Chesapeake Crit and PLT #3 Race Report

The 100 degree weather left in time for cyclists from all over to descend on Hampton Roads for 2 days of great racing.

Saturday the stage was set in a crit course around the Chesapeake Municipal Center. The signups for the ladies were low until race day when another 10 signed up. Our Podium Cat started things off so the speed quickly moved from the teens to the twenties by turn one. She stayed up front long enough to get things going and moved comfortably back to watch the race unfold. Jennifer Rasmussen (Kenda Tire) made a bold move off the front but was brought back in. She later took another flyer with 3 other girls who stayed together almost to the end. At the finish it was Jennifer Rasmussen taking the win with our Captain Cook in 4th place. Ali came in first for the field sprint and Podium Cat was the caboose saving herself for her time trial the next day. Race promoters provided a great purse of $500.00 so the lion’s share went to Jennifer who was clearly the strongest competitor out there. Ruth did a super job as race announcer and had us all cheering the racers on all day long. Next year all the women racers need to come support this race so they don’t take the money away!

Sunday found many of the Saturday riders back to compete in the PLT #3 in Chesapeake, VA. This lollipop course is a favorite to many. The fields for the ladies were pretty evenly stacked. Jennifer Rasmussen again took the gold with a time of 53:20. Ali Cat was close behind with a time of 53:50, a PR for her by almost a minute. Podium Cat won the GOLD for the 45 plus and received a gold medal in this state age graded race. Lisa came out to help the team by racing in Category 4 and was pleased with her 8th place finish with a time of 1:08:52. We even had an out of town VK racer to cheer us on. Thanks, Ronna, for making the trip South.

All in all it was a great weekend for the Vanderkittens. We continue to enjoy each other’s company both off and on the bike and look forward to the VA State time trial next weekend and the last race of the season, the City Center Crit on September 11.