Final Paris Selection
The Loma Linda team’s PossAbilities time trial was the final possibility for points toward the Paris ranking list. With so many people in contention for a spot on the USA para-cycling team, these points were crucial. There were also double the points that were available in Belgium, with 64 points for the win. Since the ranking was based on the time standard, everyone competed against each other for the points.
My preparation for the event was good. I had just switched coaches two weeks prior to competing, and my numbers were quite good. Arriving in Loma Linda was quite a shock to the system with the high temperatures. Being from the PNW, I am not used to the 100-plus-degree days. Fortunately, I was able to get relatively acclimated to the new environment. Also, while I would be affected by the heat, so would everyone else, so I was not too worried.
On the day of the competition, I felt good. I warmed up early in the morning to avoid the heat and felt ready. The last few hours before the competition passed rapidly. At the start gate, it hit me just how important these next forty minutes were. I was incredibly stressed for the first thirty seconds but soon found a good rhythm. The first lap felt great! The course was also my favorite course I have ever ridden; it had a good variety of descents, turns, and two short climbs. The first three laps passed relatively quickly, and I was confident my time would be good. On the fourth lap, I suffered a mechanical; my chain left off in one of the straightaways. I tried to put it back on without stopping, but I could not get it on. I have never been more stressed in my life. Those next fifteen seconds felt like an eternity. I could not get the thought out of my head that this was the end and I would not make the Paris team. Luckily, I was able to get the chain back on and continue. When I crossed the finish line, I knew I had lost a lot of time on the last lap (over 30 seconds). Luckily, after waiting for the results, I found out that I had secured second place on the ranking list! I was overjoyed and Am still in shock that I am going to Paris.
