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The Jimena Florit Diary
The 2002 NORBA series champion is one of the most widely-liked riders on the mountain bike circuit with a positive attitude as big as her racing talent.
As well as a repeat of her 2002 series victory, Jimena's 2003 goals include working toward qualification for the 2004 Athens Olympics where she hopes to ride as a US citizen.
Not quite perfect
UCI World Cup round 4, Grouse Mountain, Canada, July 12, 2003
Everything was set for a perfect day.
I had been doing exactly what I was supposed to, I had the course dialed to perfection, my legs were perky, the weather channel was giving us nothing but great news, and my Tomac bike was riding as smooth as apple cake with ice cream. I had a great feeling about this race...
Suddenly, the day before the race, a big black cloud had other plans, apparently a "lost cloud that broke loose from its mother". That made the cloud mad, very mad. It took it out on us and the course, in the afternoon, after I had already ridden the course for the last time until the next day start.
The morning of the race, the rain was still there, and temperature was dropping pretty fast.
The whole week had been bone dry, so worrying about my tire selection for a course I hadn't ridden ride in slippery conditions took my concentration away from my important warm up.
Almost shivering, I went to the call up for the start, not well set up for an aggressive one.
When the gun went off, I gave it all, but I lost many spots on the first climb. I just wasn't able to maintain a fast, smooth pace. People in front of me got off their bikes, so I was off too.
It was a slow start, but I started feeling better and better, passing people mainly in the short but steep uphills. Riding in about 20th place, I was moving forward fast, when I got a flat in the rear tire during a very tight downhill. It was the same picture as last year's race, when I also flatted but was unable to fix it, and I was forced to drop out. That time the puncture was during the start loop, so it was a quick 30 second race for me. I may still have the record for fastest DNF from the start!
Committed to not letting that happen again, I took a little extra time making sure I was going to finish this race. Everything was perfect, I got back to the race, and tried to re-start my passing mode.
I was being cheered by many people, some who knew me, and some who didn't know how to say my name correctly. But I don't mind, I'll take the cheering before being picky about how they say my name.
My favorite part of the day was when this little boy, not older than three, was cheering me on saying, "C'mon, you can do it!..." That's it, I was melting then. I wanted to give him a big hug, but I was racing, so I had to go. I thanked him, though.
As I as starting my fifth lap (we were set to go for six laps), the UCI commissaire said, "Jimena, you're finished." Thinking that it was another nice spectator who was saying, "Jimena, finish strong!" I kept going but not for too far. He insisted on stopping me, and I did.
That was the worst feeling, specially when I had on target many riders to pass. With all this adrenaline and commitment I was being "pulled". because the lap was so short, they had to start pulling people out sooner than normal. There is a UCI MTB rule that when a rider is 80 percent behind the time of the leader, he or she is pulled off the course to avoid mixed riders if leader laps them (well, us).
I then realized I was not going to pass any more people. I was not a happy camper, but I had no option.
I went to the feed zone, to let Beth, our team soigneur know I was done, when I saw the leader coming by. So I decided to stay there to cheer on my teammate Willow (alias Ernie or Gza Gza) who was having the race of her life. She was riding in eighth place, ahead of many riders who were higher in the overall World Cup.
I gave her all the encouragement I had to give, to help her get through the last lap, and never give up the chase for the rider ahead. Even if she didn't see me, she would know exactly who was that person screaming out loud to her. She knows, it's me!
Willow crossed the line in eighth place, her best finish in a World Cup, and that may guarantee her a spot on the World's team.
Gunn-Rita rode another amazing race, finishing so far ahead that it's not even funny! She's defending that rainbow jersey like a mad woman.
After my race, I was getting so cold, I had to leave, and I couldn't watch the men's race, but all I know is that my teammate JHK, got ninth.
So, despite my problems it was a great weekend for the RLX-Ralph Lauren team, with two top ten finishes. Way to go team!
Happy hugs,
Jimena