Race Report: Land Park Crit W3/4/5
Race: Land Park Crit - Women’s 3/4/N
Date: 3/14/26
AVRT racers: Kathay Tousant
Top Result: Kathay Tousant 10/27
Course: Ovoid ~1 mile circuit with one tight S curve, significant headwind on N stretch and tailwind on S stretch. Flat as a pancake.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/17723732938
Nutrition: Bagel and coffee for breakfast, one Kind Bar, and one Cliff Bar prior to the race. I took one SIS gel 10 minutes prior to the race and had 60 grams of Formula 369.
Race Recap:
This was only my second criterium, so I came in with modest expectations. My main goal was to stay within the top five wheels or near the front to help control the pace and get more comfortable with race dynamics. I was especially unsure how the chicane would ride at speed, so during the opening laps I followed the pack and kept a close eye on two strong Super Sprinkles riders, Sarah Moll and Susan Xu. Having ridden with both of them outside of racing, I knew they were skilled and confident bike handlers.
About ten minutes in, Susan launched a sprint break that was quickly shut down. A few other riders tried to go off the front as well, but with such a large Super Sprinkles presence, every move was reeled back almost immediately. On the third to last lap, I tried my own breakaway. Despite my best effort, Sarah closed it down almost instantly. That was the moment I realized the race was almost certainly heading toward a sprint finish—a skill I’m still developing.
Going into the final lap, I stayed alert and looked for chances to move up. After the chicane exit, Sarah Beard (Mike’s Bikes) surged hard, and the group responded with a full acceleration. I tried to match the power, but I could feel the cost of my earlier breakaway attempt and the extra wind I’d taken while riding on the outside to maintain positioning.
Given that this was only my second crit, my real focus was on staying in the pack, practicing cornering, and improving my handling. Even with a mid‑pack finish, I’m proud of the progress I made. I’m gaining confidence, learning race craft, and genuinely excited for more criteriums ahead.
