mind less mileage, some did mind less singletrack. "The course description promised more singletrack, there was nothing really fun to look forward to," mentioned Jean Carlan, Sugar/White Pine Touring, and winner of the Sport Women. The Pro MenÕs field was 12 strong at the startline. Many of the usual suspects were present and ready to do damage. Blake Zumbrunnen, Revolution Mountain Sports, got the whole shot off the line and lead the field into the first singletrack. As he rounded the double-track corner and dropped onto the gofer-hole ridden trail, Todd Tanner, Cannondale Mountain Bike Team/Guthries, picked up the pace and past him. " I didnÕt want to get caught by the rest of the field, I just wanted to set a steady pace," commented Tanner. Chuck Gibson, RacerÕs Cycle Service, pulled his way back to the two leaders just as Zumbrunnen attacked them on the road climb. Unfortunately, a broken chain kept Zumbrunnen from finishing his assault on the rest of the class, and Gibson and Tanner were left out front to battle for first place. Gibson set the pace for the next two laps, but at the end of the third, he made a small mistake, and Tanner took advantage of it. As he passed Gibson, he upped his tempo and opened a gap that proved to be enough, as he road in for first place. Gibson put in a hard fifth lap and finished just one minute behind Tanner and Lance Runyan, Stein Eriksen Sport, wrapped up the podium in third place. As the three Pro Women approached the startline, it was decided that three, 30 minute laps just wouldnÕt do. We wanted four. From the gun, I lead the other two women into the singletrack, but it was Pam Hanlon, JanÕs, who was able to hang on. We rode together for the next two and half laps until I hit the short, muddy section below the switchbacks. I choose the wrong line and had to get off my bike. Hanlon rode past me and gained about ten seconds up the switchbacks. I followed her up the climbs, but wasnÕt able to close the gap until we were on the road, starting our third lap. She got stuck behind another rider going into the singletrack, and hit a rock that had been kicked up. I passed her as she was fixing her flat, and I new I had to go hard. Hanlon was an experienced rider and she had what it took to pull her way back up to me. I rode alone for the remainder of the race to take the top spot on the podium, Jennifer Agger, Hoback Sports, finished second, and Hanlon recovered after her flat to place third. Pro Men: Todd Tanner, Cannondale Mountain Bike Team/Guthries, 1:57:38 Chuck Gibson, RacerÕs Cycle Service, 1:58:34 Lance Runyan, Stein Eriksen Sport, 2:00:00 Pro Women: Cindi Hansen, mtbchick.com, 1:56:34 Jennife Agger, Hoback Sports, 1:57:21 Pam Hanlon, 2:08:28

journal

NORBA National #2, Big Bear

Tuesday 5.18.04 It was so nice to get out of the smog and haze of L.A. and up into the big pines and clear blue skies of Big Bear. I love it up there. The air is so clean and crisp. My husband Ty, and I arrived Tuesday morning to find Tonya basking in the sun on the big deck that stretched out from the cabin we were staying in, and Troy was busy reorganizing the Xterra. Tonya and I were able to sneak in a nice spin on the back roads around town before it cooled off as Ty inspected the cross-country course. After racing the tough course in Sonoma, I was really excited to get back to the mountains and back to some sustained climbing. Courses with this type of climbing are my favorite and I really wanted to have a good race. Once we got back from our ride, Tonya and I hung out and I actually took a nap! Something I usually just think of doing.

Wednesday5.19.04 Today, Tonya and I went out a little early to pre-ride the cross-country course. On our way, we ran into a few of the other pro girls and rode with them up the Town Trail till the road switched to single-track. It was nice to be on our own and talk about the course and ride with my teammate. We flew on the downhill and didn?t stop to catch our breath till the bottom. As we pedaled back to the Cannondale tent to pick up Tonya?s bag full of stuff, we were both raving about how fun that DH was, and how we would be flyin? down during the race.

Thursday 5.20.04 The day before the time trial, and we only had five hours to practice on the course. Five hours might seem like a long time, but waiting in the lift line with the downhill racers seemed like it took forever. I must say, though, that I enjoyed chatting with DH guys and girls. We never get the chance to ride the lift up to the top! Although the course seemed to point down, there was still quit a bit of climbing and for the majority of the run, we would be turning the big ring. My third and last run of the day was with Tonya. We both wanted to sneak one more in just to finalize our lines. At the bottom of the hike-a-bike section, there was a hard left in the sand. To get around it without washing out, you had to ride it just right and scrub speed before the turn. As we hit the bottom, we both made our best attempt on the corner, but had too much speed and slightly missed the turn. Luckily, Marla Streb was waiting to hike up and watched us descend the hill. She offered some great advise just in time to see Travis Brown come ripping down and make the turn without losing any speed. He made it look so easy.

Friday 5.21.04 I woke up early, ate my breakfast and headed out to warm up for the time trial. As I rode toward the venue, I ran into a few other pro girls that joined me on the lift ride up. Once at the top, many of the favorites to win were warming up on their trainers, and the rest of us were pedaling around trying to keep our legs warm. They called my name and I got in line, ready to rip the course. After five ?beeps? of the clock, I was off. I was pumped and ready to fly. Around the first corner, then the second, and third, and on to the road, up the climb, around the left hairpin, through the gate, back on the road, and on my way to the fun downhill hike-a-bike. I caught and past two girls that started in front of me before I even reached the hike-a-bike. I flew on the rocky descent and tried to scrub enough speed before I went into the corner. I took it hot and my front tire almost washed out. I was able to stay upright, but I lost a few seconds. I stood up and started cranking again. I was riding all the lines I had visualized earlier that morning. On the last little climb my legs were feeling pretty worked and I shifted down into my middle chain ring to get up the last climb?big mistake. Not only did I lose a little time by doing that, but also I couldn?t shift up into my big ring. My shifter wasn?t working right. I tried it a few more times, and when it still didn?t shift, I got a little discouraged and lost my focus. After a few seconds, I told myself to snap out of it and just go. A race like this is separated by seconds, tenths of seconds at times, so every little mistake counts for lost time. To win a time trial, you have to be on the rivet and have a perfect run. Unfortunately, this was not my ?perfect? day. I finished 21st, and feel pretty good about it. I know I could have placed higher, but that?s racing.

Saturday 5.22.04 I was up early again because Ty, along with a few other friends, raced at 8:00 in the morning, and needed bottle feeds for their laps. As a spectator, these types of events are so cool. To participate as a non-racer, even for a few hours, shows a whole other side to racing and what it takes to be successful. Almost every person that went through the feed zone required a bottle to be passed to him or her. Racing is more than training long hours in the ?off season?; it?s more then eating right, and carbo-loading. It?s more then recovering, massages and hot tubs. I think to be successful and excel, you need support from everyone in your life. Whether it?s financially, mentally, equipment, maybe some words of wisdom, or just a bottle as you start your next lap. Without the encouragement from those in which we surround ourselves with, I think success is hard to find. Ty headed out on his second and last lap with an intense, determined look on his face. He was flyin?. Ty finished in fifth place after flatting on the last descent. It was my turn to see what I was made of, yet again. I warmed up on the roads that Tonya and I cruised around on earlier in the week. My legs felt good, and I was anticipating a good race. I was called up to the line according to my placing the day before, so I was right behind the favorites. We started our race with a parade lap through the venue, down a few side streets, and back up toward the start/finish. All I remember as I rode through the crowd of people, was the noise. I couldn?t hear anything but music and screaming. It was so great. It really got me pumped. So pumped, that I think I started too hard and kept going too hard. When I came through the start/finish after my first lap, I was in 25th place! One of my goals this year was to finish in the top 30, so I was pretty ampted when Ty told me how I was doing. I rode well until I hit the first of five short climbs, then my legs started to feel heavy. Five girls past me before I reached the descent and I thought I could bridge back up to some of them on the downhill before the finish line, but I couldn?t. I let them get too far ahead of me. After I finished and I was cooling down, Ty came over to me and reminded me that I had come in the top 30! Although he was right, I still wanted to do better, I knew I could.

Sunday 5.23.04 Again, Ty was the early bird, racing short-track in the morning. I know that he was suffering, but he still made it look easy. He raced very well, and finished in 6th place. After he was done, we were chatting with a few friends, and I noticed John Tomac standing on the sidelines, watching some of the juniors? race. I knew it was a great chance to corner him and get some advice. We spoke for about 30 minutes, and he gave me a lot of tips and a lot to think about. It?s great to see legends like Johnny T there, and be lucky enough to chat with him. I positioned myself in the middle of the pack at the start line because of the left-hand, hairpin turn at the top of the climb. On the first lap, I passed four girls that got caught up against the barriers. My legs and lungs were burning. A few girls passed me, and Troy yelled for me to catch their wheel. I was closing the gap and I actually started feeling better the longer the race went, but with about six minutes to go, myself, along with four other girls were pulled. I finished in 30th place, and had a good time. I just wish I could have raced longer. I can?t believe everything I?ve learned after this California trip. Racing with the Pro Women is a whole different ball game. Everyone is fast. Everything is so important and everything you do or don?t do counts; training, rest, nutrition, mental psyche, all of it matters.

Journal entry 5.19.04 - NORBA National #2, Sonoma

Before leaving Utah for Sonoma, I had a few people tell me how beautiful it was there. I must say that my expectations were not met. I thought I would be racing on fast singletrack that would be somewhat technical, through a shadey forest. The actual race course was anything but what I imagined. Instead of forest, the course was run up and over a grassy hillside, onto blacktop, up and down a few more times, through some bleatchers, over more grass, around the racetrack, then back onto pavement to the start/finish. After my preride, I picked up my packet and was asked what I thought of the course. Trying to keep a positive attitude, I said it was the most "interesting" course I had ever ridden before. Interesting is a great way to descript it. I give props to the creative mind that put this course together, even if it wasn't the best.

Journal entry 5.6.04Ð Tour of Canyonland

After a month of so off from racing, my memory was a little weak when it came to the pain associated with a hard, threshold effort. Luckily, for me, I had the chance to race the Tour of Canyonlands, and that old familiar feeling came screaming back into my legs and lungs. There were 23 of us at the start of the race and when they said, "3, 2, 1", we exploded off the line like we were sprinting for the finish. At the top of the first climb, I found myself near the back of the pack, but not feeling spent. As we descended and headed out toward Harrah Pass, my legs pedaled into a good rhythm and I slowly began to close the gap on a few girls. As I descended the first short climb on the road, ahead of me, I could see several vehicles and people stopped on the road. As I came closer, it was apparent that a few riders where down and badly hurt, but because there were several people stopped to help, I kept riding. At the base of Harrah Pass, I was feeling pretty good, and had my target set on a girl 10 or 15 seconds ahead of me, but as I came closer to the top she began to pull away and I was passed by two other women. As I crested the Pass, I regained strength in my legs, caught and passed those two women and set my sights back on my target. Up and down, up and over again, back down, past my target, through sand, up the lava rock climb, around a corner, over the hills and through the woods, and the trail ends; a ride able trail that is. As I glanced up and began stepping, I joined the colorful group of jerseys meandering through the slickrock crack up the side of the cliff-face. I took slow, but consistent steps, only pausing once to adjust my bike on my back. I was passed by two guys, but caught and passed another girl. I hiked closer and closer to yet another women, and as I reached to top I knew I could catch her on the descent of Amasa Back. I threw my leg over my bike and started pedaling. I clipped my left foot in, and my rightÉwould not clip into the pedal. I stood up and put all my body weight on the pedal, twisted my foot, stopped, looked at my cleat, tried againÉnothing. My heart was racing, I knew that those girls I worked so hard to pass would be closing in on me. I ran up the two rocky sections and tried to clip in again. I yelled out of frustration, hopped back on my bike and just started pedaling with my foot floating on the pedal. I was freaking out just thinking of descending Amasa Back with my right foot flying all over the place. I glanced up and saw my friend Bob cheering for me. As I rode up to him I screamed, "I canÕt clip into pedal". I dismounted my bike, dropped my bike to the ground and paced back and fourth. According to Bob, my pedal and cleat looked ok. I tried one last time to clip in, and actually bounce on my pedal Ð "click". Finally, I was in and on my way. In the mist of all that tom-foolery, four girls passed me and that one I was going to catch on the downhill was long gone. I flew down Amasa back as fast as I could, trying to pick the best lines. After riding through the river and the sand, I looked up ahead of me and saw one of the girls that had passed me at the top. I pedaled as fast as I could and passed her as I ran up the final hike-a-bike. I crossed the finishline in 14th place, not too upset with my performance, just with my pedal. But, life goes on. If thatÕs my only mechanical of the year, IÕll be real happy.

14.apr.04

I can't believe that Easter has come and gone already. Seems like just yesterday it was the New Year and I was still riding on my trainer. Ya' know, for the past two seasons, I've come into this time of year wondering if I trained hard enough, if I ate as well as I should have. Will I be faster then I was the year before? How will I compare to the girls that beat me last year? How will I compare to women like Alison Dunlap? A few months ago, after I gave everything I had to my last interval of the day, I thought that I was so strong I would make my pro debut and completely stun the field with my speed and power. They would be in awe, and wonder who this new girl was and where she was from...but, in the back if mind, I knew the reality of it. I would be racing with world-class athletes, olympians, women that I read about and dreamed of one day beating. I would be starting in last place, and maybe be lucky enough to see the back of Chrissy Redden's helmet before the gun was shot... And you know, that's okay. Everyone has to start somewhere. My coach tells me from time to time, that in order to win, you first have to be willing to lose.