2021 is my final year in the 35-39 category.
Also, 2020 would have been back at Manchester (indoors) and I think 2021 is in Trexlertown PA (a 333m outdoor track where my PB is 11.64 in practice, and 11.72 in a race qualifying).
Basically, there's a LOT that goes into selecting which gear to use for a 200m TT. And we do testing to see what cadence I'm peaking at for which gear...and that gives a VERY reliable projection for what the outcome will be just assuming I execute well.
I also ride BIG gears because I come from a road race/criterium sprinting background, so my max power cadence is on the lower end.
We're generally aiming for 120rpm in as big as a gear that I can hit that rpm in the dive to the start.
I think I ran 114" or 116" for the WR.
And I get that some people think that this was 'easy' for me, including my WC wins, but that's just a function of being a really smooth rider.
It doesn't LOOK like I'm going 100%, but I really am. I'm also really good at hiding when I'm suffering.
[Positron: fuck his one-sentence paragraphs. I'm aggregating them.]
I remember one of the UCI Elite 200m TT qual's in 2019 at Trexlertown PA. I was winding up and a coach said to my coach, "Isn't she going to start winding up yet?" He knew better. "She is...watch." I was already putting down 100% seated before the standing 100% jump. It just doesn't LOOK like I'm putting 100% down while seated. In fact! I used this ability to hide my effort to win the 2nd of the Gold medal final rides. I hid that I was already starting my final acceleration for a couple seconds, which is huge in an event where 0.001s matters.
Elite badminton and professional poker helps you get good at deception in competition--in hiding what you're doing. ...what shot to hit, when you're hurting, when you're starting a max effort, etc It's important in match sprinting to hide when you attack, especially from behind. There's also big mind games and strategy in which gear you select for a match sprint. If you KNOW someone is going to ride a huge gear, you hide that you're going to pick a smaller gear...go small, and then keep the race as slow as possible as late as possible. Whereas, if you're on a big gear, you need to get the race to a higher speed from which to initiate the final sprint.
I got beaten in the 2018 Alpenrose Challenge Sprint Final (in 3 rides) because my opponent picked a small gear and just attacked a LONG ass way out and I was like... ...fuck it...I'm not chasing. You win. Well played Tela.
It was hot as BALLS (outdoor concrete tracks funnel heat into the infield) and it was in the 90s in Portland. It was the final event (I won the Kieran and Chariot races) and I was tired AF. With a bigger race on the line, I'd definitely have chased. But I did set two of the track records in 2018!

The 3 day event ends with a flying lap record attempt. I took the 200m TT record in the quals for the Sprint (I came 2nd to Tela Crane), and set the flying lap on the final day at the end.
Fun fact...I swallowed a big ass fly in my final windup for the 200m TT. You don't get a do-over. It's also a VERY slow and super unique track. There's nothing like it in the US. Turn 1 is BANANAS at 40mph. I ended up winning the Sprint event in 2019, but it was my only win that year at the AVC. The other finalist made a huge tactical error. Right here: she gave me free height.
In track cycling, if you're the lead rider, you can't let the following rider get this close AND be at the top of the track while you're at the bottom. This same mistake is how I beat a world top 10 rider at Trexlertown in 2019 (my only top 10, 8th, in UCI Elite in 2019). This right here is my fave position to be in: this is how the lead rider can dictate the pace.
This is
how I like to race
Let me live tweet! This is the 2nd ride of the semi final on the final day. I didn't have to ride a quarter final the previous day because I got a bye (there were I think 7 riders in my age group, so I didn't race a quarter). ...just did the 200m TT qualifying. We draw numbers before the first ride. 1 has to be on the inside of the track and is obligated to lead out AT WALKING PACE or faster for at least the first half lap (125m). We can track stand after 125m if we want, and only for 30s I think. My opponent chooses to take the lead in the 2nd race. She has every right to do that if she wants. And she obviously communicated to her holder to give her a push to get her straight to the front...also totally legal. We tell our holder to push or not, and how hard. There's a minimum speed to stay upright and not slide off a wooden 45degree banked track, which is why I stand up for a few pedal strokes (on a big-ish gear, probably 104-106).
From qualifying, we both know I have the much higher top speed. So I'm happy in back.
[Positron: fuck it I give up and I'm not even halfway through. Go read on his Twitter you stalkers!]