First TDK Qualifier, Changwon World Crit.

As you may have read in a previous blog, I am racing in the Tour De Korea 2012 with my team Banda Rosa (aka Watts, aka Stock). To be able to ride in the race, you have to had completed the previous years TDK or qualified at one of either two qualifying races. The first race was the Changwon World Criterium Race, which to me, was brutal...and I was most under trained and failed...here is a clip from the event...

The fellow who fell midway through the video is actually the owner of the team and is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He has a very interesting outlook on life, and I am very thankful to be on his team. Don't worry, he was ok!

A criterium race is described as a smaller race course, about less then 5km per loop...so basically there is a set number of times you have to ride around the course and make sure you don't get dropped. Its extremely dangerous!, as you could imagine the corners get tight!

This specific race was separated into two categories...the Korean's and the foreigners. Changwon province was kind enough to pay for cyclists flights to the event...so there were riders coming from all around the world. There was no separation of divisions from Cat 1, 2, 3, or 4...and the women were thrown in with the men. We had a pretty large group of riders that flew in from all around to ride with our crew...it made the race that much more fun!

A few of our cyclist, including me, got dropped so did not make the cut for the TDK at this race, but we made sure we still had a great time! Some photos of us celebrating the race!

being so badly dropped really freaked me out for the next qualifying race. I felt like there was no way I could keep up with all of these men. My background is all triathlons, although its no excuse..but I just haven't trained myself in sprints and attacks in cycling. Usually in triathlons, you kind of aim aim and shoot..just ride at a steady consistent pace (I guess I am speaking of mostly the endurance triathlons...it could be different from sprints I suppose!) as fast and hard as you can without blowing up too soon. This is something i know i need to work on.