Devon Haskell and Nature Valley Grand Prix Stage 1

Devon Haskell is competing in the Nature Valley Grand Prix, North America's premiere womens cycling race, as a member of the Ryan Collegiate All-Stars. She earned her spot by winning the omnium at the NCCA National Championships in Fort Collins, Colorado. Haskell has agreed to give us updates when time allows. Here is the first tale:

"The first race was crazy - It was pouring pre-race with more thunderstorms reported to be on the way. The management switched the direction of the course to make for fewer downhill turns in the rain and shortened the race (from 40 to 30 laps).

The race started out fast and strung out right away. I didn't have a great spot, but wasn't stuck in the back like last year so it was an improvement and I was ready for it to be fast. I tried to move up as much as I could and ended up dangling on the back of the large lead group. A break went off, and I was with the main pack for most of the race. Unfortunately, being in the back meant that I was constantly getting shed off the back as gaps opened and as we slowed for crashes. I think I saw a crash basically every other lap!

Finally with three or four laps to go, I got gapped after a crash and couldn't catch the main group. So I finished a bit behind. Unfortunately, the race didn't count because they decided to cancel it according to USCF racing rule 4E4... which is a rule that says you can cancel the results of a race for basically any reason (its a very vague rule). I'm not sure exactly why they nullified the results.

Now I sort of wish I got pulled because the last half of the race was really hard. But, I do agree that the course doesn't give people a fair chance to finish well if they have a bad starting spot - especially with the wet conditions.  Next race is tonight - I'll try to give updates, but it might be a while for the next one because we have a race tonight and then get back late and have to get up bright and early for a time trial tomorrow morning. Then the Minneapolis crit tomorrow night - lots of racing! Fun!!!"