A wet rocks kind of a day

It rained hard last night. I tried not to think about it. My teammate got a message from her coach this morning: "Have fun in the mud." Oh boy here we go...

And wet it was. Every rock was slick with rain and its own sweat. Yes, it was steamy hot today as well. Stage 2 treated us to a 42-mile jaunt through rocky lushness with some road thrown in. At the start, I was able to get a jump, but as soon as we got into the singletrack, Sue Haywood came up on me.

We rode together for most of the day until I was able to shake her at around mile 28. I wasn't sure I had it in me. She is riding really strong these days and her wet rock riding skills are amazing. I guess mine aren't that bad either.

I'm really stoked to have won the stage and take over the leader's jersey. I will do my best to keep riding strong, but each day holds something different, and we all have different strengths. There is still so much left, and these ladies have sweet smiles attached to very strong legs.

My Specialized Epic was the perfect choice for today. Thanks to team CF's mechanics Shane and Matt, it ran flawlessly. They are our lifeline this week. Even kids in the campground are leaving their bikes for tune-ups from these guys.

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Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) is racing the 2012 Trans-Sylvania Epic in and around State College, Pennsylvania.  Seven days of racing will change things up for her usual 100-miler and other one-day endurance events.

Stay tuned here on Cyclingnews to follow the adventures of Sornson as she takes on a top-notch elite women's endurance field through the mountains of Central Pennsylvania.

The Trans-Sylvania Epic runs from Sunday, May 27 to until Saturday, June 2.