WE ARE JUST 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE START OF WOMEN'S MARYLAND RACE ROAD RACE RIGHT HERE IN BALTIMORE BIG RACE EXPECTED TODAY.

WE WILL CHECK IN WITH THE RACES COURSE AND CHECK IN WITH MY PARTNER FREDDY RODRIGUEZ WHO IS ALSO A WORLD CHAMPION RIDER AND AN OLYMPIAN.

FIRST OFF BITS FIRST OFF IT'S A BIG DAY SPORTS DAY WISE ON MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

WE'LL HAVE COVERAGE ON BOTH RACES START TO FINISH ON MPT OR IF YOU WANT TO WATCH ON YOUR PHONE GO TO MPT.ORG/MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC AND CLICK ON THE THE WOMEN'S RACE WILL BEGIN AT 8:30, BATTLE FOR 71 MILES AND THE MEN'S RACE WILL FOLLOW AT 12:30, THEY'RE GOING TO RACE FOR 107 MILES.

WE'LL ALSO BRING YOU THE AWARD WINNING CEREMONY AFTER EACH RACE TODAY.

THE RACE WILL TAKE PLACE INSIDE BALTIMORE CITY LIMITS, SOME OF THE BEST MEN AND WOMEN CYCLISTS FROM AROUND THE U.S. AND AROUND THE GLOBE WILL START THE RACE AT HARBOR POINT AND FINISH A COUPLE HOURS LATER IN THE INNER HARBOR.

LET'S GET GOING OUT TO THE RACE COURSE NOW AMEND CHECK IN WITH MY PARTNER TODAY, FAST FREDDY RODRIGUEZ, A RACING CHAMPION.

FIRST AFTER FREDDY, WHY THE NICKNAME FAST FREDDY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT STORY.

AS A KID GROWING NEWSPAPER L.A., RACING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS, I QUICKLY GOT THAT NICKNAME FROM THE ANNOUNCERS AND QUICKLY DEVELOPED THIS IDEA THAT I WAS FAST AND I CARRIED IT THROUGH MY CAREER IN THE OLYMPICS, TOUR DE FRANCE AND HERE WE ARE AT THE END OF MY CAREER NOW ANNOUNCING AND ENJOYING NOT BEING SO FAST BUT ENJOYING ALL THE FAST RIDERS OUT HERE IN BALTIMORE.

>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WERE AS FAST AS WE ONCE WERE.

WHAT ARE THE RACES GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE START?

>> ALL THE RACES RIGHT NOW ARE BASICALLY GOING THROUGH THEIR PLAN, GETTING READY.

THEY HAVE TO START EATING THEIR CALORIES, TAKING IN THEIR CARBOHYDRATES, GETTING THEIR CLOTHING SET UP, THEIR BIKES SET UP, WORKING WITH THEIR STAFF, GOING THROUGH THE GAME PLAN TO STRATEGIZE.

IT'S A TEM AND DYNAMIC COURSE.

SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO FOCUS ON.

EVERYBODY HAS A JOB HERE.

IT'S LIKE A TEAM.

YOU HAVE DEFENDERS, MIDFIELDERS, ATTACKERS AND THEY'RE RIGHT NOW GOING THROUGH THE GAME PLAN GETTING THEIR GAME FACE AND GETTING READY TO GO OUT THERE AND PERFORM.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THE WOMEN'S RACING IN THE MIDDLER CYCLING CLASSIC.

HOW BIG IS THAT FOR THIS EVENT.

>> IT'S BIG.

RIGHT NOW WOMEN'S RACING IS GROWING.

WE HAVE THE TOUR DE FRANCE THAT HAS BEEN ELEVATED TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

OUR WOMEN'S PROGRAM IN THE U.S.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE GOT THE MOST MEDALS OF, THIRD MOST MEDALS FROM ANY SPORT AT THE LAST OLYMPICS AND HOPING FOR MORE IN L.A. HAVING MALT MORE SHOWCASE OUR BEST WOMEN IN THE WORLD JUST ADDS TO THE VOLUME OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WOMEN'S RACES.

>> NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ENTIRE RACE WILL BE HELD DOWNTOWN.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE CYCLISTS?

WELL, IT'S A TRANSITION, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE RACES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY WE CALL THEM CLASSICS.

THEY CREATE A TRADITION.

AND SO WE GOT IN THIS TRADITION WE START OUT IN THE COUNTY AND COME BACK IN, BUT THE BEAUTY OF NOW HAVING IT ALL DOWNTOWN IS, FOR THE FANS, THEY GET TO SEE THE RIDERS ALL DAY LONG.

ESPECIALLY IN DOWNTOWN HERE BY THE INNER HARBOR.

YOU GET TO SEE THEM COME FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

IT'S REALLY DYNAMIC.

THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, EVEN THE RIDERS SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHO IS A CONTENDER?

IT COULD BE A SPRINT.

IT COULD BE WILD AND HAIL MARIES THROWN ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES A BIKE RACE REALLY BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH.

>> NOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THE WOMEN'S RACE.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY I HAVE A FAVORITE.

IF THERE IS A FAVORITE FOR US HERE IN BALTIMORE, WE GOT KENNA, SHE IS A LOCAL.

GREW UP HERE, KEN NAH PFEIFFER GREW UP HERE IN BALTIMORE, RACING FOR TEAM USA.% WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON HER.

SHE IS EXCITED.

HER FAMILY IS HERE.

SHE KNOWS THE ROADS.

SHE HAS BEEN RIDING THE ROADS.

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT HOME TURF ADVANTAGE, IT DEFINITELY MAKES YOU A LOT BETTER.

IT DEFINITELY-- I WON FOUR OF MY CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE IN THE U.S. AND WHEN I CAME HOME, I DEFINITELY ROSE TO THE OCCASION.

>> BECAUSE THIS IS ALL DOWNTOWN, WHAT IS THE COURSE LIKE?

>> THE COURSE LIKE I WAS SAYING IS VERY TECHNICAL.

WE HAVE COBBLESTOPES, CLIMB-- COBBLESTONES AND A CLIMB, AND IMAGINE A TRAFFIC JAM OF RIDERS COMING THROUGH THE CORNERS, ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION, THE RIDERS WILL BE FIGHTING FOR THE CORNERS.

YOU WANT TO BE AT THE FRONT.

IF YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AND GUYS ARE GOING AT 30 MILES PER HOUR AT THE FRONT AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO BRAKE BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE CORNER, THEY'RE HAVING A MINUTE UP THE ROAD AND THOSE DYNAMICS ADD UP TO WASTED ENERGY.

KNOWING WHERE TO BE AND WHEN TO BE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A BIKE RACE.

FOR ME, THAT'S ONE OF THE THUNKS, WE HAVE THE COBBLESTONES.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET PINCHED IN, A AUTO TIGHT CORNER, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO RIDE YOUR BIKE THROUGH THESE ROUGH SECTIONS WHICH MAKES IT UNSTABLE, BUT DYNAMIC AND EXCITING FOR THE FANS AND FOR RIDERS BECAUSE THE RIDERS ARE BETTER AT IT THAN OTHERS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AT THOSE POINTS.

>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE, WILL IT BE A SPRINT OR WILL THE RIDERS CONSERVE THEIR ENERGY?

>> THAT'S IT, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A RACE IN A CITY, AND YOU START OFF AND YOU HAVE POINT TO POINT, THEY KIND OF SETTLE IN.

BUT BECAUSE WE ARE STARTING IN A CITY AND RIGHT AWAY THEY'RE GOING RIGHT TO THE COBBLESTONES, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY BE DYNAMIC AND SO MANY COULD TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AT THE BEGINNING.

AND SINCE IT'S A NEW COURSE, A LOT OF THE RIDERS ARE SAYING MAYBE I CAN CATCH PEOPLE OFF GUARD AND TAKE AN ADVANTAGE AND THEY'LL NEVER CATCH ME AND NEMP SEE ME AND I TAKE IT HOME.

IT DOES HAPPEN.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AS OFTEN BUT WILL YOU SEE RIDERS LEAVE EARLY IN THE RACE AND NEVER GOT CAUGHT AND THE RACE BEHIND MISCALCULATES WHEN TO BRING THEM BACK AND THE CAT AND MOUSE HAPPENS AND THE GUY THAT WENT EARLY ONES THE RACE.

>> NOW IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT STRATEGY HERE AND I'M SURE EVERY RIDER HAS A DIFFERENT THOUGHT ABOUT THE STRATEGY.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO BEAUTIFUL.

WE HAVE SO MANY TEAMS.

THIS IS A TEAM SPORT AND EVERY TEAM HAS A DIFFERENT STRATEGY AND YOU HAVE DIFFERENT RIDERS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.

YOU HAVE A RIDER, PRINT SPRINTER, CLIMBER, ALL AROUNDER.

DIFFERENT CARDS YOU CAN PLAY THROUGHOUT THE RACE.

WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE WATCHING THIS RACE, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHO IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT IS THEIR ROLE FOR THEIR TEAM.

THEY MIGHT BE A DECOY FOR THE SPRINTER AND REALLY WANT TO BRING THE RACE BACK TOGETHER TOWARD THE END SO THAT FAST RIDER COULD COME AROUND THE LAST CORNER ON PRATT STREET AND TAKE IT ALL.

WE DON'T HAVE A GUY THAT CAN BE THE FASTER SO WE HAVE TO ANIMATE FROM THE START.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MEN'S RACE, EF IS THINKING LIKE THAT, EF IS ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE WORLD AND THEY HAVE NEILSEN PALACE.

HE IS A STRONG RIDER BUT NOT A FAST FINISHER.

LEGAL TREK ARE SIMILAR, VERY STRONG TEAM BUT DON'T HAVE A FAST FINISHER, ANIMATING THE RACE HOPING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE SPRINTERS.

>> IT LOOKS PLEASANT DOWNTOWN.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE RACE?

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY PROBABLY THE BEST FOR THE RIDERS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT LIKE A MARATHON.

IF IT GETS TOO HOT, IT BECOMES REALLY HARD TO KEEP YOUR BODY TEMPERATURES DOWN.

SO WE HAVE COOLER WEATHER COMPARED TO THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IN 2023, I THINK WE HAD ABOUT UP TO 100°.

SO BRINGING IT DOWN TO THESE, RIGHT NOW I THINK WE ARE IN THE 70s-80s.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MORE RELAXED-- ESPECIALLY FOR THE WOMEN.

THE MEN WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE.

BUT JUST BY FEELING THE FORECAST RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GOING HAVE A LITTLE EASIER RACE FROM TEMPERATURES WHICH WILL BENEFIT CERTAIN RIDERS.

THE EUROPEANS TEND TO LIKE THIS WEATHER.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO COMING OFF THE TOUR DE FRANCE WHICH IS VERY HOT AND THE TEMPERATURE IS REALLY HIGH.

THE RIDERS ARE ADAPTED TO HOT WEATHER.

SOME RIDERS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A MODERATE TEMPERATURE RACE.

>> ALL RIGHT, FREDDY, WE'LL THE FIRST FOR THE MARYLANDS.- CYCLING CLASSIC IS THE WOMEN'S EVENT.

HERE IS MPT'S SUE COPIN TO EXPLAIN.

>> FOR MAYS WINBUSH, THE ADDITION OF THE WRIMS RACE TO THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.

PROGRESS, PASSION AND POSSIBILITIES.

>> FOR YOUNG GIRLS WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINES, THIS RACE SAYS YOU BELONG HERE.

YOU CAN DREAM BIG AND THERE IS A PATH FOR YOU IN THIS SPORT.

>> RACE DIRECTOR JIM BURRELL SAYS THIS IS AN INVITATION ONLY EVENT.

>> WE GO AND WE WORK WITH TEAMS AROUND THE WORLD, SHARING, YOU KNOW, WHAT MARYLAND HAS TO OFFER, WHAT THIS CIRCUIT RACE HAS TO OFFER, AND THE AMENITIES FROM HOTELS TO GROUND TRANSPORTATION, JUST EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR ATHLETES.

>> AND SHE SAYS THIS EVENT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR WOMEN'S CYCLING.

>> VISIBILTY LEADS TO SPONSORSHIPS, OPPORTUNITIES AND INSPIRATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF RACERS.

THE FACT THAT INTERNATIONAL TEAMS FROM EUROPE TO AFRICA ARE COMING HERE TO COMPETE AND BE SEEN ON THE WORLD STAGE IS POWERFUL.

THIS PROVES THIS RACE IS NOT JUST ABOUT GROWING LOCALLY BUT HELPING TO EVOLVE THE SPORT GLOBALLY.

>> BOTH THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S RACES WILL START HERE AT HARBOR POINT CENTRAL PLAZA AND END AT THE INNER HARBOR ALONG PRATT STREET.

THE COMPETITION MANAGER FOR THE WOMEN'S RACE IS JOANNE, A FORMER PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST ORIGINALLY FROM NEW ZEALAND, CHARGED WITH HANDLING ALL OF THE LOGISTICS FOR THE WOMEN'S TEAMS AND THAT INCLUDES CHECKING OUT THE COURSE.

>> MY FAVORITE PART OF THE COURSE WOULD DEFINITELY BE THE FELLS POINT AREA WITH THE COBBLESTONES.

THE COBBLE STREETS ARE SPECIAL AND SOMETHING WE DON'T TYPICALLY GET IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THAT IN REALLY ADDS AN INTERESTING ELEMENT.

IT'S VERY EUROPEAN.

>> 15 WOMEN'S TEAMS WILL BE TAKING PART IN THIS YEAR'S RAY.

NINE FROM THE UNITED STATES, 2 FROM GERMANY, TWO FROM CANADA, ONE FROM MEXICO AND ONE IN BENIN AND THE CYCLISTS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HITTING THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE AND HEARING AND SEEING THE CROWDS ALONG THE WAY.

>> THEY REALLY LOVE TO PUT ON A SHOW AND SEE PEOPLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THEY LOVE TO HEAR THE CHEERING AND BEING ABLE TO RACE, YOU KNOW, IN A CITY, YOU KNOW, VERY TECHNICAL, A LOT OF CORNERS.

A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF FEATURES IN THIS COURSE WHICH MAKE IT REALLY DIFFERENT AND DYNAMIC.

>> MAYS WINBUSH WON'T BE AMONG THE CYCLISTS IN THIS EVENT, SHE IS HOPING TO BE PART OF IT IN THE FUTURE.

>> COMPETING IN THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IS DEFINITELY ON MY LIST OF GOALS IN THE FUTURE.

I WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE JUST BECAUSE IT'S LIKE IN MY BACKYARD.

I'M FROM WALDORF MARYLAND, SO COMING UP TO BALTIMORE AND RACING AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL WOULD BE AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY.

>> JOANNE SAYS SHE EXPECTS THIS EVENT AND WOMEN'S RACING TO ONLY CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PLANS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BUILD SOME MORE RACES IN THE USA AND ENTICE PEOPLE COMING FROM OVER, ESPECIALLY OVER IN YOUR, TO COME OVER TO THE USA AND RACE SOME OF THESE INTERNATIONAL EVENTS THAT WE HAVE.

>> IN BALTIMORE, I'M SUE COPIN.

>> NOW LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE START OF THE RACE WITH FREDDIE RODRIGUEZ.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW AND IS THIS WHERE THE JITTERS APPEAR?

>> YEAH, I MEAN FOR A LOT OF RIDERS THAT ARE BASICALLY NEW TO THIS RACE, A LOT OF JITTERS ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING, BUT LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE GAME PLAN, SITTING-- WE CALL THEM DIRECTORS.

BASICALLY A MANAGER OR COACH.

AND THEY'RE RUNNING THEM THROUGH THE PLAN, GETTING THE FEEL READY.

THESE RIDERS ARE GOING TO BE DRINKING SO MUCH WATER AND CARBOHYDRATES.

SOME OF THE RIDERS EXPEND OVER 100 GRAMS AN HOUR OF SUGAR IN, YOU THINK ABOUT FOR THAT MUCH RACING, THAT'S A LOT OF SUGAR THEY ARE BURNING.

THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE STEPS TO GET READY FOR THAT.

HOPEFULLY THAT IS TAKING THE JITTERS OUT OF THEIR WAY AND FOCUSING ON THE RACE AND FOCUSING ON WHAT THEY NEED TO GET READY FOR AND HOPEFULLY GETTING EXCITED FOR AN AMAZING DOWNTOWN RACE HERE IN THE BA MORE BECAUSE THIS STAGE IS GOING TO BE VERY DYNAMIC AND OPEN FOR RIDERS TO TAKE OPPORTUNITY.

>> DON'T GO AWAY.

WE'LL BE BACK TO YOU IN A MOMENT.

THE EXCITEMENT LEADING UP TO THE RACE DAY HAS BEEN BUILDING ALL WEEK.

AND WE ARE LESS THAN 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE RIDERS THIS YEAR.

NOW THE WOMEN'S BENIN NATIONAL TEAM, THE FIRST TIME AN AFRICAN FEDERATION WILL FEEL THE FEMALE -- WILL FILL THE FEMALE SQUAD FOR THE RACE.

SHEER IS NANCY YAMADA.

>> SHE SAID THAT THE BIKE HELPS HER UNDERSTAND HERSELF BETTER AND THE BIKE ALSO ENABLES HER TO GO ON DIFFERENT VOYAGES.

>> THROUGH THE HELP OF AN INTERPRETER, TWO MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S BENIN NATIONAL TEAM ARE SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT CYCLING AND TRAINING IN WYOMING IN PREPARATION FOR THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IN BALTIMORE.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AN AFRICAN WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM HAS RACED ON AMERICAN SOIL OUTSIDE OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2015 IN RICHMOND.

SO THIS IS GROUND BREAKING.

>> KIMBERLY COATS IS THE C.E.O.

OF TEAM AFRICA RISING, A NON-PROFIT DEDICATED TO AFRICAN CYCLING DEVELOPMENT.

SHE FIELDED THIS TEAM FROM A SMALL COUNTRY IN WEST AFRICA IN HOPES OF GROWING THE SPORT AND GIVING WOMEN MORE ACCESS.

>> SOME OF THE WOMEN COME FROM LESS THAN IDEAL MEANS, BUT THEY HAVE A CYCLING FEDERATION, ORGANIZATION, THE PRESIDENT THAT LEADS THE BENIN CYCLING FEDERATION IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE GROWTH OF THE SPORT.

THE GOVERNMENT IS STARTING TO INVEST IN THE SPORT, AND WE AS TEAM AFRICA RISING COME ALONGSIDE AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, KEEP THE BALL ROLLING, AND REALLY OUR BIGGEST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IS THAT WE ARE PROVIDE ACCESS, WHETHER THAT'S ACCESS TO SPONSORS, ACCESS TO EVENTS SUCH AS THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, TRAINING,.

>> AMONG THE MANY CHALLENGES THEY FACED, GETTING VISAS AND SECURING FLIGHTS TO COME TO THE U.S. AS WELL AS ADJUSTING TO THE HEAT AND ALTITUDE OF WYOMING.

BEYOND THAT, GETTING A YOUNG TEAM ROAD READY AND COMPETITIVE HAS BEEN AN UPHILL CLIMB.

>> IN 2020, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WERE EVEN ON THE AFRICA TOUR RANKINGS AND NOW THEY'RE LEFNSDZ.

>> FOR-- THEY'RE 11TH.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR RACE AND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT FOLLOW RIGHT BEHIND IT, IS THAT WE JUST WANT THEM TO FINISH THE RACE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MEDAL.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PODIUM BUT THEY'RE HERE AND THEY'VE EARNED THE PLACE.

THEY'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HERE.

>> THIS OPPORTUNITY ON THE WORLD STAGE IS NOT LOST ON THE ATHLETES WHO TOLD ME THEY'RE NERVOUS BUT EXCITED AND HOPE TO INSPIRE OTHERS.

>> SHE SAID THAT THEY NEED MORE WOMEN IN THE SPORT TO GET ENCOURAGED ALSO, THAT THEY CAN DO IT.

AND THAT THEY NEED SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE.

>> I THINK EXPOSURE FOR THESE WOMEN IS SO CRITICAL.

I HOPE THAT THESE WOMEN ROCK UP AND OTHER GIRLS OF COLOR IN BALTIMORE SEE THEM GOING, BINGO, I CAN DO THIS.

>> I'M NANCY YAMADA.

>> NOW THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IS MORE THAN JUST THE TWO RACES.

IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY AND HOW CYCLING CAN BE PART OF IT AS MPT'S CHARLES ROBINSON TELLS US.

♪ ♪ THE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS AT THE CREATIVE CITY CHARTER SCHOOL WERE PREPARED FOR A BIKE GIVEAWAY.

THE SMILES ON THEIR FACE, THE MOUTH DROPPING MOMENT.

YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU GOT YOUR FIRST BIKE.

I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT MY FIRST BIKE.

IT WAS THE EMOTIONAL, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU WON THE SUPER BOWL DAY.

>> IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD DO THIS FOR THESE CHILDREN YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE CITY CHILDREN ARE OVERLOOKED AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

SOME OF THEM DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RIDE BIKES, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SCHOOL TO HAVE BIKES FOR THEM TO LEARN.

I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF SCHOOLS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET GOOD EXERCISE, TO GET OUT THERE, GET FRESH AIR, EXPLORE THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU LIVE IN AND THEN JUST REALLY PARTNER WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILY FOR A GREAT ACTIVITY.

>> BUT THE FIRST THING IS TO LEARN WHAT COMES WITH OWNING A BIKE.

>> WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD TO HAVE THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC HERE IN THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO TALK TO YOU ONLY NOT ONLY ABOUT CYCLING BUT TO PROMOTE THE RACE THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING ON SEPTEMBER 6, BUTS ALSO TO BE TELLING YOU ABOUT BICYCLE SAFETY.

>> WE HEAD OVER TO THE RECREATION CENTER.

INSIDE THE GYM, AN OBSTACLE COURSE.

THE KIDS DON THE HELMETS.

>> SOME ON THE COURSE NEED ASSISTANCE.

WHILE OTHERS MASTER THE OBSTACLE S. >> I LEARNED HOW TO RIDE EYE BIKE WHEN I WAS THREE.

I LEARNED FROM MY DAD.

I USED TO RIDE IN LIKE TRAILS, PARKS TO GET A NEW BIKE WAS EXCITING AND VERY FUN AND I GOT TO RIDE IT EVERY DAY.

>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGH BUT I'VE GOTTEN USED TO IT SO IT'S-- SINCE I'VE RIDDEN IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, IT'S LIKE EASIER THAN IT WAS WHEN I WAS FIRST BEGINNING.

>> IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT A BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL GETS A CHANCE TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE BIKES BUT HOW ABOUT THIS?

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE OF THESE BIKES HOME WITH THEM.

>> PRESIDENTIALLY I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RIDE A BIKE AND FOR THE SCHOOL TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WILL TEACH MY CHILD TO RIDE A BIKE, THAT'S AMAZING BECAUSE THEY'RE FILLING THE GAP WHERE I KNOW-- I'M I'M ASHAMED THAT I CANNOT RIDE A BIKE MYSELF BUT I'M HAPPY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR MY CHILD.

>> THESE ARE LIFE SKILLS WHICH WILL TRANSLATE TO POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE RACE COURSE AND BRING IN MY PARTNER FREDDIE RODRIGUEZ WHO HAS A GUEST.

>> I'M HERE WITH ROY RICKMAN, 84-YEAR-OLD BRONZE MEDALIST.

MY NATIONAL TEAM COACH BACK IN THE DAY.

BUT HERE HE IS NOW AS ONE OF THE DEUCE AND EX-PROFESSIONAL, SOMETIMES WE GET HIRED TO DRIVE THE CARS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SKILLS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE RIDERS ARE GOING THROUGH THE CORNERS.

HE IS DRIVING ONE OF THE MEDICAL CARS.

TELL US WHAT THAT HENS TO BE HERE AT THE RACE AND TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AT THE RACE AND SEE THAT SEE THAT THEY BROUGHT NATIONAL COMPETITORS TO THE U.S.

THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND RESOURCES THAT THE CITY HAS PUT INTO THIS IS PHENOMENAL.

SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF THAT IN THE U.S. AND BEING IN THE RACE, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, I DROVE A FIRE ENGINE FOR 15 YEARS SO I WAS ASKED TO COME HERE BECAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS TO DO THIS SAFELY.

AND YEAH, THERE IS A NEED TO BE AWARE.

WE HAVE PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS COMING AND GOING AND PEOPLE CRASHING AND WE WILL BE STOPPING FOR THAT.

IT'S A BIT OF A CHALLENGE BUT ALSO REALLY EXCITING TO BE PART OF IT AND TO KNOW THAT I CAN DO IT REASONABLY SAFELY AS SAFELY AS ONE CAN DO IT.

>> YOU GUYS WILL BE FOLLOWING BEHIND THE RACE AND AS RIDERS NEED HELP MEDICAL HELP, YOU WILL BE PULLING OVER AND SUPPORTING THEM?

>> WE WILL BE PULLING OVER AND AT TIMES WE WON'T BE PULLING OVER.

THEY WILL BE HANGING ON THE CAR AND GETTING PATCHED UP TO STAY WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RACE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHASE BACK ON.

SO THEY ALLOW THAT IN THE RULES.

BUT IF IF THERE IS SOMETHING MASSIVE, WE ARE THE FIRST ONES THERE.

DOCTORS JUMP OUT AND HANDLE THINGS.

>> I PUT MEDICINE ON THE CUTS AND EVERYTHING.

SOMETIMES YOU ARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT CORNER, IMAGINE HAVING TO COME THROUGH THE COBBLESTONES AND GRAB TO THE CARS AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU LET GO AT THE RIGHT MOMENT SO YOU DON'T CRASH.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR HISTORY YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN CYCLING, DEVELOPED SOME OF THE BEST RIDERS IN THE WORLD NOW, ONE OF THE RIDERS IS HERE RACING.

TELL US ABOUT HIM AND WHO HE IS AND HOW YOU HAVE PROBABLY HELPED HIM, YOU KNOW, GET TO THIS LEVEL.

>> I GOT INTO THE SPORT AT 16 YEARS OLD AS A RESIDENTS ATHLETE AT THE OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER.

HAD TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY AND MADE SOMETHING OF IT.

AND I REALLY THINK MY LEGACY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT PERFORMANCE BUT WE HAD A JUNIOR TEAM THE LAST 10 YEARS AND QUINN SIMMONS AND BRANDON McNULTY AND MATTHEW IN THE TOP 10 IN SPAIN, ALL OF THESE RIDERS.

SO FOR ME, BEING ABLE TO ENGINEER THAT AND PUT THAT TOGETHER AND BE A LITTLE PIECE OF THOSE GUYS PROGRESSION HAS BEEN REALLY COOL, REALLY REWARDING.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING TO WATCH QUINN RACE TODAY AND HIS BROTHER, COLBY, GOING TO TRY TO MESS WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT AND SEE IF HE CAN OUTDO THE BIG BROTHER SUPER STAR.

>> SO YOU ARE LIKE A DAD, BASICALLY.

YOU ARE HERE SUPPORTING YOUR RIDERS.

YOU SAW THEM, YOU KNOW THEIR CAPABILITIES AND NOW YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE RACE.

YOU ARE EMOTIONALLY ENGAGED WITH THEM.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING TO SEE HOW THEY DO AND HAVING THE BROTHER FIGHTING.

THEY DID IT AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND ONE WON LAST YEAR AND QUINN WON THIS YEAR.

AND TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEIR HISTORY AND HOW, WHAT THEY ARE AS RIDERS BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO SEE THEM COMPETING TODAY?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, QUINN IS REALLY, REALLY FOUND HIS RHYTHM THIS YEAR AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE, INJURY AND OVERTRAINING AND TRAGEDY, HE HAS COME TOGETHER.

COLBY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE LEVEL HEAD GETTING BETTER AND BETTER BUT THEY HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.

QUINN HAS BEEN A GREAT BROTHER TO COLBY, COLBY IS SUPPORTIVE OF QUINN SO IT IS A RIVALRY WITH A SMILE.

THAT'S REALLY ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW.

IT'S FUN.

I TALKED TO COAL COLBY FOR A WHILE YESTERDAY.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE WOMEN'S RACE AND ANY EFFORT RIDERS?

DO YOU HAVE CONTACT AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

>> THE ONLY RIDER-- CASSIDY WAS ON OUR TEAM AND SHE IS HAVING A GREAT YEAR WITH CCB, AND NATIONAL TEAM, YOU KNOW, SO I TALKED TO HER AND IT IS GOING TO BE EXCITING TO SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO.

AND A FEW OF THE OTHER RIDERS THAT I KNOW.

BUT, YEAH, OUR LEGACY WAS MORE THE MEN'S TEAM.

WE DID A WOMEN'S TEAM LATE IN THE TIME PERIOD OF THE CYCLING TEAM SO I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT MANY ATHLETES OUT THERE.

DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO WORK THAT SIDE.

>> AS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE AND EX-PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, WE WEAR MULTIPLE HATS.

HE IS A COACH, DIRECTOR, DRIVER.

WE TRY TO BASICALLY DO ALL THESE LITTLE JOBS THAT KIND OF RELATE TO EACH OTHER.

SO I MEAN, I'M EXCITED HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY?

I MEAN THESE RACES ARE SO DYNAMIC.

>> RIGHT.

I REALLY CAN'T PREDICT BECAUSE THEY ARE SO DYNAMIC.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO HAVE THE LEGS, WHO IS GOING TO REALLY HAVE THEIR HEAD IN IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING TO COME TO THE BIKE RACE.

>> I MEAN WE HEAR STORIES LIKE LIDL-TREK, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS RACE REALLY HARD.

THEY'RE HERE TO PERFORM AND I THINK THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS REALLY FAST SO THEY'RE LOOKING-- EF IS IN THE SAME BOOK TRYING TO MAKE THIS, TO ANIMATE THE RACE, MAYBE MATTHEWS IS READY TO COME INTO THE FIELD.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO DO THIS RACE.

HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THIS RACE.

BUT THE HEAT IS GOING TO START ADDING UP, THE COBBLESTONES ARE GOING TO ADD UP, THE CLIMBINGS ARE GOING TO ADD UP, THE CORNERS WILL ADD UP, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

IS THERE ONE RIDER HO YOU THINK MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING THIS RACE?

>> I'M GOING TO PUT MY MONEY ON QUINN BECAUSE HE WANTS THIS, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE IF I'M RIGHT.

IF HE HAS CARRIED HIS FORM, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE WATCHING HIM AT THE TOUR THIS YEAR, DAY AFTER DAY HE HAD THE LEGS.

NOW I BELIEVE HE IS A BELIEVER.

>> YOU CAN TELL FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE HE WAS REALLY IN TUNE WITH HIS COMMENTS AND HOW HE WANTED TO RACE, HOW HE RACES THE TOUR DE FRANCE.

HE IS OUR U.S. PROFESSIONAL CHAMPION.

SO HE IS WEARING THE STARS AND STRIPES, THE FLAG, HE IS VERY PROUD OF THAT AND HERE TO PERFORM.

IT'S THE ONLY RACE, ONLY TOP LEVEL RACE IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW.

SO TO DO THAT AS A YOUNG RIDER WITH THE JERSEY IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING AMAZING.

>> FREDDIE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN SO MANY EVENTS LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER, WHAT DOES AN EVENT LIKE THIS MEAN TO THE COMMUNITY?

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

IT'S REALLY LADS HERE-- REALLY LOUD HERE ON THE COURSE.

THEY'RE GOING LIVE.

>> I MENTIONED YOU HAVE BEEN IN SO MANY OF THESE EVENTS IN YOUR CAREER.

WHAT DOES AN EVENT LIKE THIS MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY?

>> SORRY, IT'S SO LOUD HERE.

WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

>> WHAT ARE THE TEAM MEMBERS DOING AT THIS POINT?

>> RIGHT.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE COMMUNITY OF BALTIMORE TO HAVE THIS RACE HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, MOO I BELIEVING-- MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SUPER EXCITED.

THERE IS A CYCLING COMMUNITY BUT THIS IS A CITY THAT, MY BELIEVING IS THEY'RE TRYING TO REVITALIZE, BRING THINGS INTO.

AND IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.

SO I THINK A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY BEHIND THIS AND EXCITED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE RNLT BALTIMORE HAS-- WAS THE ORIGINAL U.S. PRO-CHAMPIONS BACK IN THE DAY.

THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF THE SPORT AND LEGACY OF A LOT OF STRONG SPORTS AND THE COMMUNITY, OF THE SPORTS COMMISSIONERSES, THEY'RE EXCITED TO HAVE SO MANY STRONG RIDERS HERE.

WE HAVE RIDERS AROUND THE WORLD.

20 COUNTRIES, NATIONAL CHAMP YOONS, OLYMPIANS, TOUR DE FRANCE RIDERS.

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY AND I SEE THE TO SPEAK UP.

>> WE'LL BE BACK WITH YOU LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM.

>> KEEP IT RIGHT HERE.

THE START OF THE RACE IS A COUPLE MINUTES AWAY.

WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE FINISH LINE AND STAY HERE AFTER THE MEN'S RACE FOR THE PREMIER OF THE 45th SEASON OF MPT'S MOTOR WEEK.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THE MPT SPORTS DESK.

WE'LL SEE NEW A BIT.

-- WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

YOUR HOMETOWN FAVORITE... FORMER SPEED SKATE ERIN LINE STAR... LET'S GIVE A HUGE WELCOME TO THE START LINE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN VIPER!

HOMETOWN HERO NOW WE'LL CALL THE REST OF THE FIELD TO THE LINE AND IF YOU WOULD, >> IT'S THE 2025 MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, AMERICA'S BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL BIKE RACE.

AND THE WOMEN'S EVENT IS JUST MOMENTS AWAY, KICKING OFF FROM BALTIMORE'S HISTORIC INNER HARBOR.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ LEFT SIDE AND HAVING A GO AT IT FROM 200 METERS OUT.

A CLOUDY AND WARM DAY ON THE EASTERN SEA BOARD AS WE BRING YOU TO THE GORGEOUS INNER HARBOR OF BALTIMORE MARYLAND FOR THE THIRD EDITION OF THE PRESTIGIOUS MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THIS WILL BE THE FINISH LINE FOR BOTH THE WOMEN'S AND THE MEN'S RACE COMING UP LATER ON TODAY.

IT IS THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL SINGLE DAY OF RACING WE HAVE IN THE U.S. EVERY YEAR.

EVENTS IN ALL OF THE TOP WOMEN AND MEN ARE IN THE FIELD HERE TODAY.

AND THIS IS A SHOT OF WHAT WILL BE THE LIVE START FOR THIS WOMEN'S RACE AND WE ARE COMING UP ON THIS KICKOFF HERE SHORTLY.

STEVE ALONG WITH THE FORMER CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL LEX ALBRECHT.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ABOARD.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

WE ARE ABOUT TO WITNESS THE FIRST WOMEN'S MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC UNFOLD IN FRONT OF OUR EYES AND IT'S RIGHT DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

A PRETTY BIG DEAL FOR A METROPOLIS LIKE BALTIMORE TO SHUT DOWN THE CITY STREETS LIKE THIS.

THEY DO IT BECAUSE IT'S WORTH IT.

>> HARBOR POINT'S CENTRAL PLAZA.

ADJACENT TO THE HARBOR EAST DISTRICT.

WE HAVE RIDERS FROM BEEP YIB COMING ALL THE WAY-- FROM BENIN ALL THE WAY FROM AFRICA, ALLISON JACKSON IS WEARING THE CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION COLORS.

WE HAVE BLUE RIDGE TWENTY9.

WE HAVE RIDERS FROM OVER 20 COUNTRIES ON AMERICA'S SOIL RACING AT THE TOP LEVEL OF THE SPORT.

WE HAVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, OLYMPIC MEDALISTS AND WORLD RECORD HOLDERS IN THIS FIELD.

>> JUST UNDER 100 RIDERS IN THIS WOMEN'S FIELD.

>> I'M HERE IN HARBOR POINT IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE FOR THE INAUGURAL WOMEN'S RACE HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

CLOUDY CONDITIONS TODAY AND IT'S GOING TO LAST FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS SO I THINK THESE WOMEN ARE GOING HAVE THE BEST CONDITIONS UNDER THE WEATHER TODAY.

HIGHS ARE IN THE UPPER 80s AND LOW HUMID SO IT'S GOING TO BE A FAST AND EXCITING RACE.

>> BALTIMORE MARYLAND AND THIS INNER HARBOR HAS BEEN RENOVATED OVER THE YEARS.

IT IS NOW SUCH A SPECTACULAR SETTING FOR SPORTS, FOR COMMERCE FOR CULTURE THIS IS A BIG GATHERING PLACE, MADE BALTIMORE A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY HERE SURROUNDING THE WATER AND AGAIN WE ARE RIGHT BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTRAL PLAZA.

IN HARBOR POINT THE WOMEN'S FIRST EVERY EVENT.

THIRD EDITION OF THE MEN'S EVENT FOLLOWING THIS AFTERNOON BUT THIS IS THE INAUGURAL WOMEN'S RACE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR WOMEN CYCLING.

WE HAVE RIDERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THEY'RE COMING-- AND MANY OF THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICA, AND THEY'RE CHASING VERY VALUABLE UCI POINTS AND IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE LATER GREATEST RAISE IN THE SEASON.

A LAST CHANCE FOR THEM TO SHOW THEIR COLORS AND STUFF BEFORE SIGNING A NEW CONTRACT FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> 16 TEAMS.

20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

GATHERING HERE IN BALTIMORE.

>> WE HAVE RIDERS FROM NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, BENIN IN AFRICA, ALL OVER EUROPE.

WE HAVE RIDERS FROM CANADA AND OF COURSE THE UNITED STATES.

WE ALSO HAVE A MEXICAN TEAM COMING IN JUST OFF THE TOUR OF GUATEMALA SO THEY HAVE BEEN TRAVELING A BIT.

TO SAY THESE RIDERS HAVE BEEN TRAVELING VERY FAR JUST TO MAKE IT TO MARYLAND.

>> 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... COME ON, LADY XZ LET'S GO, IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG.

AND NOW OUT ON TO THE FIRST OF FOUR LAPS OF AN 18-MILE CIRCUIT, 72 MILES IN TOTAL FOR THIS WOMEN'S RACE THAT WILL TAKE THEM TO THE NORTH AND BACK DOWN SOUTH TO THE FINISH IN THE INNER HARBOR.

THE ACTUAL FINISH OF THE RACE IS A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF A MILE FROM WHERE THEY JUST STARTED.

SO IT STARTS AND ENDS IN ROUGHLY THE SAME AREA OF THE INNER HARBOR RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BALTIMORE BUT IN BETWEEN, LEX, IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY DEMANDING COURSE, INCLUDING THE SECTION OF COBBLES NEAR THE BEGINNING.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING SECTION OF THE RACE.

RIGHT NOW THE RIDERS ARE JUST ROLLING OUT IN THE NEUTRAL START SO THE RACE ISN'T ACTUALLY ON.

THEY'RE FOLLOWING.

BUT EVEN THOUGH THE ACTION IS CALM, I THINK THAT BEHIND THOSE SUNGLASSES AND HELMET, THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN THEIR MINDS.

NERVES, STRATEGY AND MAYBE EXCITEMENT, TOO.

THIS IS THEIR FIRST TASTE OF NAVIGATING THE COBBLES IN THE RACE.

IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A RELATIVELY SLOWER PACE.

ONE OF THE BENIN RIDERS HAS DROPPED HER CHAIN.

>> THE BENIN TEAM COMING OVER FROM WEST AFRICA.

ARIA GETTING BACK AND THAT'S WHAT THE COBBLES CAN DO.

>> IT'S TRUE AND THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE RACING AND RIDING ON COBBLES.

THIS IS A GOOD CHANCE FOR RIDERS TO GAIN EXPERIENCE BUT THIS IS RACE DAY SO THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE BANK, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SHINE AND SHOW THEIR SFUF AND HAVE AN ADVANTAGE COMING THROUGH THIS SECTION THE FOUR TIMES THE RACE WILL GO THROUGH THE COBBLES.

>> THIS IS THE FELLS POINT AREA.

THAT WAS JUST ABOUT 500 YARDS OF COBBLES THAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH.

NOW THE FELLS POINT AREA THAT INCLUDES A LOT OF SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS, ART GALLERIES AND AGAIN THEY ARE HEADING OUT TO THE NORTH HERE IN THE FIRST TWO EDITIONS OF THE RACE, BOTH MEN'S RACES, THIS IS AN EVENT HELD LARGELY IN BALTIMORE COUNTY OUT IN THE COUNTRY SIDE WITH A LOT OF ROLLING HILLS AND THEN IT HAD THE FINISH HERE IN CENTRAL BALTIMORE IT'S ENTIRELY IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, SO IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE SPECTATOR FRIENDLY, PROVIDES COMPETITIVE DYNAMICS.

WE WILL SEE SOME CLIMBING.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME COBBLES.

WE WILL SEE ROLLERS AND TECHNICAL CORNERS, TOO.

>> YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF TURNS IN THIS COURSE AND THAT CAN REALLY CHANGE THE DYNAMICS OF THE RACE.

IT CAN MAKE IT QUITE EXCITING AND CAN BE QUITE TAXING ON THE RACERS.

SO THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE CORNERS AND TURNS EFFICIENTLY WILL SAVE A LOT OF ENERGY AND THOSE THAT DON'T SO MUCH, WELL, WE MIGHT NOT EVEN SEE THEM AT THE END.

THERE IS A LOT OF STRATEGY IN TERMS OF HOW THE COURSE IN AND OF ITSELF IS RIDDEN, NOT JUST WHAT THE RACERS ARE DOING.

>> LET'S TAKE YOU THROUGH THE COURSE MAP FOR THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC AS WE GET THINGS UNDER WAY HERE.

18-MILE CIRCUIT, 72 MILES TOTAL FOR THE WOMEN.

>> WE HAVE AN AWESOME FIELD HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW THEY PLAY OUT THE COURSE AND NAVIGATING THE DIFFERENT BALTIMORE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE HAVE SOME WIDE OPEN STREETS, SOME SHARPER TURNS.

NAVIGATING THROUGH THE COURSE UP TO THE QUM, QOM, QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS.

EACH OF THE LINES OF THE QOM, RIDERS WILL BE SCORING TWO AND ONE POINTS BATTLING FOR THE TITLE AND THE PRIZE MONEY THAT COMES WITH IT AND SPEEDING BACK DOWN INTO TOWN INTO A TECHNICAL FINISH SO THERE ARE FOUR TURNS INTO THE SPRINT LINE.

THE SECOND TIME ACROSS THE SPRINT LINE, RIDERS WILL BE GOING FOR SPRINT POINTS AWARDED POINTS ON THE SECOND LAP, THIRD LAP AND AGAIN AT THE FINISH LAP.

>> THE ONLY TIME THAT THERE IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPRINT FOR POINTS WILL BE AT THE END OF THE FIRST LAP.

BUT THEN EVERY OTHER LAP, WHEN THEY COME BACK ACROSS THAT FINISH LINE, THEY WILL BE SPRINTING FOR POINTS.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PRIZES UP FOR GRABS.

NOT ONLY THE WINNER OF THE RACE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY AND THE SPRINT JERSEY THAT THESE ATHLETE IS WILL HAVE ON THEIR RADAR HERE TODAY.

>> THIS IS EXCITING FOR THE RIDERS BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO GO FOR SOMETHING THAT'S ALMOST AS SPECIAL AS A WIN AND GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO WIN IF THEY'RE NOT GOING FOR THE WIN ITSELF.

IT ALSO SHUFFLES UP THE RACE DYNAMIC IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACE BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST AS IF THERE ARE A COUPLE OF LITTLE RACES GOING ON WITHIN THE BIGGER RACE.

AND THE REST OF THE PELOTON IS NOT IMMUNE TO THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE RIDERS WHO ARE GOING FOR THE QOM, QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SPRINT JERSEYS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REACT.

SOMETIMES THE INTERMEDIATE RACES CREATE SPLITS IN THE RACE AND THEY'RE JUST EXCITING TO WATCH AND FUN TO GO FOR AS A RIDER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE ARE UNDER WAY.

THE FIRST EVER EDITION OF THE WOMEN'S EVENT AT THE WOMEN'S MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC AND FIRST OF FOUR LAPS AROUND BATTLE MORE AND SOUTH OF 70 MILES LEFT TO GO ON THE DAY.

>> I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TODAY.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INTERESTING FIELD.

THERE ARE RIDERS IN THE PACK THAT ARE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR.

SO WE HAVE RIDERS THAT ARE RIDING UNDER JERSEYS THEY DON'T TYPICALLY WEAR WHEN RACING IN EUROPE OR ABROAD.

ONE RIDER TO LOOK OUT FOR THAT THE OTHER PEERS IN THE PELOTON MAY NOT HAVE ON THEIR RADAR IS BRINY.

SHE IS ON THE FEARLESS END TEAM FROM NEW ZEALAND.

WORLD RECORD ON THE TRACK AND TWO OLYMPIC MEDALS, FIRST YEAR I SHOULD SAY RACING ON THE ROAD.

SO SHE IS A REAL POWER HOUSE THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER RIDERS, ESPECIALLY EUROPEAN RIDERS MAY NOT YET KNOW ABOUT.

>> LEX, WHAT TYPE OF RACE DO YOU EXPECT OVERALL WHEN YOU DISCOVER THE DIFFERENT STYLES OF RACING, WHETHER IT'S A STAGE RACE, A CRY TEARIUM, SOME KIND OF A CLASSIC.

>> THIS IS A ONE-DAY RACE, OPPOSED TO A STAGE RACE, THE RIDERS DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAVE OR ANYTHING TO LOSE BY PUTTING IT ALL OUT THERE ON THE ROAD.

SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF ACTION TODAY.

AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE BROADCAST, THERE ARE A LOT OF RIDERS WHO ARE HERE REALLY TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

SO JUST LIKE THIS RIDER WE SEE OUT AT THE FRONT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE RACE TAKING A FLYER OUT OF THE FRONT, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE INSTIGATING ACTION SO IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE AN EXCITING RACE.

I THINK WE MIGHT SEE THE FIELD SHATTER, TOO, AT SOME POINT.

>> ONE RIDER GOING OFF THE FRONT ON THE FIRST OF FOUR LAPS HERE IN THE INAUGURAL WOMEN'S EDITION AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THIS IS THE TAIL END OF THE MAIN FIELD NOW JUST A FEW SECONDS BEHIND.

IS THIS THE KIND OF A MOVE YOU WOULD HAVE EXPECTED SO SOON, LEX AND ARE YOU KIND OF SURPRISED NO ONE IS GOING WITH HER?

>> I'M NOT TOO SURPRISED SHE IS OUT THERE ALL ALONE BECAUSE THIS IS SO EARLY IN THE RACE.

THE PELOTON LOOKS PRETTY CALM.

SHE MIGHT BE A RIDER WHO IS NOT...

BUT YOU DO NOTICE THE STRIPES ON HER ARM AND THAT MEANS THAT SHE IS A FORMER NATIONAL CHAMPION.

SO I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY MESS AROUND, BUT BECAUSE SHE IS ALONE AND BECAUSE IT IS SO EARLY IN THE RACE, I DON'T THINK THAT SHE IS NECESSARILY A THREAT.

WHAT SHE IS DOING RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE ON THE FIELD OR JUST TESTING OUT THE FIELD, TOO, TO SEE WHO IS GOING TO COME AFTER HER.

AND THEN ONCE THE FIELD DECIDES THAT MAYBE SHE IS A THREAT, IF THEY DO, THEN THEY'LL START PUTTING ON THE GAS AND EITHER TRY TO REAL HER REEL HER BACK OR SEND A COUPLE OF RIDERS OVER TO MEET HER IN THE BREAK AND ESTABLISH A MORE SOLID GAP BUT CYCLING IS A NUMBERS GAME AND TO BE OFF IN THE FRONT ALONE IS NOT NECESSARILY A SIGN THAT SHE IS GOING TO BE IN CONTENTION FOR THE WIN.

>> OWE DEBT LYNCH-- ODETTE LYNCH, THE AUSSIE FOR THE FEARLESS FEMME RACING SQUAD.

>> THIS IS EMMA LANGLY.

SHOEY COULD MANAGE TO STAY AWAY QUITE A BIT BUT HER TEAM HAS PLANS TO MAKE THE RACE, PUT PRESSURE ON RIGHT FROM THE GET GO.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE TELLING THEIR CAPTAIN, MULTINATIONAL CHAMPION, PAN AM CHAMPION AND LEADER OF THE TEAM.

SHE TOLD ME THOSE WERE THE TEAM'S AMBITION.

EMMA LANGLY IS EXECUTING THE TEAM'S STRATEGY PERFECTLY RIGHT NOW, TEAMMATES SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE PACK, TAKING IT EASE EASY.

IF A MIRACLE HAPPENS AND SHE STAYS AWAY, PERFECT FOR THE TEAM.

IF THIS PUTS PRESSURE ON THE TEAMS TO RACE THAT'S GOOD FOR THEM BECAUSE EMMA IS FORCING THEM TO SPEND THEIR ENERGY AND BURN A FEW MATCHES.

SINGLE FILE HERE AT THE BACK END IS USUALLY A SIGN THAT THE PACE IS PRETTY HEAVY.

SO EMMA LANGLY IS LOOKING PRETTY STRONG.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

SHE IS COMING OFF OF A VICTORY IN VERMONT, THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STAGE RACE.

SHE IS PRETTY STRONG RIGHT NOW AND SHE MIGHT BE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR, TOO, UNDER THIS TEAM'S COLORS UNDER AGE US CYCLING-- EDGE US CYCLING FOUNDATION.

PEOPLE ARE USED TO SEEING HER IN THE PINK JERSEY.

SHE SWITCHED TEAMS THOUGH.

SO SHE IS SHOWING HER STUFF OUT HERE AND GETTING A LOT OF TV TIME AND CREATING A GAP THAT IS QUITE SURPRISING TO HAVE SO EARLY ON IN THE RACE.

LET'S TAKE YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE TEAMS AND RIDERS IN THE RACE AND SOME OF THE NAMES TO LOOK FOR AS THE MORNING UNFOLDS.

>> WE HAVE... SHE ACTUALLY WON THE ACADEMY IN 2020.

TIFF CROMWELL HAS BEEN IN THE SPORT FOR MANY YEARS, EXCELLENT NOT ONLY ON THE ROAD BUT ALSO IN GRAVEL.

AND SHE IS FROM POLAND, SHE IS A LITTLE POWER HOUSE OF THE TEAM.

WE HAVE A GERMAN TEAM ON THE WOMEN'S WORLD TOUR.

SHE IS AN EXCELLENT SPRINTER, MARTA SHE HAS A GOOD POWER AND GOOD PUNCH, TOO.

SO THIS TEAM IS DEFINITELY ONE TO BE WATCHING OUT FOR.

AND EF EDUCATION, VERONICA, THE AMERICAN CYCLING STAR, ALLISON JACKSON, THE CURRENT CANADIAN CHAMPION HAS ALSO WON, SHE IS A BIG FAN OF THE COBBLES AND WILL LOVE THE COBBLE SECTIONS.

A YOUNGER CANADIAN RIDER EF, YOU HAVE CHLOE PATRICK, SHE WAS SECOND IN THE IRISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

>> AND NOW THE RIDERS ARE GOING THROUGH MONUMENT PARK, BACK ON TOE A BRIEF SECTION OF COBBLES.

THE FIRST EVER MONUMENT TO GEORGE WASHINGTON IS LOCATED HERE.

A VERY HISTORIC AREA THAT IS CONTINUING TO TREND SLIGHTLY UPHILL.

THIS ENTIRE FIRST SECTION OF THE LAP WHERE THEY ARE HEADING SOUTH TO NORTH, TO REACH THE FURTHEST PART NORTH ON THE COURSE.

IT'S JUST A SLOW DRAG UPHILL FOR THE MOST PART NOTHING TOO SERIOUS UNTIL YOU GET TO THE SIGNATURE CLAIM AT THE FAR NORTH END BUT THEY'LL MAKE THE TURN AND HEAD BACK DOWN SOUTH AND LARGELY DOWNHILL THE REST OF THE WAY BACK TOWARD THE END OF THE LAP.

>> IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY NAVIGATING THOSE COBBLES SAFELY BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN FROM SOME OF THE RIDERS THAT THEY WERE A LITTLINGS BIT QUOTE UNQUOTE SKETCHY.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE RACE ENVIRONMENT, THEY'RE NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL BUT THEY DO ADD ANOTHER ELEMENT OF EXCITEMENT.

SO WE SEE THE PELOTON STRETCHING OUT.

THERE ARE SOME RIDERS UP AT THE FRONT LEADING THE CHASE.

SOME RIDERS AT THE BACK, TOO, GETTING A LITTLE BIT STRUNG OFF.

THEY'RE NOT SUFFERING, THEY'RE NOT IN TROUBLE.

JUST TAKING A CHILL, TAKING A RELAX AT THIS POINT.

PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO STAY CALM AND SAVE AS MUCH PHYSICAL ENERGY AS THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE EMOTION OLE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ENERGY.

THAT CAN ACTUALLY DRAIN YOU.

>> YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME STRESSING DURING THE COURSE OF A RACE, DON'T YOU?

EVERYBODY THINKS ABOUT THE PHYSICAL TOLL BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER TACTICS, YOUR TEAMMATES, OPPOSITION, WHERE EVERYBODY IS IN THE RACE.

THERE IS A LOT THAT IS GOING UP AND GOING ON IN YOUR HEAD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOMETIMES WHEN THE RIDERS ARE ANXIOUS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE BATTLING FOR POSITIONS AT THE FRONT OF THE PELOTON, WHEN IT MIGHT NOT BE NECESSARY TO FIGHT FOR THOSE LITTLE POSITION MOVES TO GET UP CLOSER TO THE FRONT.

I MEAN AT A POINT IN THE RACE LIKE THIS, IT'S TIP THEIR PRETTY OKAY TO SIT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BACK IN THE DRAFT AND SAVE SOME ENERGY.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S CONTINUE WORKING THROUGH.

>> WE HAVE VIRGINIA EASES BLUE RIDGE TWENTY9 TEAM, A TEAM THAT HAS PRODUCED A LOT OF AMERICAN OLYMPIANS.

KRISTIN ARMSTRONG WAS BEHIND THIS TEAM FOR A LONG TIME.

THE MEXICANS SOPHIA IS AN AMAZING TRACK RIDER.

SO THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A TEAM TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR.

WE HAVE AEGIS CYCLING FOUNDATION, WE JUST SAW EMMA LANGLEY OFF THE FRONT, VERY STRONG FORMER U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION, SHE IS DOING AMAZING STUFF OUT ON THE GRAVEL AND YOUNGER RIDERS, TOO.

KYLEE AND CARA AND MELISSA.

CCB SLT PB, WE HAVE CASSIDY, LIZZY SABRINA.

THIS IS AN AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE EUROPEANS ARE NOT USED TO THIS ROSTER, SEEING THESE RIDERS, NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.

THIS IS GOING TO ADD TO SOME OF THE EXCITEMENT AND THE ELEMENT OF UNKNOWN IN THE PELOTON AMONGST THE RIDERS.

SO WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE THEM HERE.

FEARLESS FEMME RACING BY PB ROBERT.

THIS IS WHERE BRYONE BOTHA IS RACING.

WE HAVE ODETTE LYNCH, PAOLA AND ERICA AND EMILY.

EMILY HAS BEEN RACING FOR TIME.

A POWER HOUSE ON THE ROAD.

FOUNT CYCLING GUILD IS AN INTERESTING ORGANIZATION THAT AIMS TO DEVELOP RIDERS AND THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AT THAT.

ANDREA CY R IS A DOCTOR AND PRO-CYCLIST.

ELIZABETH DIXON, MINORI AND ELLEXI SNOVER.

>> IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE THESE RIDERS WITH OTHER OCCUPATIONS.

>> YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED TO THE EXTENT THE RIDERS HAVE HAD SUCCESS OFF THE BIKE.

LEGION OF LOS ANGELES AND BENIN NATIONAL TEAM COMING FROM WEST AFRICA.

THIS IS A HUGE DEAL.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A TEAM HAS COME ALL THE WAY FROM AFRICA TO RACE A UCI EVENT ON AMERICAN SOIL.

THIS IS REALLY EXCITING FOR THESE RIDERS.

THEY'RE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE AT A BRAND NEW LEVEL AND BRAND NEW PLACE.

MILL TON REVOLUTION RACING, DEVELOPMENT TEAM FROM CANADA, ANOTHER REALLY AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR CANADIAN YOUNG RIDERS TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO RACE AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL AND BE IN THE MIX WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FIELD.

PATOBIKE BMC IS A TEAM FROM MEXICO, THEY CAME BACK FROM GUATEMALA WHERE THEY WON THE TOUR OF GRAT GRAT.

STRONG ROSTER HERE AND THE U.S. NATIONAL TEAM, KEN NAH PFEIFFER, MIA, CAROLINE AND ARIA, THEY'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE AND FLY THE AMERICAN COLORS IN FRONT OF THE HOME CROWDS OF BALTIMORE AND FINALLY CIRCLEY ERASING, ANNIE SCOTT, EMILY, SCHUYLER, JULIE, WHITNEY, AND RAYLAN STROUD UP FROM CANADA.

>> SO NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER RIDER ATTACKING OFF THE FRONTIER.

>> THIS IS A RIDER FROM FEARLESS FEMME, EMILY NEWSOME.

TALK ABOUT RIDERS WITH AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND.

SHE HAS A MASTERS IN PIANO MUSIC.

SHE IS VERY MULTITALENTED.

SHE SHINES QUITE A BIT ON THE GRAVEL SCENE, FORMER MEMBER OF THE EF PRO-CYCLING TEAM AND RACING AS A PART OF FEARLESS FEMME.

SO EMILY IS A TIME TRIAL AND BREAKAWAY SPECIALIST SO IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME TO SEE HER OFF THE FRONT AND AWAY FROM THE FIELD RIGHT NOW.

SHE IS ACTUALLY QUITE A STRONG THREAT AND IF SHE CAN GET SOME RIDERS WORKING WITH HER, SHE IS ONE OF THE ATHLETES IN THIS PELOTON THAT COULD STAY AWAY.

>> AND CHECKING OVER HER SHOULDER TO SEE HOW FAR BACK THE REST OF THE GROUP IS, WHAT KIND OF GAP SHE MAY BE DEVELOPING.

THIS IS ALWAYS THAT EARLY PORTION OF THE RACE WHERE EVERYONE TRIES TO TAKE INVENTORY AND TAKE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE OTHER RIDERS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FORM THEY'RE IN.

AND APPARENTLY WE DO HAVE A RIDER DOWN ON THE COURSE.

LET'S TRY TO TAKE YOU BACK AND SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED A MOMENT AGO.

WATCH ON THE LEFT.

UNDER THE TREE.

>> SO THAT'S ANOTHER RIDER FROM THE FEARLESS FEMME TEAM.

NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

SHE MIGHT HAVE CLIPPED A PEDAL GOING TOO CLOSE TO THE CURB.

TOUGH TO TELL.

BUT SO HER TEAMMATES OFF THE FRONT, THEY ONLY HAVE FOUR RIDERS WITH THEM TODAY SO THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THAT TAKES-- HOPEFULLY IT WON'T TAKE THE RIDER OUT OF THE MIX.

HOPEFULLY SHE WILL BE ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE PELOTON.

WE'LL WILL HAVE TO SEE.

BUT EVERYBODY IS LOOKING PRETTY CALM RIGHT NOW.

LEGS ARE SPINNING.

NOBODY SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE IN TOO MUCH OF A HURRY TO ORGANIZE A CHASE TO BRING ANYBODY BACK.

PRETTY GOOD FOR EMILY OUT AT THE FRONT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THE PELOTON DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE TOO STRESSED OUT.

I KNOW EMILY BEEN PUTTING IN A GOOD EFFORT AND GOOD DIG TO STAY AWAY.

SHE IS THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO IS VERY STRONG.

A LOT OF PERSEVERANCE AND PERSIST PERSISTENCE AS WELL.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

>> AND NOW BACK TO THE VERY FRONT HERE.

AND WHILE WE HAVE A MOMENT, LET'S DIVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO THE BENIN WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM THAT TRAVELED A LONG WAY TO GET TO THIS RACE, FURTHER THAN ANYBODY ELSE BY FAR, COMING ALL THE WAY FROM WEST AFRICA.

THE FORMER FRENCH AFRICAN NATION BECAME A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC IN 1961 FIRINGS AFRICAN WOMEN'S TEAM TO COMPETE IN NORTH NORTH AMERICA FOR YOUNG RIDERS MAKING THE TRIP HERE WITH THEIR CURRENT NATIONAL UNDER 23 AND ELITE RIDERS LEADING THE TEAM.

THE HEAD COACH, ADRIAN NIYONSHUTI AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO COMPETE IN A HIGH LEVEL RACE.

AS YOU SEE, THE HEAD COACH, A TREMENDOUS STORY JUST HIMSELF SURVIVED THE ROW WAN DAN GENOCIDE,-- ROE V. WADE ROW WANDA GENOCIDE AND LOST SO MANY FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEY FOCUSED ON GROWING THE SPORT OF CYCLING IN RWANDA, EXPANDING TO SEVEN COUNTRIES IN WEST AFRICA AND EMPOWERING WOMEN'S CYCLING IN OPPORTUNITIES TRAINING AND RACING AND NOW LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS LATER THIS MONTH THAT WILL BE HELD IN RWANDA, THE FIRST EVER WORLDS IN AFRICA.

SO THIS IS A HIGH WATER MARK IN THE SPORT FOR AFRICA CYCLING AND FOR THIS BENIN WOMEN'S TEAM RACING AT THIS PRESTIGIOUS EVENT HERE IN BALTIMORE TODAY.

WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM AND HOW GREAT IT IS FOR THE SPORT.

>> THIS IS AWESOME FOR THE SPORT OF CYCLING.

IT'S MORE AND MORE INTERNATIONAL.

IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY IT'S SO AWESOME TO HAVE AN AN A RACE OF THIS CALIBER IN THE UNITED STATES.

CYCLING IS NOT JUST CONCENTRATED WITHIN EUROPE ANYMORE.

WE ARE SEEING IT COULDN'T CONTINUE TO GROW IN NORTH AMERICA AND TO HAVE IT ALSO GROW IN AFRICA IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THE RIDERS FROM BENIN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RACE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WHEN I THINK BACK TO MY STARTS IN CYCLING, THE FIRST RACES THAT I HAD WHERE I WAS RACING AGAINST AND WITH AN INTERNATIONAL PELOTON, REALLY SET THE TONE FOR ME IN MY MIND ABOUT WHAT I COULD DREAM AND ASPIRE TO.

>> STILL ON THE FIRST OF FOUR LAPS HERE IN THE WOMEN'S RACE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, WITH JUST OVER 60 MILES LEFT TO GO.

UPHILL BUT NOTHING TOO DIFFICULT.

IT'S INTERESTING, LEX, IN A RACE LIKE THIS, THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO SKIN A CAT.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT DYNAMICS THAT COULD PLAY OUT, STRATEGIES TO EMPLOY.

IF YOU WERE MANAGING ONE OF THESE TEAMS, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR SET OF TACTICS... WE HAVE BEEN RACING INTO YOUR LIVING ROOM SINCE 1981.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR AND THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE NOW ON THE CORING'S.

THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, WHERE WE ARE STARTED AND WHERE THE LAP WILL END.

AND THIS IS THE FURTHEST NORTH THEY WILL GO ON THIS CIRCUIT OF 18 MILES.

SO THIS IS AS FAR NORTH AS YOU GET.

QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN POINT.

COMING UP.

AND AGAIN THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS WILL GO THREE PLACES TO DEEP.

FOUR POINTS FOR THE FIRST ONE ACROSS, TWO POINTS FOR SECOND, ONE POINT FOR THIRD AND QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY AWARDED AT THE END OF THE RACE.

>> SO IT LOOKS LIKE EMILY NEWSOME OFF THE FRONT IS GOING TO PICK FULL QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS HERE, ALL FOUR OF THEM IF SHE DOES MAINTAIN THAT GAP GOING ACROSS THE LINE.

LET'S SEE IF THE PELOTON SWALLOWS HER UP BEFORE THEY GET TO THE LINE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE PULLING EMILY BACK.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE IF EMILY HAS A TEAMMATE WHO WILL TRY TO JUMP OUT OF THE PACK AND GO FOR THE APPOINTS.

>> NOW SOMEONE ATTACKING FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS.

>> WE HAVE A RIDER FROM EF EDUCATION-OATLY GOING FOR THE QOAN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS AND LAUREN STEVENS FROM AEGIS CYCLING ON HER ALMOST ON HER WHEEL.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A RIDER FROM CANYON LOOKS LIKE SHE IS TAKING THIRD PLACE THERE.

>> ALLISON JACKSON, MULTI-TIME U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION AND SO THOSE ARE THE THREE RIDERS THAT WILL TAKE THE POINTS 4, 2 AND 1.

AND THEY WILL DO THIS THREE MORE TIMES AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR LAPS SO YOU ARE HITTING THE HIGH POINT OF THE COURSE AND AS THEY MAKE THIS TURN, IT SLOWLY GRADUALLY DOWNHILL, FALSE FLAT AT THE TOP BUT THEN NOW AS YOU GO NORTH TO SOUTH, BACK DOWN TOWARDS THE INNER HARBOR TOWARD CENTRAL BALTIMORE WHERE THE RACE STARTED A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

GRADUALLY DOWNHILL.

SO SOMETHING TO WATCH OUT FOR AS WE GET LATER INTO THE RACE.

JUST HOW FAST THIS PORTION OF THE COURSE WILL BE.

AS THEY GEAR UP FOR THE FINISH.

SINGLE FILE HERE WHICH IS TYPICAL AFTER YOU GO OVER THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THE PACE IS HIGH ALREADY.

RIDERS TEND TO KEEP GOING.

THE ONES ON THE FRONT TRY TO STAY ON THE PEDALS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, STRING OUT THE FIELD.

IF YOU CROSS THE LINE IF YOU CROSS THE LINE AND THE PELOTON IS RACING DOWNHILL, YOU HAVE TO DO A LITTLE CATCHING UP AND TO CATCH UP AND BRIDGE THE GAP WHEN THE SPEEDS ARE HIGH IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY REASONS AND ONE OF THEM IS AERODYNAMICS AND PHYSICS, THE FASTER YOU ARE GOING, THE MORE IMPORTANT AERODYNAMICS ARE AND SITTING IN THE DRAFT TO SAVE ENERGY SO A GROUP THAT IS RIDING TOGETHER, THEY CAN GO MUCH, MUCH FASTER DOWNHILL AND IF YOU ARE OUT AND HAVE A GAP BETWEEN YOU AND THE RIDERS IN FRONT, YOU ARE GOING HAVE TO WORK MUCH HARDER TO CLOSE THE GAP THAN YOU WOULD OUT ON THE FLATTS.

>> SO, WE HAVE HAD TWO INDIVIDUAL RIDERS OFF THE FRONT SO FAR ON THIS FIRST LAP.

BOTH HAVE BEEN CAUGHT, THE FIELD IS TOGETHER JUST SOUTH OF 60 MILES LEFT TO GO OVERALL BUT THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR LAPS OF AN 18-MILE COURSE.

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY NORMAL TO SEE THE RIDERS DIDN'T STAY OFF THE FRONT.

I THINK THAT TEAMS ARE JUST TESTING THE WATERS HERE, CHECKING OUT HOW THE REST OF THE PELOTON IS GOING TO REACT.

IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THE RIDERS ARE PRETTY CALM.

THERE IS NOT REALLY A SENSE OF URGENCY OR ANYBODY THAT'S TRYING SUPER HARD TO NEW YORK STATE A-- INITIATE A BREAK THAT WILL STICK.

THAT IS PRETTY NORMAL BECAUSE IT'S EARLY IN THE RACE.

I EXPECT THE SERIOUS ATTACKS TO HAPPEN ON THE SECOND AND ESPECIALLY THE THIRD LAP.

>> GOING THROUGH A VERY BEAUTIFUL LEVY NEIGHBORHOOD HERE WITH-- LEAFE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE AND THE COURSE HAS CHANGED FROM YEARS PAST WHEN THE MEN WERE EXCLUSIVELY RACING AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

BALTIMORE IS SUCH A CITY OF GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS OVERALL, AND THE RACE ORGANIZERS THIS YEAR WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FAMOUS AND BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT THAT WILL HOST THE START AND THE FINISH FOR THE WOMEN AND MEN, BUT ALSO GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ILLUSTRATE THE STORY OF THE CITY'S RICH HISTORY , BLENDING THE OLD, THE NEW OF ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST DIVERSE CITIES OVERALL.

AND SO YOU SEE, SO MUCH OF THAT HERE ON EVERY LAP AND WITH THIS CIRCUIT, YOU SEE THE HISTORIC HOMES, YOU SEE THE TREE LINED AVENUES.

YOU SEE THE SHOPS, THE RESTAURANTS, THE WATER.

SO MUCH ON DISPLAY HERE.

LIKE A POSTCARD OF BALTIMORE.

AND THE EASTERN SEA BOARD.

>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE NOW WE HAVE A RIDER FROM CANYON VAM AFTER THE FRONT, CANYON SO SHE HAS GOA GOOD LITTLE GAP UP THERE.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

LET'S SEE WHAT EVERYBODY CHOOSES TO DO.

>> HENRIETTA KRISTY, MELISSA ROLLINS AND ANDREIA GOT THE POINTS AT THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THAT WAS JUST A SHORT TIME AGO.

AGAIN THE HIGH POINT OF THE COURSE.

>> OKAY, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A SANISTA RIDER OFF THE FRONT.

KAYLA DAVIS.

A YOUNG RIDER VERY STRONG.

THIS IS TRYING TO PUT THINGS IN THE MIX.

WE HAVE ANOTHER RIDER DOWN, A COUPLE RIDERS DOWN.

NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENS HERE-- WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

A YOUNG RIDER FROM THE MILTON REVENUES-- REVOLUTION TEAM AND ANOTHER RIDER FROM THE FOUNT TEAM.

>> SECOND AND THIRD RIDERS.

IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

>> I WONDER IF SHE HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD.

IT IS WHAT I LIKE TO CALL PAVEMENT WITH CHARACTER.

>> ELLEN BAKER WENT DOWN FIRST IN THE RED AND BLACK.

THAT LOOKS LIKE IT HURT.

AND THEN THE BIKES ARE TANGLED UP HERE.

YOU WILL SEE THE TEAM MECHANICS COME OUT.

A NEUTRAL SUPPORT MOTOR RIDER, THEY'RE HELPING AND THE TEAM MECHANICS GETTING THE RIDERS BACK ON THEIR BIKES.

LET'S SEE IF SHE CAN GET BACK ON THERE QUICK ENOUGH TO JUMP IN THE DRAFT OF THE CAR AND GET BROUGHT BACK TO THE PELOTON.

>> DYLAN BAKER WAITING TO GET BACK ON HER BIKE, PART OF AN ALL CANADIAN TEAM.

SIX CANADIAN RIDERS ON THIS MILTON SQUAD.

THE ACTION OFF THE FRONT.

ONE RIDER ATTACKING ON THE DOWNHILL SECTION.

THE THIRD RIDER WHO MADE A MOVE OFF THE FRONT.

WE HAVE SEEN THREE INDIVIDUAL SOLO EFFORTS BUT NO GROUP HAS MADE ITS WAY TOWARDS THE FRONT WITH ANY KIND OF GAP TO THE PELOTON.

AND YOU MENTION THE PAVEMENT.

IT IS IMPERFECT IN A LOT OF SECTIONS BUT THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO CYCLING.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO IN THE U.S., EUROPE, THE REST OF THE WORLD, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FIND PERFECT PAVEMENT EXCEPT IN SECTIONS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THESE RIDERS TYPICALLY DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME.

I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE ARE 20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN THIS RACE TODAY.

CHECK OUT WHERE THEY HAVE ALL COME FROM.

IT IS A GLOBAL SPORT, DRAWING RIDERS IN FROM AROUND THE PLANETS AND THEY'VE ALL DESCENDED ON A BALTIMORE MARYLAND HERE TODAY FOR THIS ONE-DAY EVENT, THE FIRST EVER WOMEN'S EDITION OF THE MARYLAND CLAXZ.

THE MEN'S RACE WILL HAVE THEIR THIRD EDITION COMING UP THIS AFTERNOON.

>> I WAS TALKING TO THE C.E.O.

OF USA CYCLING AND HE MENTIONED THAT HE REALLY BELIEVES THAT THE BEST BIKE RACERS IN THE WORLD WANT TO RACE IN THE USA.

YOU KNOW, THEY LOVE IT HERE.

AND THE FACT THAT SO MANY UCI POINTS ARE ON OFFER MEANS THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD REASON TO TRAVEL FROM EUROPE.

A PERFECT SETUP FOR THEM AND CHECK OUT THE PERFECT COURSE THEY GET TO RACE ON, TOO.

KAYLA DAVIS NUMBER 65 FROM SANISTA CYCLING.

THE THE SHE WAS OUT OF SIGHT FOR THE DOWNHILL SECTION HELPED HER MAINTAIN THE GAP IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER AT THAT POINT WHERE THE PELOTON IS, YOU WANT TO MAIN A TIME TRIAL PACE ESSENTIALLY, NOT GO TOO HARD.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BURN TOO MANY MATCHES WHETHER YOU GET BROUGHT BACK OR NOT, THE REST OF THE RACE IS VERY LONG BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO MAINTAIN A SOLID PACE.

ONE-- ONCE THE GAP IS OPENED UP, ALL HAVE YOU TO DO ESSENTIALLY IS RIDE AT THE SAME SPEED THE PELOTON IS RIDING AT AND YOU CAN MAINTAIN THE GAP, AND IF YOU CAN MAKE IT STRETCH UP A LITTLE MORE, EVEN BETTER.

>> KAYLA DAVIS AT THE FRONT TIER STILL ON THE FIRST LAP OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

WELL, LEX, WITH A COURSE LIKE THIS AND THE TYPE OF FIELD WE HAVE, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE PELOTON, AND WHEN THEY WATCH A BREAK GO UP THE ROAD, WHAT IS KIND OF TIME GAP THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITHDREW THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

HOW BIG OF A GAP WOULD THEY LET A RIDER OR GROUP GET BEFORE THEY START TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> IT DEPENDS ON NUMBERS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN A BREAKAWAY.

AT THIS POINT IN THE RACE SO EARLY ON WITHIN THE FIRST LAP, BECAUSE A RIDER IS SOLE LOW, THE PACK-- SOLO, THE PACK WON'T BE STRESSED OUT UNTIL IT IS OVER FIVE MINUTES BUT YOU CAN SEE SOME RIDERS TRYING TO BRIDGE ACROSS AND JOIN THE RIDER OFF THE FRONT AND WORK TOGETHER.

AT THAT POINT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE RIDERS FROM THE SAME% TEAM WITHIN THE BREAKAWAY WHO CAN WORK TOGETHER, THAT MIGHT START MAKING THE PELOTON A LITTLE BIT MORE NERVOUS AND ONCE THE BREAK GETS UP TO OVER A MINUTE OR AROUND TWO MINUTES, MAYBE MORE, THEN THE TEAM OR THE PELOTON IS REALLY GOING TO START TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO BRING THEM BACK.

BUT EARLY ON IN THE RACE, THERE IS DEFINITELY LESS PRESSURE THAN LATER.

THE PELOTON RIDERS ARE ESSENTIALLY SPENDING QUITE A BIT LESS ENERGY BECAUSE OF THE DRAFT EFFECT THAN THE RIDERS OUT FRONT, SO IF YOU LET A RIDER HANG OUT THERE LONG ENOUGH, THEY'RE GOING TO END UP EMPTYING THE TANK AT SOME POINT.

>> SO THAT IS CHLOE PATRICK NUMBER 61 THERE COMING UP ALONGSIDE KALEY HANEL.

>> THIS IS RATE GOOD FOR CYNISCA.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE HAVING A COUPLE OF YOUR OWN RIDERS WITHIN THE BREAKAWAY AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NUMBERS IN THE BREAK AWAY, IT'S NOT JUST THE FINITE NUMBERS BUT THE RATIO SO RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE THE MAJORITY OF RIDERS OUT THER.

>> WE CONTINUE FROM BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

THIS FIRST EVER WOMEN'S EDITION OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC ON A WARM SATURDAY.

LEAVING THE INNER HARBOR AND NOW HEADED BACK TOWARDS CENTRAL BALTIMORE AFTER GOING TO THE HIGH POINT ON THE COURSE, THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN SECTION.

FIRST OF FOUR LAPS OF THE WOMEN'S RACE.

THE MEN WILL TAKE TO THE ROADS LATER ON TODAY.

THIS IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SINGLE DAY OF PROFESSIONAL RACING ALL YEAR LONG IN THE U.S.

HE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC HAS PLACED ITS SIGNATURE ON THE SPORT AND BALTIMORE IS A TERRIFIC HOST.

THIS CITY HAS REALLY COME A LONG WAY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THE CULTURE, THE COMMUNITY, THE SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL HAS EVOLVED SO MUCH AND NOW PLAYING HOST TO ANOTHER TREMENDOUS SPORTING EVENT IN A CITY OF GREAT SPORTS.

YOU'VE GOT, OF COURSE, THE BALTIMORE RAVENS KICKING OFF THEIR NFL SEASON TOMORROW AGAINST THE BUFFALO BILLS.

YOU HAVE THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES HOSTING THE L.A. DODGERS JUST DOWN THE ROAD AT CAMDEN YARDS LATER ON TODAY AND THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC KICKING OFF THE DAY HERE IN THE STREETS OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

AND NOW THIS IS THE ACTION AT THE FRONT END OF THE FIELD.

PATRICK KANEL AND DAVIS WHO TRIED TO CREATE A GAP TO THE PELOTON LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE BEING BROUGHT BACK IN AND NOW SMALL GAPS SINGLE FILE AT THE FRONT BUT NO ONE HAS ESTABLISHED A MEANINGFUL GAP TO THE PELOTON AS OF YET, LEX.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WE SEE THE CYNISCA RIDERS TELLING EACH OTHER TO COOL DOWN AND CALM DOWN BECAUSE THE PACK IS RIGHT THERE.

IF YOU ATTACK TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO EMPTY YOUR TANK REAL QUICK AND HAVE NOTHING LEFT LATER ON IN THE RACE WHEN 3 THINGS START TO GET REALLY CRITICAL.

WE SEE A COUNTERATTACK HERE, EF EDUCATION-OATLY, LOTS OF FOLLOWING, SO THE SPEED IS PICKING UP AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE BACK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF BALTIMORE WHERE THE COURSE IS A LITTLE MORE TECHNICAL AND THE MORE TECHNICAL IT IS, THE TOUGHER IT IS FOR RIDERS TO MOVE UP SO IF YOU ARE ON THE FRONT AND ABLE TO STRING OUT THE PELOTON, YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S REALLY TOUGH FOR THE RIDERS OUT THE BACK AND MAYBE EVEN SHOVE SOME RIDERS OFF THE BACK.

THE SMALLER THE PELOTON IS, THE EASIER IT IS TO GET THE WIN.

>> TAYLOR TOMPKINS AT THE VERY BACK COMING BACK IN TOWARDS THE INNER HARBOR NOW AND SOMETHING TO LOOK FOR AT THE END OF EVERY LAP AND ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF THE RACE ITSELF, WITH JUST ABOUT 2K LEFT TO GO TO THAT FINISH LINE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL TURNS.

ONE OF THE TURNS HERE AND WITH LESS THAN 1K TO GO, JUST OVER HALF A MILE, YOU'VE GOT THREE 90° CORNERS THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND THEN IT'S A LONG STRAIGHT FLAT RUN-IN FROM THERE TO THE FINISH OF SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS.

SO ONCE YOU NAVIGATE THOSE FINAL THREE 90-DEGREE CORNERS INSIDE OF THE FINAL 3A IT IS FLAT TO THE FINISH AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE TEM CORNERS RIGHT NOW AS THEY'RE BACK DOWN IN THE INNER HARBOR HEADED TOWARD THE END OF LAP NUMBER 1.

>> ESSENTIALLY MOST OF THESE RIDERS ARE TAKING THIS FIRST TIME THROUGH THE FINISH LINE AS A PRACTICE.

THEY'RE GETTING THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TEST THE CORNERS AT RACE SPEED.

THEY'VE PROBABLY STUDIED THE FINISH AND RIDDEN THE LAST SECTION OF IT A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE RACE BUT THE ROADS WERE NOT SHUT DOWN AND IT'S NOT THE SAME WHEN YOU RACE IT IN TRAFFIC AND FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD VERSUS WHEN YOU ARE RACING IT IN A RACE SETTING SO THOSE LAST CORNERS, NAVIGATING THEM ARE GOING TO BE CRUCIAL AT THE END OF THE RACE.

AND EVERY LAP PRACTICING AND FIGURING, THIS IS THE BEST LINE OR THIS IS WHERE I NEED TO BE POSITIONED.

>> AND NOW THEY'RE COMING TO THE END OF LAP NUMBER 1.

>> ONE LAP DOWN, THREE LEFT TO GO AS THEY JUST WENT THROUGH WHAT WILL BE THE FINISH OF THE RACE LATER ON.

AND NOW EVERY TIME THEY COME THROUGH FOR THESE FINAL THREE LAPS, THE FINISH LINE AREA WHERE YOU SAW THE BANNER, A SECTION WHERE THEY WILL SPRINT FOR POINTS LIKE AT THE DID AT QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS.

NO SPRINT POINTS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE FIRST LAP BUT EVERY TIME THROUGH FROM NOW TO THE FINISH, THEY WILL BE SPRINTING FOR POINTS THE REST OF THE WAY.

>> WE SEE THOSE TWO RIDERS THAT CRASHED EARLIER ON FROM THE MILTON TEAM AND FOUNT TEAM BEHIND THEIR TEAM CARS.

WE GOT A SHOT OF THAT EARLIER.

THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY BACK.

AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE NEXT TIME THEY COME THROUGH THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, THIS TIME THAT WE JUST SAW WAS ESSENTIALLY LIKE A PRACTICE.

AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MINI FINISH EVERY SINGLE TIME SO RIDERS ARE GOING TO BE SPRINTING FOR THE SPRINT APPOINTS AND SPEEDS WILL BE EVEN HIGHER.

NOW THEY'RE NAVIGATING THROUGH THE COBBLES.

FUN FACT, STEVE.

IN BALTIMORE THEY CALL THESE COBBLES BELGIUM HIVE BLOCKS, THE COURSE DESIGNER TOLD ME ABOUT THAT.

IT'S A TERM THAT THEY USE IN BALTIMORE.

>> A COLORFUL SEMANTIC SIS TINGES, I-- DISTINCTION, I GUESS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT THE TYPICAL PAVERS YOU SEE SOMETIMES IN THE U.S. THAT ARE SMOOTH.

THESE ARE LEGIT COBBLES LIKE YOU WOULD SEE IN EUROPE FROM THE 18th CENTURY.

THEY'RE UNEVEN, THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.

IT'S BUMPY.

THEY HAVE BEEN CHIPPED AWAY OVER THE YEARS.

SO THE COBBLES HERE ARE NOT THAT LONG, ONLY ABOUT 500 METERS, BUT WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THEM LATER ON AT HIGHER SPEEDS, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY MIGHT DO TO THE BIKE, TO THE RIDER, IF YOU ARE RIDING NEXT TO SOMEBODY, DOES IT THROW YOU OFF LINE?

YOU JUST GOT TO BE ATTENTIVE.

>> AND THERE IS A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE TO RIDING AND NAVIGATING THE COBBLES, TOO.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO KEEP A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE PEDALS AND EVEN WHEN YOU FEEL THE PRESSURE IS NOT TRANSFERRING AND DRIVING YOU FORWARD, YOU CAN'T GIVE UP AND YOU HAVE TO BE UNRELENTING.

THE TRICK IS TO STAY ON A BIG GEAR, PUSH REALLY HARD, DON'T GIVE UP AND GO STRAIGHT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

>> THIS IS THE HEART OF THE COBBLES RIGHT NOW.

THESE RIDERS ARE A LOT MORE USE TO RIDING THE COBBLES, ESPECIALLY IN A SPRINT CLASSIC OVER IN EUROPE.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY INTIMIDATED BY THEM LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER RIDERS WHO TEND TO RACE MORE IN NORTH AMERICA MIGHT BE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO THE RIDERS JUST GOING THROUGH THE COBBLES AND WHILE WE HAVE A MOMENT, LET'S SEND YOU OUT TOTE COURSE WITH THE THIRDS MEMBER OF OUR GROUP.

>> JUST LIKE I THOUGHT, EF IS ON THE FRONT.

EF EDUCATION ON THE FRONT, ON THE PAVE, CAUSING GAPS ALL THROUGH THE PELOTON RIGHT NOW.

THIS PAVE IS REALLY BAD.

BOTTLES ARE FLYING, GAPS ARE OPENING UP.

RIDERS ARE STRUGGLING TO GET THEMSELVES ACROSS THE PAVE, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE FASTEST LINE THROUGH HERE AND AS THEY RIP THROUGH BAY WAY THROUGH HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THIS IS A GOOD ONE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

>> IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I WAS RIDING THROUGH IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE.

THE COBBLES ARE MAKING SOME OF THE RIDERS ESPECIALLY AT THE BACK SUFFER AND STRUGGLE AND IT REALLY PUTS THE DIFFERENT RIDING STYLES INTO PERSPECTIVE SO WE REALLY SEE THE STRONGER RIDERS WITH MORE EXPERIENCE ON THE COBBLES UP TOWARDS THE FRONT.

>> THEY'RE ON THE SECOND OF FOUR LAPS NOW.

AND AS THEY CAME THROUGH THE START-FINISH AREA, THERE WAS A CRASH AT THE BACK OF THE PELOTON.

OUR THIRD OF THE DAY SO FAR.

LET'S TAKE YOU BACK DOWN AND SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN AND TWO RIDERS TOUCHING WHEELS.

>> OH GOSH, THAT'S EMILY NEWSOME WHO WENT DOWN AND A RIDER FROM CANYON-SRAM.

THAT'S TOO BAD, EMILY NEWSOME WAS HEAD OF THE PELOTON FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

IF THEY'RE OKAY, THESE RIDERS WON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TROUBLE GETTING BACK TO THE PACK.

THEY'RE USED TO USING THEIR TEAM CARS TO GET BACK TO A PELOTON AFTER A MISHAP.

TOO BAD THEY WENT DOWN.

NEVER FUN TO HIT THE PAVEMENT.

>> THREE CRASHES IN JUST OVER ONE LAP IN THE WOMEN'S RACE.

AN AMERICAN GOING OFF THE FRONT HERE AND THIS IS LAP TWO OF FOUR.

LEX, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RIDERS WILL HAVE LEARNED FROM THE FIRST LAP?

THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE REALLY SEEN IT AT RACE SPEED.

>> THEY GET TO FEEL IT IN THEIR LEGS AND THEY GET AN APPRECIATION OF WHERE IT'S HARD AND WHERE MAYBE THEY SAW AREAS THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE TOUGH , BUT THEY MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BE SO TOUGH.

AND THEY ALSO HAVE A BIT OF AN APPRECIATION AS TO WHERE BRAKES MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING IF THEY GO AND WHERE BRAKE MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER CHANCE OF BEING ABLE TO BRAKE BACK IN.

IF YOU ATTACK RIGHT BEFORE A DOWNHILL, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO STAY AWAY BUT IF YOU ATTACK BEFORE A TECHNICAL SECTION OR BEFORE A REALLY DIFFICULT STEEP UPHILL, THEN IT'S A BETTER CHANCE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO STAY AWAY AND MAINTAIN THAT GAP.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO LAUNCHING SOME BREAKAWAYS IN A RACE LIKE THIS, IS THERE ANY CONVERSATION AHEAD OF TIME AMONGST TEAMMATES OR ANYONE IN THE PELOTON ABOUT GOING TOGETHER?

OR IS IT MORE JUST MAKE A MOVE, WATCH THE REACTION.

AND IF YOU ARE IN THE PELOTON, JUST TO REACT TO WHAT YOU SEE.

HOW MUCH STRATEGY AND PREPLANNING MIGHT GO INTO IT ONCE THE RIDERS ARE OUT HERE ON THE ROAD LIKE THIS?

EATS A MIX.

RIDERS ARE GOING TO DISCUSS BEFORE THE RACE WHAT THE TEAM STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE BUT EVERY SINGLE TEAM HAS ITS OWN STRATEGY SO MAYBE YOUR STRATEGY GETS THROWN OUT THE WINDOW IF IT DOESN'T FIT WITH WHAT ANOTHER TEAM IS DOING OR YOU HAVE TO REACT.

THEY'LL TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE.

>> THEY'RE GOING THROUGH ONE OF THE OLDEST URBAN PARKS IN THE COUNTRY.

PATTERSON PARK WILL BE COMING UP SHORTLY.

YOU KNOW THAT RIDERS OF THE SAME TEAM WILL BE RIDING CLOSE TOGETHER.

THEY WILL BE SPEAKING BETWEEN EACH OTHER AND THEY HAVE RACE TEAM DIRECTOR DRIVING THE CAR BACK IN THE CARAVAN IS GETTING INFORMATION FROM RACE RADIO, THE RIDERS ON THE MOTORCYCLES ABOUT TIME GAPS OR WHO IS IN THE BREAKAWAY.

AND THEN THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO INSTRUCT THEIR TEAMS AND THE RIDERS ON WHAT STRATEGIES TO EXECUTE AND WHEN.

SO IT JUST PROVIDES THEM A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION.

AND THEN THE MORE YOU RACE, THE MORE YOU JUST DEVELOP THIS INSTINCT ABOUT WHEN IT IS TIME TO REACT AND YOU KIND OF DEVELOP THIS SYNERGY WITH YOUR TEAMMATES AS WELL.

>> SO, PATTERSON PARK, PART OF ONE OF BALTIMORE'S OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS.

PART OF A CRUCIAL BATTLE GROUND.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY HERE AND WE ARE MAYBE HISTORY TODAY WIH THE INAUGURAL EDITION OF THE WOMEN'S MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THERE HAVE BEEN THREE EDITIONS FOR MEN'S SO FAR AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THERE IS A WOMEN'S RACE.

EXCELLENT THING FOR USA CYCLING AND IT'S SO AWESOME TO SEE TOP RIDERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND WE HAVE WORLD RECORD HOLDERS.

>> THE U.S.

CALLING FOR SOME SUPPORTS HERE AND THAT IS JAMIE CHAPMAN.

>> LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS A FLAT TIRE HERE.

SHE HAS HER RIGHT HAND UP.

IF YOU HAVE A REAR FLAT, USUALLY PUT YOUR HAND UP IN THE AIR SO YOUR SUPPORT VEHICLE KNOWS WHICH WHEEL TO JUMP OUT WITH.

THAT'S THE TEAM MECHANIC THERE.

ADRIAN HEADERMAN.

>> JAMIE CHAPMAN VERY POISED AND THIS IS KIND OF BUSINESS AS USUAL.

IT HAPPENS A LOT AND THE MECHANICS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY GET OUT.

A QUICK TIRE CHANGE, THE RIDER DOESN'T PANIC AND REALLY YOU DON'T LOSE ALL THAT MUCH TIME IF IT IS DONE RIGHT.

>> IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE TO DO A WHEEL CHANGE LIKE THIS AT THIS RACE AND FOR THESE RIDERS.

HER MECHANIC THERE, HE HAS GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE SPORT AND WORKING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND EVEN THE WOMEN'S TOUR DE FRANCE FOR MANY, WM YEARS, SO THEY DID THAT WHEEL CHANGE VERY SMOOTHLY.

SHE IS GOING TO RIDE NICE AND CALMLY BACK THROUGH THE CARAVAN.

GOOD TIMING THROUGH THE FEED ZONE BECAUSE TIP THEIR THINGS SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE RIDERS ARE FOCUSED ON GRABBING BOTTLES IF THEY NEED THEM.

SO SHE WILL USE THE DRAFT OF THE TEAM CARS WHICH IS TOTALLY LEGAL AND ALLOWED TO GET BACK.

>> YOU SEE HER GETTING RIGHT BEHIND THE CAR HERE AND THAT WILL HELP.

>> SITTING IN THE BUMPER THERE AND HER TEAM DIRECTOR WHO IS DRIVING.

SHE IS GOING TO BE LOOKING BACK IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR A BIT TO MAKE SURE THE GAP IS THE PERFECT DISTANCE SO SHE WILL GET A GOOD DRAFT.

>> JAMIE DHAPMAN WORKING HER WAY BACK TO THE PELOTON AFTER A FLAT TIRE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

IN L IS THIS STRATEGY THE RIDERS ARE CARRYING IS AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO GO BACK TO THE RACE CARAVAN AND GRAB BOTTLES AND FOOD.

THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH STRESS ABOUT CARRYING TOO MUCH WEIGHT.

>> PATTERSON PARK, AND SOME PICKING UP BOTTLES.

IT IS RELATIVELY WARM.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE LATER TODAY SHOULD TAKE IT UP TO THE MID 80s.

THAT WILL BE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT THE MEN WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

FOR THE WOMEN'S RACE, HIGH TEMPERATURE SHOULD BE RIGHT AROUND 80°.

STILL WARM, IT IS HUMID IN BALTIMORE.

EARLY SEPTEMBER, SO YOU REALLY HAVEN'T HAD THE FALL TEMPERATURES SETTLE IN YET.

THEY DO GET SOMEWHAT OF A BREAK.

IT WAS UP TO 90 YESTERDAY WITH FULL SUNSHINE.

VERY HOT AND HUMID.

SLIGHTLY LESS SO HERE TODAY BUT STILL WARM FOR BIKE RACING.

>> I THINK THEY LUCKED OUT WITH THE CONDITIONS HERE.

TEMPERATURES IN THE 80s IS PRETTY REASONABLE.

>> THERE ARE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST FOR THE MEN'S RACE LATER ON TODAY.

WE COULD SEE SOME GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL FORECAST TO ROLL IN AFTER 2 P.M. WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT DOES, IF IT, IN FACT, MATERIALIZES.

BUT FOR THE WOMEN, SHOULD BE DRY.

AND IS SUNNY, WARM AND HERE IS NOW JAMIE CHAPMAN AFTER THE FLAT TIRE GETTING ON BACK TO THE END OF THE MAIN FIELD.

NO HARM DONE.

AND SHE IS BACK IN THE PELOTON WITH JUST INSIDE 50 MILES LEFT TO RACE.

THE SECOND OF FOUR LAPS AROUND AN 18-MILE COURSE.

>> SO JAMIE CHAPMAN JUST REJOINED THE PELOTON.

SHE HAD A FLAT.

SHE IS SMOOTH, CALM AND COLLECTED THERE.

IT IS ACTUALLY PRETTY NICE WHEN YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR TEAM DIRECTOR WHO IS DRIVING THE CAR, WHEN YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE RACE MECHANIC WHO CALMLY CHANGES YOUR WHEEL OUT, YOU DON'T FEEL TOO STRESSED, ESPECIALLY AT THIS POINT IN THE RACE.

YOU TRY NOT TO SPEND TOO MUCHING ENERGY ON ANXIETY.

TAKE YOUR TIME GETTING BACK TO THE PELOTON AND WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, JUMP BACK IN AND GET INTO THE DRAFT.

SHE DID AN DISLEPT JOB.

SHE WASN'T TOO ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE BENIN CYCLING TEAM FROM WEST AFRICA AND NOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT JUST HOW THEY MADE THEIR WAY FROM AFRICA TO HERE IN BALTIMORE.

FIRST UP TO BRUSSELS BELGIUM AND THEN TRANS ATLANTIC ALL THE WAY PAST BALTIMORE OUT WEST TO DENVER, SO YOU LAND AT D.I.A.

AND MAKE YOUR WAY UP NORTH TO WYOMING WHERE THEY HAVE SUPPORTERS THAT HOSTED THEM FOR SOME TRAINING JUST ACCLAMATION AND BACK DOWN TO COLORADO FOR MORE TRAINING AND BACK TO BALTIMORE.

SO OVER 10,000 MILES OF TRAVEL ALL TOGETHER FROM THEIR HOME BASE IN AFRICA TO HERE IN BALTIMORE AND THEY'LL DO IT ALL AGAIN ONCE THIS RACE IS OVER.

SO THAT IS A ROAD TRIP AND THEN SOME FOR ONE DAY OF COMPETITION.

>> YEAH, AND YOU KNOW, THE COMPETITION IS THE REASON FOR THE TRIP AND IT ALSO IS JUST AS EXCITING TO DO THE TRAVEL IN AND OF ITSELF.

I MEAN MY FIRST TRIP TO AFRICA WAS BECAUSE OF BIKE RACING, TOO.

I HAVE BEEN IN THEIR SHOES IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM AND I CAN APPRECIATE HOW COOL IT IS TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL FOR BIKE RACING AND RACE WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE ESSENTIALLY MY PEERS.

>> AND IT'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, THE FIRST EVER RACE AT THIS LEVEL FOR THIS BENIN TEAM.

COMING A LONG WAY AND HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TODAY IN BALTIMORE AS WE HAVE AN EF RIDER OFF THE FRONT AND HERE ON THE SECOND LAP, MAY BE STILL A LITTLE EARLY TO GET SERIOUS BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT.

>> IT WAS AN INTERESTING SPOT TO TAKE A FLYER AFTER A DOWNHILL INTO A COUPLE OF TURNS.

SHE HAD A BIT OF A SLIGHT UPHILL.

A CHICANE AS WELL.

ROUGHER PAVEMENT AND THIS IS WHERE THE STEEP UPHILL PITCH IS TOWARD THE SECOND SMALL SET OF COBBLES WHICH SOME RIDERS WERE SAYING SEEM KIND OF SKETCHY TO RIDE ON SO IT'S ALWAYS GREATS TO ATTACK BEFORE PART OF THE COURSE THAT RIDERS MIGHT HESITATE A HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT CREATING A BIGGER GAP IF YOU ARE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE SECTIONS WITH CONFIDENCE AND YOU KNOW YOUR BIKE HANDLING SKILLS GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE.

>> GOING PAST THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

HENRIETTA, RIDER FROM NEW ZEALAND WHO WAS PART OF THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS BATTLE EARLIER AS SHE GOT THREE OF THE TOP PLACES THAT AWARDED HER POINTS: IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT SHE IS GOING FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY HERE IN THE RACE.

>> THE REALLY COOL THING ABOUT THIS TEAM IS THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS SO THEY HAVE VERY STRONG RIDERS THAT CAN DO EXTREMELY WELLING IN THE BREAKAWAY AND IF EVER IT COMES DOWN TO A BUNCH SPRINT, THEY ALSO HAVE AN AMAZING GROUP OF RIDERS THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A TRAIN FOR ALLISON JACKSON, ONE EFFORT WORLD'S TOP SPRINTERS RIGHT NOW.

>> ANY TEAM THAT COMES TO A RACE LIKE THIS WHERE THERE ARE DIVERSE TACTICS, MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR VICTORY AND FOR COMPETITION, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AS MANY OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THE RACE GOING TO UNFOLD SO YOU WANT TO BE PREPARED.

YOU GO IN WITH THE PLAN, WHAT YOU WANT TO TARGET BUT AS THINGS CHANGE OUT ON THE ROAD, THE TEAM THAT CAN ADAPT THE BEST AND HAS THE MOST OPTIONS TO RESPOND USUALLY DOES THE BEST.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BEING AGILE AND ABLE TO CHANGE YOUR COURSE AND ADAPT YOUR PLANS, THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT CYCLISTS AND A TEAM HAS TO HAVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS SPORT.

GO SO GOING AROUND THIS TECHNICAL CORNER, A LITTLE DOWNHILL AFTER PASSING THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT FOR THE SECOND TIME.

>> YOU WILL NOTICE AT THE BACK KIND OF LOOKS LIKE THE RIDERS ARE GOING SLOWER BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY NAVIGATE THESE TURNS AT A AND IF THE PLON PELOTON HAVE TO NAVIGATE, THE SPEEDY SECTIONS HAVE TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE THEY HIT THE CORNER, AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S A GOOD STRATEGY, USUALLY, TO STAY UP CLOSER TO THE FRONT ON THE TECHNICAL SECTIONS YOU WILL SAVE A LOT OF ENERGY BECAUSE YOU DON'T FIND YOURSELF HAVING TO BREAK IN THE FAST SECTIONS JUST TO ACCOMMODATE THE FRONT OF THE PELOTON CAUSING YOUR AREA OF THE PACK TO BUNCH UP.

>> THIS IS THE PELOTON NOW AND NO SERIOUS CHASE GOING O.

THIS IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE INTERESTING DYNAMICS IN AN EVENT LIKE THIS.

WHEN YOU GET A RIDER OFF THE FRONT OR A GROUP FOR THAT MATTER AND IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT THEY MIGHT GET SOME SUBSTANTIAL TIME, THEN IT'S A QUESTION OF WHO IS GOING TO CHASE?

WHAT TEAM IS GOING TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE AND COLLECTIVELY TAKE UP THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PULLING THOSE RIDERS BACK.

AND THAT'S WHY SOME RIDERS TAKE THE CHANCE OF GETTING IN THE BREAK HOPING THERE IS DISORGANIZATION BEHIND THEM AND NOBODY PULLS BECAUSE IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, A RIDER LIKE THIS MAYBE STAYS AWAY.

>> YOU GOT IT, STEVE.

THAT'S TRUE.

THAT'S EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENS.

AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME TEAMS WHO FEEL NO SPBT TO BRING UP A RIDER ON EF EDUCATION OAT EDUCATION-OATLY.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE MOVING BACK UP TO UCI STATUS NEXT YEAR I EXPECT.

THE EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON THE CANYON-SRAM TO BRING A RIDER LIKE THIS BACK.

THESE ARE THE OTHER UCI WORLD TOUR TEAMS AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC TODAY.

BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING JUST YET BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE HER AS A THREAT AT THIS POINT IN THE RACE, ESPECIALLY AS A SOLO RIDER.

>> FOR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE A CASUAL FAN AND WONDER WELL, WHY DOESN'T EVERYBODY CHASE IN WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BRINGING A RIDER BACK?

WHY DOESN'T EVERYBODY THROW IN AND TRY TO REEL THOSE RIDERS IN?

WELL, IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT HAVE YOU TO STAND TO GAIN AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO STAND TO LOSE.

RISK-REWARD WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO USING ENERGY AT THIS POINT, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FIVE YEARS AGO THERE WERE NO WORLD WOMEN'S TEAM.

ONE CLASSIFICATION OF WOMEN'S CYCLING TEAM BUT NOW WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, THE WOMEN'S WORLD TOUR.

15 OF THESE TEAMS.

WE HAVE THE UCI PRO-TEAM LEVEL AND THEN WE HAVE THE UCI TEAM AND CLUB TEAMS.

AND SO THAT'S THE THIRD TIER.

SO THE WOMEN'S WORLD TOUR TEAMS, THESE ARE THE ONES WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE, THE ONES RACING THE HUGEST RACES ON THE CALENDAR DAY IN AND DAY OUT ESSENTIALLY AND THE TEAMS THAT HAVE A LOWER RANKING IN THE UCI STATUS KNOW THESE RIDERS ARE STRONGER AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TRY TO GO UP AGAINST THEM AND SPEND ENERGY TO HELP THEM BRING RIDERS BACK.

THEY NEED TO FORCE THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS TO SPEND AS MUCH ENERGY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEIR TANKS TO BEGIN WITH ARE ALREADY MUCH BIGGER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO HENRIETTA KRISTY WITH A LEAD OF JUST OVER HALF A MINUTE ON THE MAIN FIELD AND ON THE SECOND OF FOUR LAPS AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

NATIVE OF WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, 23 IMREERLD WHO HAD QUITE A JUNIOR CAREER, ALSO WON THE YOUNG RIDER CLASSIFICATION AT THE TOUR CLASSIC IN FRANCE FOUR YEARS AGO, NATIONAL JUNIOR ROAD NATIONAL CHAMPION AS WELL AS A TT CHAMPION.

SHE KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT RIDING BY HERSELF OUT HERE AND TIME TRIALING AT THE FRONT OF A RACE.

>> SHE IS LOOKING STRONG OUT THERE.

LOOK AT THE POWER OUTPUT SHE IS PUTTING INTO THE PEDALS.

WE DON'T SEE HER POWER METER, THE ACTUAL WATT NUMBER BUT YOU CAN TELL BY THE WAY SHE IS POWERING UP THIS INCLINE THAT SHE IS FEELING STRONG TODAY.

SHE SHOWS HER SPOT QUITE WELL, I WOULD SAY.

>> AND AGAIN NO REAL ORGANIZED CHASE HERE.

ONCE YOU SEE ONE TEAM COME TO THE FRONT, YOU SEE ALL THE SAME COLORS OF THE JERSEY AND THE PACE PICK UP, YOU KNOW THE CHASE IS ON THEY HAVE HER WELL IN CHECK JUST A HALF MINUTE UP THE ROAD.

>> THE TEAMS ARE MONITORING.

RIDERS ARE SITTING UP AT THE FRONT ARE TRYING TO GET UP TO THE FRONT IN CASE ONE TEAM TRIES TO SEND A RIDER OUT TO BRIDGE ACROSS, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP ON A WHEEL AND NOT GET A FREE RIDE BUT A RIDE THAT COSTS A LOT LESS IN TERMS OF ENERGY.

BUT KRISTY IS HENRIETTA KRISTY,N THIS COURSE THAT IS 18 MILES LONG.

SO SHE CONTINUES TO ROLL ALONG HERE ON THIS SUNNY, WARM SATURDAY IN BALTIMORE, LEGAL AIDER.

-- IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND.

WELL SOMETHING INTERESTING, ALL OF AURA TACKS SO FAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE BRIEF ONE HAVE BEEN SOLO MOVES.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN A GROUP OF ANY KIND COME TOGETHER OR MULTIPLE RIDERS GET ANY SUBSTANTIAL GAPS OVER THE MAIN FIELD.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU AT THIS POINT OR IS IT JUST, AGAIN, STILL TOO EARLY IN A RACE LIKE THIS?

>> AT THIS POINT WE ARE KNOT EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE RACE JUST YET SO I'M NOT SUPER SURPRISED.

BUT I AM ALSO NOT SUPER SURPRISED THAT WE ARE SEEING THE ATTACKS.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

EVENTUALLY I THINK WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE IS PEOPLE PAY A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO WHEN THE ATTACKS ARE GOING AND JUMPING ON WHEELS AND MOVING IN SMALL BUNCHES THAT WILL WORK TOGETHER AND STAY AWAY.

SO A SUCCESSFUL ATTACK WILL HAVE A GROUP EVER RIDERS WITH THE PROPER COMPOSITION SO RIDERS FROM THE TEAMS REPRESENTING THE PELOTON BUT IF WE HAVE THE TOP WORLD TOUR TEAMS IN THE BREAK, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO STAY AWAY.

>> BUT RIDERS FROM ALL DIFFERENT TEAMS HERE AT THE VERY FRONT, JUST A STEADY TEMPO RIGHT NOW.

KEEPING THE GAP TO KRISTY CHRISTIE WITHIN REASON IT SETTLES DOWN THE RACE AND DECREASES THE STRESS TO A DEGREE AND YOU DON'T HAVE RIDERS WONDERING, ALL RIGHT, IS THE GAP TOO BIG.

WHERE IS THE NEXT ATTACK GOING TO COME FROM.

IT SETTLES EVERYBODY DOWN AND STABILIZES THE RACE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> HAVE YOU TO STAY UP CLOSER TO THE FRONT AND MONITOR ANY COUNTERATTACKS WHEN A BREAK LIKE THIS GETS PULLED BACK LIKE THIS OR AT THIS POINT, IF SOMEBODY TRIES TO BRIDGE ACROSS, YOU HAVE TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE FRONT TO ABLE TO JUMP ON THEIR WHEEL AND MAKE IT ACROSS AND WORK TOGETHER WITH THEM.

AS A RIDER IN THE PELOTON RIGHT NOW, I WOULD BE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT HENRIETTA CHRISTIE IS OUT THERE BECAUSE SHE IS A STRONG RIDER AND JUST DID THE TOUR DE FRANCE FEMME.

SHE IS AN EXCELLENT DOMESTIC.

SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE OTHER RIDERS WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE IF SHE COULD NOT SUPPORT HER TEAM BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY CAN'T COUNT HER OUT.

IF SOMEBODY ELSE JOINS HER UP THERE TO HELP HER POWER FORWARD, SHE COULD MAKE IT.

SHE ONLY HAS ONE BOTTLE ON THE FRAME.

BECAUSE THERE IS THE FEED ZONE HERE AND ACCESS TO HER TEAM CAR.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO CARRY TWO BOTTLES.

SHE IS GOING TO SAVE ALL THE WEIGHT SHE CAN BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY SHE IS SAVING POWER, SAVING WATTS BY NOT HAVING TO CARRY AROUND AN EXTRA 500 MILLILITRES OF WATER.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENT REASONS A RIDER GOES UP THE ROAD LIKE THIS.

SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE FOR A SPECIFIC COMPETITION LIKE A QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS, SOMETIMES IT'S TO GET IN A BREAK BECAUSE YOU MIGHT THINK IT STAYS AWAY EVENTUALLY ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH.

SOMETIMES IT'S TO SET UP A TEAMMATE LATER O.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS BREAKS FORM AND WHY CERTAIN RIDERS GO AT CERTAIN TIMES IN A RACE.

SOMETHING RIDERS DON'T OFTEN KNOW IS WHO IS GOING TO COME WITH THEM AND WHO IS NOT GOING TO COME.

SOMETIMES YOU GET IN A BREAK HOPING OTHER RIDERS ARE GOING TO JOIN YOU AND THEN THEY DON'T AND YOU ARE LEFT DANGLING.

>> YEAH, THAT'S ALWAYS A HAPPY MOMENT WHEN YOU GET A FEW RIDERS THAT YOU KNOW ARE STRONG RIDERS THAT WANT THE BREAK TO SUCCEED AND THEY JUMP ACROSS AND JOIN YOU.

OTHER TIMES RIDERS ARE MARKING YOU IF YOU ARE A THREAT AND IF SOMEBODY JUMPS ACROSS AND THEY WANT TO SIT ON YOUR WHEEL AND WAIT UNTIL UNTIL YOU TIRE YOURSELF OUT AND COUNT AREA TACK AND YOU WILL HAVE GIVEN THEM A FREE RIDE.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

MANY DIFFERENT REASONS PEOPLE ATTACK AND CREATE THE BREAKS.

THIS IS HOW STRATEGY AND BIKE RACING WORKS.

>> NOW THAT WE ARE ON THE SECOND OF THE FOUR LAPS APPROACHING THE MID POINT OF THE RACE, THE RIDERS, THE TEAMS AND DIRECTORS BACK IN THE TEAM CARS WILL HAVE MADE A DECISION THAT LATER ON, ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL AND NOTHING DRAMATIC HAS CHANGED IN THE RACE, DO YOU THINK THEY WILL HAVE MADE A DECISION AS TO WHERE THE DECISIVE MOMENTS ARE GOING TO BE ON THE FINAL LAP, WHERE THEY MIGHT WANT TO ATTACK, WHERE THEY MIGHT WANT TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS RACE?

WILL THOSE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THIS POINT OR STILL CALCULATING?

>> I THINK THE TEAM STRATEGY WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE RACE HAPPENED THE GENERAL TEAM STRATEGY, WHEN ARE THEY THOUGHT THE BREAKS WOULD GO.

SO I THINK IT PROBABLY WON'T CHANGE TOO MUCH.

I MEAN IF IT DOES, THEN THE DIRECTOR WILL TELL THE RIDERS THROUGH THE RACE RADIOS.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE MOSTLY UP TO THE RIDERS, I WOULD SAY BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY FEELING THE COURSE IN THEIR LEGS AND WITNESSING WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IN THE PELOTON WHETHER WHEN A BREAKAWAY GOES AWAY OR WHEN THEY ARE ON THE ATTACK.

IF THE RIDERS ARE GOING TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE AND WHEN THE ATTACKS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IF EVER THOSE WERE NOT CLEARLY DEFINED IN THE RACE MEETINGS.

>> HEADING UP TO THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINT, THE SIGNATURE CLAIM ON TO THE CIRCUIT HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME AGAIN IT'S ABOUT 900 METERS.

ONE SECTION WHERE IT GETS TO ALMOST 8% BUT THE AVERAGE IS%, JUST ABOUT HALF A MILE IN TOTAL.

NOT A MAJOR CLIMB BUT ONE THEY WILL FEEL ON THE LEGS.

>> IF THEY GO HARD ON THE CLIMB BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO WASN'T QUITE ON THE BACK AS THEY CHREST THE HILL, I MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO BE GAPPED OFF.

SO IT'S NOT A REALLY TOUGH HILL BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT YOUR POSITIONING, ESPECIALLY IF THE OTHER RIDERS DECIDE THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARD OR A SOLID BATTLE FOR QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS.

>> DESCRIBES-- DESCRIBE AT THIS CHRISTIE WAS ONE OF THE RIDERS WHO GOT THE POINTS FIRST TIME OFF THE CLIMB.

THE FIRST UP TO THE TOP THE SECOND TIME THROUGH AND PUT HER FIRMLY IN POSITION TO CONTEND FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN JERSEY AT THE END OF THE RACE.

>> IT WOULD BE INTEREST TOEING SEE HOW THE SPRINT FOR SECOND AND THIRD AND THE REST OF THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN POINTS WILL GO FROM THE PELOTON SO LET'S SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT HERE.

THEY'RE JUST APPROACHING THE SUMMIT.

LOOKS LIKE THE GAP IS CLOSING A BIT BUT I THINK HENRIETTA IS GOING STAY AWAY.

2 HUPP METERS TO GO BEFORE SHE CROSSES THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN LINE.

>> SO THE GAP AT ITS HIGHEST POINT WAS JUST OVER HALF A MINUTE FOR CHRISTIE.

WE WILL SEE IT AS WE GET A BETTER BENCHMARK AT THE TOP OF THE CLIMB.

THIS IS SOME OF THE DAMAGE IT'S DOING TO THE FIELD STARTING TO SPREAD OUT AS THEY'RE ON TO THE CLIMB.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR HER TO STAY AWAY ONCE THE DOWNHILL STARTS JUST BECAUSE THE PELOTON HAS SUCH A GOOD AND DRAFT EFFECT IS SO MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT ESPECIALLY AT THE DOWNHILL SPEEDS BUT LET'S SEE.

SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SURPRISE US.

>> THE TOP OF THE CLIMB HERE, A FALSE FLAT BEFORE SHE HITS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT UP THERE AND MAKES THE TURN AND GOES BACK DOWNHILL.

JUDGING FROM THE OVERHEAD SHOT, IT LOOKS LIKE THE MARGIN FOR HER IS STILL SOMEWHAT DECENT.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, STEVE.

SHE DID OPEN UP A PRETTY SOLID GAP.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE, WHEN THE RIDER IS CHRESTING THE HILL LIKE THIS AND JUST HITTING THE DISOWP HILL SECTION IS TO GIVE A GOOD PUNCH TO GET UP TO SPEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND NOT LET GRAVITY SLOWLY BUT SURELY BRING THE MOMENT UP UP.

SHE IS PUTTING OUT A GOOD AMOUNT OF POWER TO GET THE SPEED UP QUICKLY.

>> SO CHRISTIE GETS THE MAXIMUM POINTS AT THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS SECTION.

SO SHE GETS FOUR POINTS.

TWO SLOTS AVAILABLE.

TWO POINTS FOR THE NEXT RIDER WHO HITS THE TOP OF THE CLIMB AND ONE POINT FOR THE RED TIDIER AFTER THAT.

THE POINTS GO THREE PLACES DEEP FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS.

>> THE PELOTON IS STRINGING OUT HERE AND I SAW HENRIETTA,'S TEAMMATE, ALLISON JACKSON WITH A PAINED FACE AS SHE WAS WORKING TO STAY WITH THE FRONT RIDERS WHO MUST BE PUTTING DOWN A PRETTY SOLID PACE TO CROSS THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS LINE AND YOU SEE THE GAPS OPENING UP HERE.

REPRESENTATION FROM THE TOP TEAMS.

>> SO THE FIELD NOW GOING THROUGH, MAKING THE TURN.

WE'LL GET THE STANDINGS OF THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS AS WE ROLL ALONG HERE BUT THE GAP FOR CHRISTIE UP OVER A MINUTE.

>> SO HENRIETTA CHRISTIE IS MAINTAINING HER GAP AFTER THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN SPRINT AND THE PELOTON HAS KIND OF SHATTERED.

IT'S SPLIT.

SO THERE IS A SMALL GROUP NOW THAT IS CHASING OR RELATIVELY SMALL FOR COMPARING IT TO THE SIZE OF THE PULL PELOTON.

THE SECOND TIME UP THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB DID SOME DAMAGE IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> THIS IS THE LARGEST GAP ANY RIDER HAS HAD SO FAR IN THE RACE, NORTH OF A MINUTE.

CHRISTIE LEADING THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION, LEADING THE RACE OVERALL.

PRETTY HEALTHY MARGIN BACK TO THE FIELD AND NOW THE FIELD AT THE FRONT FRACTURING SOMEWHAT.

SO THIS IS, TO THIS POINT, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE EVENT TODAY.

>> I THINK THIS TIME UP THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB DID SOME PERMANENT DAMAGE.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE AS THE LAP PROGRESSES BUT THAT WAS A PRETTY SOLID SPLIT AND THE RIDERS WERE QUITE STRUNG OUT IN THE LINE.

IF THAT'S A SIGN THEY'RE WORKING REAL HARD AND THE PACE IS VERY HIGH.

HENRIETTA IS LOOKING VERY STRONG HERE.

NOT ONLY GOOD FOR HER BUT GOOD FOR THE EF SQUAD OVERALL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEIR AMBITIONS ARE NOTHING SHORT OF COMING HOME WITH A VICTORY FOR THIS RACE.

HENRIETTA WAS ONE OF THE RIDERS THAT THEY HAD SLOTTED TO GO FOR THE BREAKAWAYS.

I'M SURE SHE WAS HOPING OR EXPECKSING SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD COME WITH HER BUT SHE HAS A LOT OF CONFIDENCE COMING OFF OF SUCH A SUCCESSFUL SEASON AND RACING AT THE TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES AND SHE IS SHOWING THAT SHE IS VERY STRONG AND CAPABLE RIGHT NOW MAINTAINING THE GAP OF ONE MINUTE.

>> SO HENRIETTA CHRISTIE, LEADER OF THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS AND LEADER OF THE RACE, HEADED BACK TOWARDS THE INNER HARBOR ON LAP NUMBER 2.

AND LOOK AT THIS ACTION AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD.

THINGS ARE REALLY STARTING TO GET AGGRESSIVE.

WITH THE GAP AT A MINUTE, YOU HAVE OTHER TEAMS NOW WITH RIDERS TRYING TO CREATE SOME SEPARATION.

EF IN THOSE PICTURES, THEY'RE A PART OF THIS HERE AND EVERYONE MAKING THE EFFORT, LOOKING AROUND, SEEING WHO IS THERE.

THIS IS A VERY UNCERTAIN TIME IN THE RACE, BUT ALSO A CRITICAL MOMENT, TOO.

>> YEAH, AND WE SEE VETERAN TIFFANY CROMWELL AT THE FRONT, EXTREMELY EXPERIENCED AND STRONG BIKE RACER AND YOU CAN TELL THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY IN THE WAY SHE IS RIDING.

SO EF RIGHT NOW IS JUST STAYING ON THE WHEELS OF CANYON-SRAM.

THEY DON'T WANT TO CONTRIBUTE WHATSOEVER TO HELPING BRING BACK HENRIETTA CHRISTIE BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT CANYON-SRAM HAS SPOTTED HER AS A DANGEROUS THREAT AND THEY'RE WORKING REAL HARD TO CLOSE THE GAP.

THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THIS BREAK.

EF JUST GETS TO SIT ON THEIR FEELS AND GET A FREE RIDE UP TO HENRIETTA, WHO IS THERE I TEAMMATE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO HENRIETTA CHRISTIE WINNING THE SECOND QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS TOM TIGS-- COMPETITION.

AND QUINN TAKING THE NEXT TWO SPOTS.

HENRIETTA CHRISTIE IN THE POINTS EACH OF THE FIRST TO TIMES UP THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN CLIMB SO SHE LEADS BY FOUR WITH TWO MORE TIMES LEFT TO GO TWO MORE CLIMBS LEFT IN THE WOMEN'S RACE.

WHICH WILL MARK THE MID POINT.

HALF MILE APART EARLIER MPLE BUT NOW THE END OF EACH LAP TAKES US TO WHAT WILL BE THE FINISH OF THE RACE LATER ON.

AND THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS THE GAP FROM THE PELOTON TO THE LEADER, L TO P JUST OVER A MINUTE RIGHT NOW IS THE MARGIN AND IT'S ALL FAST AND DOWNHILL BACK TO WHERE THEY GET TO THE INNER HARBOR, A FEW TECHNICAL CORNERS IN THE LAST CANK BEFORE THEY COME TO THE END OF LAP NUMBER 2.

>> I'M IMPRESSED LIKE MAINTAINING A GAP AT SPEEDS LIKE THAT ON A DOWNHILL WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER RIDERS WHO ARE URGENTLY CHASING AND TRYING TO REEL YOU BACK IN IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

THIS SHOWS HOW STRONG HENRIETTA IS.

>> WHAT A GREAT SPOT FOR EF THOUGH BECAUSE SHE IS IN A TERRIFIC POSITION FOR QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS.

SHE IS IN THE BREAK FOR THE OVERALL TAPESTRY OF THE RACE ITSELF AND HOW THE DYNAMICS ARE GOING TO WORK.

SHE HAS GOT A STRONG TEAM BEHIND HER.

SO AS THEY SAY IN THE CYCLING LEXICON, A LOT OF CARDS TO PLAY AT THE MOMENT.

>> WELL PUT, STEVE.

YOU SAID IT.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND SHE IS ALSO FORCING THE OTHER TEAMS, THE TOP THREATS TO SPEND ENERGY WHILE HER TEAMMATES SIT AND GET A FREE RIDE.

A LOT OF EF RIDERS PUTTING IN THE EFFORT TO BE AT THE FRONT AND TO MAYBE WORK TO SPLINTER THE FIELD.

THEY DO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO GET THE FREE RIDE BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE PART OF THE EQUATION WHERE, HEY, THEY WANT TO HEARD OTHER RIDERS F. THEY WANT TO DISTANCE OTHER RIDERS, THEY CREATE A GAP SAND INCREASES THE COM-- COMPETITION LONG TERM.

>> THEY FLEW THERE WAS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE RACE BECAUSE THEY WERE RIGHT ON AND CANYON VAM VAM.

THEY WERE NOT SOFT PEDALING TO STAY ON THE WHEELS I.

WAS A SOLID EFFORT MADE RIGHT OFF THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS SPRINT LINE.

>> LEX, I KNOW IT'S ONLY THE FIRST EVER EDITION OF THIS WOMEN'S RACE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, BUT HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE IT IN TERMS OF PRESTIGE, THE COURSE, THE WAY IT'S ALL SET UP TO SOME OF THE OTHER BIG WOMEN'S RACES THEY DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> THIS RACE, IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING CYCLING FOR A WHILE, THEN YOU KNOW THE PHILLY CYCLING CLASSIC, THIS WAS ONE OF THE HUGEST RACES IN NORTH AMERICA, ONE OF MY FAVORITE-- IT WAS MY FAVORITE RACE AND UNFORTUNATELY IT WENT AWAY.

BUT MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, THIS IS TO ME ALMOST LIKE A REPLACEMENT FOR PHILLY.

THIS IS A RACE THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SPRING CLASSICS IN EUROPE, THE ONES WE KNOW ABOUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY COBBLES BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FEATURES IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS, TECHNICAL ASPECTS AND DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS THAT THE COURSE DEMANDS FROM THE RIDERS THAT ARE KIND OF SIMILAR TO THE SPRING CLASSIC SO I WOULD SAY THIS IS RIGHT UP THERE AND IT HAS A UCI RANKING OF 1.1 RACE SO THIS IS ALMOST THE TOP LEVEL JUST ONE SLOT LOWER.

SO I MEAN IS THIS UP AMONGST THE TOP RACES IN THE WORLD.

>> NOW THE GAP HAS COME DOWN PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY, CLOSE TO 40 SECONDS.

IT WAS OVER A MINUTE AT ONE POINT.

CHRISTIE, THE INTERESTING THING IS SHE IS USING A LOT OF ENERGY OUT HERE BY HERSELF AND YOU WONDER, SHE IS OBVIOUSLY GOT THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS IN HER MIND.

SHE IS IN THAT CATEGORY.

IS SHE GOING TO HAVE IT IN HER LEGS FOR THE FINAL TWO TIMES UP THE CLIMB TO STILL BE IN CONTENTION OR WILL THE SOLO EFFORT TAKE SO MUCH OUT OF HERSHEY IS GOING TO RELINQUISH THE LEAD LATER ON IN THE RACE.

>> STEVE, WE SEAR HER LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER SO THAT TELLS ME SHE IS PROBABLY HEARING IN HER RACE RAID I DON'TY THAT SHE SHOULD PROBABLY LET UP A LITTLE BIT.

THE TEAM DIRECTOR IN THE CAR IS TELLING HENRIETTA, YOU HAVE DONE YOUR THING HERE, LET OFF A LITTLE BIT.

WE SPLIT THE PELOTON OFF, NOW YOU CAN SAVE ENERGY GET BACK IN WITH YOUR TEAMMATES.

YOU ARE IN GOOD STANDINGS FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN RANKING.

SAVE YOUR LEG AND COME BACK FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN POINTS BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON FOR HER TO STAY OUT THERE ALL BY HERSELF RIGHT NOW IF THAT IS HER INTENT TO QUINN THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION.

SHE MAY AS WELL SAVE HER ENERGY BEFORE SHE GETS TO THE LINE.

>> IF SHE DOES COME BACK HERE SHORTLY, NO DOUBT WE WILL SEE SOME COUNTER ATTACKS.

THIS IS THE SECOND OF FOUR LAPS BUT WE ARE COMING TOWARDS THE END EVER IT HERE.

SO MARK THE MID POINT OF THE RACE WHEN THEY COME BACK THROUGH THAT FINISH LINE AREA WITH THE BANNER, HEADED TOWARD THE INNER HARBOR, THE DOWNTOWN BACKDROP OF CENTRAL BALTIMORE THERE IN THE DISTANCE, IF HENRIETTA PICKS UP, SHE WILL HAVE THE FOUR POINTS BUT POINTS LEFT OVER FOR SECOND AND THIRD PLACE.

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE THE DYNAMIC AND WHO IS GOING TO BE GOING FOR THE SPRINT POINTS.

>> WE DID NOT HAVE AN INTERMEADE DWRAT SPRINT AT THE END OF FIRST LAP.

WE WILL HAVE ONE AT THE END OF THE REMAINING LAPS THOUGH, SECOND, THIRD AND FINISH THE POINTS ARE THE SAME FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS, FOUR FOR FIRST, 2 FOR SECOND, 1 FOR THIRD.

SO THE SPRINT JERSEY COMPETITION .

WILL BEGIN SHORTLY.

>> A TASTE OF WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE FINISH OF THE RACE AND RIDERS WILL HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF NAVIGATING THE FINAL TURNS AT A PACE THAT IS GOING TO BE SIMILAR TO THE RACE FINISH PACE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SPRINTING FOR THE VERY SAME LINE AT THAT TIME WILL BE THE FINISH LINE AT THE END OF THE FOURTH LAP.

>> REMINDER AROUND 2K FROM THE FINISH, A COUPLE OF 90° CORNERS AND INSIDE THE FINAL K HALF MILE TO GO FROM THE END, YOU HAVE THREE 90-DEGREE CORNERS COMING IN SUCCESSION.

AND FAR OUT FROM THE FINISH, OVER 500 METERS OF FLAT, STRAIGHT ROAD BEFORE YOU GET TO THE FINISH LINE.

IT'S WIDE AND THERE IS PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SPRINTERS TO REALLY RAMP UP THE SPEED AND THE INTENSITY.

>> SO SHOWING HENRIETTA, HOW MUCH OF A GAP SHE HAS.

THAT'S ALWAYS SFUN.

YOU GET THE PRIVATE INFORMATION FROM YOUR PRIVATE MOTOR OWE WHEN YOU ARE UP THERE.

IT'S LIKE A V.I.P.

EXPERIENCE.

>> THE WELL, IT'S FUNNY.

IN A WORLD OF A.I.

NOW, WE ARE STILL USING A WHITE BOARD TO COMMUNICATE IN A COMPETITION LIKE THIS.

IT'S VERY OLD SCHOOL, BUT IT'S VERY HISTORIC.

IT FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE STILL PARTS OF THE GRASSROOTS COMPOSITION.

>>-- COMPETITION.

>> I LIKE THESE OLD SCHOOL THINGS BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, STEVE.

IT'S VERY CLASSIC AND IT'S STILL A SPECIAL THING AND HOPEFULLY IT STAYS A SPECIAL THING.

>> YOU HAVE A PAPER CALENDAR ON THE WALL AT HOME YOU FLIP UP EVERY MONTH AND GO ONE BY ONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES, I DO.

>> DO YOU CROSS OUT THE DAYS AS THEY GO BY.

>> I DON'T CROSS OUT THE DAYS.

THAT MAKES THE CALENDAR LOOK TOO BUSY.

I LIKE TO KEEP IT CLEAN.

>> I LIKE THAT THOUGH.

I DIDN'T KNOW THEY STILL SOLD THAT MANY.

>> THEY GIVE THEM OUT FOR FREE.

I GET ONE TO-- I GET ONE FOR FREE FROM MY LOCAL FARM.

>> I NOW BACK TOWARD THE INNER HARBOR CENTRAL BALTIMORE AND START NAVIGATING SOME OF THE CORNERS BUT YOU SEE HOW WIDE THE ROADS ARE.

>> SUPER WIDE BUT YOU ALSO SEE THAT THE PAVEMENT IS WAVY.

MANHOLES, A FEW POT HOLES.

THIS IS PAVEMENT WITH CHARACER.

SO YOU STILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHERE LIKE HOW YOU NAVIGATE.

YOU WANT TO TAKE THE FASTEST SHORTEST LINE BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HIT ANYTHING TOO ROUGH.

>> THE WORST PART IS WHEN YOU HAVE TIGHT TECHNICAL CORNERS AND IT KIND OF BOTTLES UP IN A BIG FIELD.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT HERE.

YOU HAVE THE TECHNICAL 90° CORNERS BUT IT'S WIDE MUCH EVERYBODY CAN GET THROUGH THERE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE BY YOURSELF, THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

NOW SHE IS ON THAT P STRAIGHT AT FLAT ROAD THAT WILL LEAD HER TO THE END OF THIS SECOND LAP.

AND HER MARGIN HAS COME DOWN TO 20 SECONDS OVER THE CHASE DISWHRER LOOK AT THE SUPPORT FROM THE MOTO.

THAT IS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.

SO COOL.

SHE IS REACHING BACK, GETTING SOME NUTRITION.

IN A RACE LIKE THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSTANTLY EAT AND DRINK.

SO SHE IS TO THE GOING TOO HARD.

SHE KNOWS THE PELOTON IS COMING UP BEHIND HER.

SHE IS JUST GOING TO WANT TO JUMP RIGHT BACK IN.

GET IN THE DRAFT AND RECOVER A BIT.

>> SO THIS WILL MARK THE MID POINT OF THE WOMEN'S RACE.

TWO LAPS DOWN, TWO LEFT TO GO HERE AT THE INAUGURAL MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC FOR THE WOMEN.

HENRIETTA CHRIS ANY FRONT-- CHRISTIE IN FRONT AND THEN THE FIELD WITH TWO LAPS REMAINING.

JOAO GOO SHE GOT SECOND PLACE INTERMEDIATE CHASE POINTS.

ONE MORE SPRINT POINT AVAILABLE, ONE POINT AND AT THIS MOMENT NO ONE SPRINTING FOR IT.

THE FIELD KIND OF SPREAD OUT.

THIS IS THE TWO LEADERS.

AND NOW THE FIELD GOING THROUGH THERE.

SO NOT A LOT TO SPRINT FOR WITH ONLY ONE POINT.

AT THIS STAGE OF THE RACE, AGAIN, AT THE HALFWAY MOMENT, YOU HAVE HENRIETTA CHRISTIE LEADING THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THE INTERMEDIATE SPRINT COMPETITION SHE IS THREE FOR THREE FOR NOW.

>> 35 SECONDS AHEAD OF THE PELOTON AND WE ARE NOT SEEING AT THAT TIME GAP COME DOWN.

I'M WONDERING IF YOUR TEAM DIRECTOR THAT SHE IS COMING ACROSS AND SUGGESTING THEY WORK TOGETHER.

SHE IS A STRONG RIDER TOO, IF THEY DECIDE TO COLLABORATE THEY COULD MAINTAIN A GAP.

CHRISTIE HAS 35 SECONDS OVER THE PELOTON AND THERE'S 25 SECONDS BETWEEN DENNY AND CHRISTIE.

>> THE DUTCH RIDER IS 22 YEARS OF AGE.

COMES FROM A TRACK BACKGROUND.

A NATIONAL CHAMPION IN MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES.

THE POINTS RACE THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT AND SHE IS IN AN INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT MOMENT RIGHT HERE CHASING ONE RIDER WHO IS JUST A FEW SECONDS AHEAD OF HER IN THE FRONT OF THE RATION AND THE LEADER CHRISTIE FOR THE ES SQUAD.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT HAD MULTIPLE RIDERS AT THE FRONT OF THE RACE IN A BREAK YET.

WE HAD A BRIEF MOMENT ON THE FIRST LAP WHERE THREE RIDERS CAME TOGETHER AND IT LASTED A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE FIELD SWALLOWED THEM UP.

WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT SOLO RIDES GO CLEAR.

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME WE MIGHT HAVE MULTIPLE RIDERS WITH SOMEWHAT OF A DECENT GAP TO THE REST OF THE PELOTON.

ALL RIGHT, TOP OF THE SCREEN IS THE LEADER, CHRISTIE IS THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN.

THE FIRST TWO RIDERS ON THE ROAD AND COMING UP TO WHAT WILL BE THE COBBLED SECTION THAT BEGINS EACH OF THE FOUR LAPS.

>> LOOKS LIKE SHE IS CLOSING THAT GAP AND I BET THAT CHRISTIE WILL BE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH HER.

SO HENRIETTA IS LETTING OFF THE PET DAHLS A LITTLE BIT THERE'S FIVE SECONDS BETWEEN THE RIDERS BUT CHRISTIE IS 35 SECOND AS HEAD OF THE PELOTON SHE MAINTAINED THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HERSELF AND THE PELOTON BUT HANG FELD IS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.

>> TWO RIDERS AT THE FRONT SHORTLY.

HENNING FELD >> JUST SOUTH OF 70 MILES REMAINING ALTOGETHER.

AS WE LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE FIELD.

>> YOU CAN TELL THEY ARE WORKING HARDER THAN THEY WERE ON THE FIRST LAPS.

THINGS ARE GETTING MORE SERIOUS.

THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A DANGEROUS BREAK OFF THE FRONT.

AND RIDERS ARE REALIZING THAT IF THEY LET THIS GO THEY ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME IN THE RACE WHERE THEY COULD BRING THIS BACK.

AND THE RIDERS THERE ARE PRETTY STRONG.

SO WE HAVE CHRISTIE FROM EF AND HENGEVELD THIS IS NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

>> IF YOU ARE IN THE FIELD ONE THING YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOU IS THE FACT THAT CHRISTIE HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD MOST OF THE TIME IN FRONT BY HERSELF ON THE TWO CLIMBS.

NOW, FINALLY GETTING SOME HELP FROM HENGEVELD WHO HAS BRIDGED UP HERE IN THE LAST SEVERAL MINUTES.

AND THIS WAS THE MOMENT THAT SHE BRIDGED ACROSS.

SHE CAME FROM THE MAIN FIELD.

AND WAS JUST BEHIND HER AS THEY COMPLETED THE SECOND LAP.

AND THEN FINALLY MADE THE CATCH HERE AND FOR CHRISTIE, PROBABLY RELIEVED TO HAVE SUPPORT HERE.

NOW THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER TO A DEGREE.

AND HENGEVELD GOING TO THE FRONT AND CHRISTIE CAN SIT ON AND DRAFT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> CHRISTIE WAS HEARING THAT HENGEVELD WAS ON HER WAY UP THROUGH THE RACE RADIO THE DIRECTOR WAS PROBABLY GIVING HER THAT INFORMATION YOU CAN SEE HER LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER AND SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO CREATE THAT CONNECTION AS FAST AS POSSIBLE BUT YOU ALSO DON'T WANT TO SCREW UP TOO MUCH MOMENTM THAT YOU HAVE TO PICK BACK UP.

I'M SURPRISED TO SEE HER IN THE FRONT THIS IS CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING THIS BACK ONE OF THE STRONGEST TEAMS IN THE FIELD.

TIFFANY WAS ON THE FRONT AND NOW AN ATTACK THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S LAUREN STEPHENS OR ONE OF HER TEAMMATES.

BRIDGING ACROSS.

>> ONE OF THE FOUND RIDERS AND THREE RIDERS FROM THE FOUNT CYCLING GUILD TEAM ARE IN CHASE AND EF RIDER MARKING THAT MOVE.

>> SO WE'RE ALSO GOING THROUGH THE FEED ZONE SOME RIDERS ARE FOCUSING ON GETTING TEAM BOTTLES SAFELY.

WE SEE THIS HOLDING OUT THE WATER BOGGSES.

BOTTLES.

SHE CAN STAY OUT OF THAT MESS YOU DON'T NEED BOTTLES BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY GO FLYING OVER THE ROAD.

IT IS YOU NICE TO RIDE ALL THE WAY TO OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.

>> AN INTERESTING PART OF THE CALCULUS WITH RIDERS GOING OFF THE FRONT HERE AND OTHERS DECIDING TO TAKE ON THE FEED BAGS AND THE DRINKS.

DO YOU MARK THE MOVE?

DO YOU GET THE FOOD?

WHAT DO YOU DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS?

>> IT'S LOOKED DOWN UPON TO ATTACK IN THE FEED ZONE BUT YOU CAN MAINTAIN A PACE IF YOU PUT DOWN A SOLID, CONSISTENT PACE AS PART OF THE UNWRITTEN RULES THAT THE ARE ACCEPTED, I WOULD SAY.

IT IS A DIFFICULT DECISION.

>> DON'T MESS WITH THE LUNCH BREAK.

DON'T MESS WITH LUNCH.

>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

>> THIS IS BACK TO THE FRONT.

CHRISTIE AND HENGEVELD HERE THEIR GAP WAS INSIDE OF A MINUTE.

A SHORT TIME AGO.

>> SO THEY ARE ALSO MAKING SURE TO TAKE IN NUTRITION HERE THEY ARE NOT PANICKING THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THE GAP ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS MAINTAIN THE GAP AS LONG AS THEY WORK TOGETHER AND RIDE AT THE SAME SPEED AS THE PELOTON THEN THEY WILL STAY AWAY.

LET'S SEE HOW LONG THEY KEEP THIS COMFORTABLE, STRONG PACE FOR AND IF SOMETHING ELSE WILL PLAY OUT AND IF THEY WANT TO INCREASE THAT BEGAN.

FOR NOW THEY ARE LOOKING SAFE.

>> HOW DANGEROUS ARE TWO RIDERS AT THIS POINT IN THE EVENT?

>> AT THIS POINT TWO RIDERS ARE WORKING VERY STRONGLY TOGETHER AND THERE IS NOT A LOT OF COHESION WITHIN THE PELOTON, THEN THEY ARE A THREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO CHRISTIE AND HENGEVELD THE LEADERS ON THE THIRD OF FOUR LAPS.

ON THE FINAL 30 MILES ALTOGETHER IN BALTIMORE.

>> HENRIETTA CHRISTIE IS IN THE DRAFT OF DANICK HENGEVELD THEY ARE WORKING WELL TOGETHER.

ONE ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN SUCH A SMALL GROUP A DUO IS YOU CAN PICK WHATEVER LINES YOU WANT TO ON THESE ROADS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER A COUPLE TIMES THIS ATHLETE HAS CHARACTER.

SO THERE'S CRACKS, POTHOLES AND THE COBBLE SECTIONS, TOO WHEN YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR LINE AND SEE WHAT OBSTACLES ARE IN FRONT OF YOU, IT'S COMFORTING AND YOU CAN RIDE SAFELY AND AT SPEED WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

>> TAKING TURNS HERE BUT IT IS A SITUATION AS WELL WHERE CHRISTIE WAS OUT FRONT BY HERSELF FOR SO LONG THAT SHE WILL WANT HENGEVELD TO DO AS MUCH WORK AS POSSIBLE.

BUT THE KEY IS THAT THE MORE THEY SHARE THE LOAD AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, THE BETTER OFF THEIR CHANCES ARE.

BUT SOMETIMES ONE RIDER JUST CAN'T TAKE AS LONG OR AS DEEP OF A PULL AS ANOTHER.

NO TWO RIDERS EQUAL AT THIS POINT IN THE RACE.

SO YOU HOPE THAT YOU STRIKE THAT BALANCE, RIGHT?

HENGEVELD A LITTLE FRESHER WASN'T OUT THERE AS LONG AS CHRISTIE.

AND REMEMBER CHRISTIE HAS BEEN IN THE BATTLE FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION.

SHE HAS DONE MORE WORK THAN ANYBODY IN THE FIELD SO FAR TODAY.

>> SO THIS IS LIVE -- >> OTHER RIDERS COMING THROUGH THE END OF THE LAP.

>> THESE RIDERS ARE OFF THE BACK AND THIS SHOWS HOW HARD THIS RACE HAS BEEN.

RIDERS FROM THE TOP TEAM RIGHT NOW, SO... >> THESE ARE THE TWO LEADERS.

HEN REET IT CHRISTIE IN THE PINK AND DANICK HENGEVELD IN THE BLUE AND THE GAP DOWN TO 20 SECONDS TO THE FIELD BEHIND.

SO THE MARGIN IS STILL STARTING TO WHITTLE AWAY.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE FIELD SHORTLY BEHIND THEM.

AND AT THIS RATE, THE ADVANTAGE GOES OVER TO THE FIELD THEY ARE MAKING INROADS HERE INTO BRINGING THESE TWO BACK.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AS THEY GET CLOSER TOWARDS THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE DRAFT EFFECT DWINDLES.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET CAUGHT BEFORE THEN.

BUT YOU CAN TELL THEY ARE DETERMINED THEY ARE WORKING HARD TOGETHER BUT THEY MUST BE GETTING TIRED ESPECIALLY CHRISTIE WHO HAS BEEN OUT THERE FOR SO LONG AND ALONE FOR SO LONG, TOO.

SHE HAS BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF MATCHES.

AT THE SAME TIME, HER TEAMMATES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT IN THE PACK SAVING THEIR ENERGY WHILE THE OTHER TEAMS HAVE HAD TO CHASE OR STAY ON ALERT.

THIS IS A GREAT SITUATION FOR EF EDUCATION-OATLY TO BE IN.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING HOW MUCH ENERGY CHRISTIE HAS FOR THE FINAL TWO TIMES UP THE CLIMB THAT CURRENTLY HAS HER IN THE LEAD FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION.

CAN SEE MAINTAIN HER LEAD?

IT IS A GAP OF FOUR POINTS RIGHT NOW.

AND IF THESE TWO CAN STAY AWAY TO THE TOP OF THE CLIMB, SHE WILL GET MORE POINTS, BECAUSE THE POINTS GO THREE PLACES DEEP, FOUR, TWO AND ONE FOR THE FIRST THREE.

THEY ARE COMING UP TO THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT AND MONUMENT PARK GOING UPHILL BUT NOT AS STEEP OF A CLIMB AS THEY WILL FACE IN A LITTLE WHILE.

>> IT'S A GOOD PITCH.

IT IS A GOOD PITCH THAT GOES RIGHT INTO THE COBBLED SECTION AND IT IS THAT EASY TO GO UPHILL ON COBBLES BUT THEY ARE NAVIGATING THIS VERY WELL.

AND THE GAP INCREASED AGAIN TO 30 SECONDS.

>> FOR CHRISTIE SHE IS LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO BASICALLY PUT THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION TO BED.

AFTER THEY GO UP THE CLIMB ON THIS LAP IT WILL ONLY BE ONE MORE TO GO IT IS A MAXIMUM FOUR POINTS FOR ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD WIN THAT QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB.

SHE HAS BEEN IN THE FIRST TWO POINTS UP THE TWO TIMES.

>> IF SHE IS THE FIRST OVER THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS LINE SHE HAS THE JERSEY IN THE BAG NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS FOR THE FINAL ASEPTEMBER SHE WILL HAVE IT.

LET'S SEE IF SHE IS ABLE TO CROSS FIRST MOTIVATED FOR THAT, TOO.

>> THAT MIGHT BE HER JOB IF SHE CAN SEAL THAT UP ON THE THIRD LAP THEN SHE CAN SLIDE BACK AND HELP HER TEAMMATES WITH THE AMBITION OF THE RACE GOING IN THE FINAL LAP.

>> EXACTLY.

SHE MIGHT BE TOLD TO STAY OUT THERE AS LONG AS SHE CAN.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S SPENT SO MUCH ENERGY SHE WOULD BE AS STRONG ENOUGH ASSET TO BE UP THERE AT THE VERY, VERY END IN A SPRINT.

SHE MIGHT HAVE THE BEST CHANCES OF SUCCESS FOR HER WE'LL SEE WHAT THE TEAM STRATEGY IS.