"That's bike racing!" is a phrase we often here amongst cycling enthusiasts and racers; today I'm saying it to myself.  About 20 km into today's 110km stage, I had an unfortunate crash when some Bott's Dots got the better of the riders around me.  I went down, didn't hit my head (bonus!), but had a few people crash over top of me.  When the bikes were cleared away I thought to myself, "Get up and ride up to the race doctor's car and get cleaned up on the go, just like the men!"  Despite my enthusiasm (AKA adrenaline) the race doctor and EMTs were already at my side assuring me that I was not allowed to finish the race.  The main culprit was a large cut on my right elbow.  Fast forward through the ambulance, ambulance #2 (as the original needed to return to the race), hospital, x-ray... Twenty stitches later, I was headed back to the hotel with my new friend, Basar, who had seen me through each moment in the hospital.  Very cool guy!

Meanwhile, back in the race... our strategy for the day was based on the predicted wind patterns.  Thinking we were going to be stuck with another brutal crosswind for the first 20km, it was our plan to drive pace and force the peloton to shatter.  When the winds did not behave as expected (we were in a head wind instead) we were forced to change plans as doing work in a head wind would have meant expending inordinate amounts of energy without successfully breaking up the field.  All six of us were in great position and found the pace a wonderful change from the first stage. 

At nearly 60km into the race, my teammate, Kat Carroll, got an unexpected gap on the field but was reeled in shortly before the first sprint point.  The race stayed together for most of the race until following the second intermidiate sprint, when two riders took advantage of the fast pace in the tailwind.  Gaining as much as one minute on the peloton, the women put in an impressive effort to hold off a charging pack of sixty riders.  In the end, they finished 14 seconds ahead of the bunch sprint. 

Team USA had another good day on the road, putting four riders in the front finishing pack.  Our sprinter was unfortunately not there in the final kilometers, but it's only February and we're giving her legs a little more time to come around.  Tomorrow is the final stage, and the team is still set to impress!

Despite a crash and being unable to finish the stage race, this has truly been an amazing trip.  During my unfortunate journey to the hospital, I had the opportunity to experience a part of "real" Qatar, and it was the silver lining of my day.  Besides the speedy and couteous service in the hospital, I was able to speak with locals, a visiting doctor from Michigan, and many women nurses about the country and their daily life.  I have many compliments to pay, and many thank yous to give, but most simply, I can say that Qatar is a country of many kind and wonderful people who are in the process of growing in many ways.

Thanks for reading!