Hello friends!
Well, road nationals is over and I’m home and back in lab, still kind of on Pacific time, but good other than that. Overall, it was a good trip. I did some good racing and some not so good racing, rode on some nice roads, ate some tasty food (including about 2 pounds of cherries), met some nice people, saw a good movie, and generally got to visit a state I’d never been to before. BUT I’ll skip all that and just give you the details on the road race, last Thursday.
SO Nationals. Nationals, in the 3 years that I’ve gone now, can be a funny road race. Depending on the course, it can vary vastly in how teams will try to race it, from the race 2 years ago in seven springs, PA where it was a climber’s race and teamwork had little effect, to last year’s race where the sprinters cleaned up. This year was something in the middle, and well, I thought the climbers would win, and guessed wrong. But that’s getting ahead of myself.
Tuesday, I landed in Portland in what felt for my body like the wee hours of the morning, but my bike, transportation, a hotel to spend a night in in Portland, the drive from Portland to Bend all went perfectly. The kind of trip that’s so smooth the stories are all boring! After getting to Bend, I spend Wednesday afternoon putting my bike together and checking out the course. It was HOT and DRY but the course is nice, winding through ranchland and state park/forest.
Thursday’s race started at 8:15am and what with the cooler morning temperatures and the fact that I was still mostly on Eastern time meant I was OK with that. For once having the less prestigious start time of the day was a blessing! The race had a neutral start since Bend is full of roundabouts (each with a different and distinctive piece of public art in the middle), so racing started after we cleared the second roundabout. Amber from Tibco attacked pretty much right away and rode solo for several laps. Interestingly, teams didn’t work too hard to shut her down, and instead tried to bridge other solo riders up to her…which didn’t work, and eventually she came back. I was betting that the hills were going to be tough enough to split the field, so tried to kind of keep my eye on the attacks but mostly to watch the climbers on the hills and to be in a good place on the climbs. Unfortunately, that isn’t what happened. Instead, for most of the race, the climbing was hard but not field-shattering, and what ultimately won the race was a break that formed early in the final lap. There was a crash in the feed-zone the final lap, but Kate and I managed to stay clear and upright, and on the final climb of the race, finally the climbers pushed to the front and broke things up. Unfortunately, I was a bit too far back at the bottom of the climb and couldn’t ever quite get up to Mara Abbott and Evie; instead I ended up in the next little chase group. We pushed it a bit over the last few miles in to the finish and I came in in the middle of my little group, finishing 14th out of the elite women and 15th if you count the top U23. Kate was in the next little group behind me, finishing 24th or 28th depending on how you count. Meredith Miller from team Tibco won the race by attacking out of the break. While you can read all about it in all sorts of places, I just have to say that hearing her talk with the announcer after the race, sometimes you just hear someone and think, wow. She seems like an articulate, gracious woman and a great person to be wearing the stars and stripes for the year (since it wasn’t in the cards for our team to take it). After the race, Kate and I went and got tasty fruit smoothies, sat in the chilly river to rest our legs for a bit, and generally tried to recover from the race and for the next day’s time-trials.
Kate’s going to tell you all about the time trial, but I’ll just give you a cliff note’s version: 35km is LONG when you’re alone. It was darn hot. Borrowed fancy carbon/disk wheels make exciting whooshing sounds. I finished, yay!
See y’all on the road,
Anna
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Lost River Classic
There was much excitement at the prospect of converging together again at Lost River, West Virginia – the location of our initial training camp in April, this time to race the Lost River Classic – a road race through some majestic scenery and over several rather steep hills!!
The race was brilliantly run by NEBC and Jay Moglia and Audrey– who own the Lost River Barn – one of our sponsors (and our MINT accommodation for our training camp at the start of the season). We are happy to report that we came away with the race win – courtesy of Kate Veronneau who rode like a rockstar!
Our race was 30 miles long and we were racing with a team of six, as well as Lorena who was both helping out the race organizer and the team (while 7 months pregnant – she’s amazing I tell you!).
As well as having numbers, we had extra incentive to win because Altarum was the main sponsor of the event!! No pressure or anything! ;-)
Anyway, our plan went perfectly, with a couple of us dedicated to setting the early tempo, then others launching off the front forcing other riders to chase. Michele was the first to go, flying around the course and eventually getting caught on the hill up to the finishing straight on the 1st of three laps. Kristy then countered this, splintering the field and leaving Kate and Jenette with a select group of riders. Jenette’s attack on the next big climb forced the other riders to chase while Kate patiently sat in until Jenette was caught, then she deftly launched out of the bunch like a rocket, never to be seen again – taking the race win by over a minute!! Just like the Tour de France!!!
It was a truly fantastic win for the team and a brilliant sign that Kate’s build up to Road Nationals in Oregon this week has gone to plan and she is FLYING! Anna will be joining Kate out there on Tuesday and we wish them all the very best. These girls are hammers. We know this for sure because sometimes we can’t hold their wheel. Hee hee
Following the race and podium presentation we then had a Wedding Shower for Anna Kelso and a Baby Shower for Lorena, which was graciously and generously hosted by the ever wonderful Marijka (and it was her birthday too!) in this fantastic country house her and her awesome friends were renting for a week long holiday! We had all sorts of games and laughs and while we will be sad to see Lorena and Rob head to Sweden on Tuesday, where they will be living for 3 years, we are looking forward to their stories of their adventures.
Ok, that's all for now!
Ciao
DT
The race was brilliantly run by NEBC and Jay Moglia and Audrey– who own the Lost River Barn – one of our sponsors (and our MINT accommodation for our training camp at the start of the season). We are happy to report that we came away with the race win – courtesy of Kate Veronneau who rode like a rockstar!
Our race was 30 miles long and we were racing with a team of six, as well as Lorena who was both helping out the race organizer and the team (while 7 months pregnant – she’s amazing I tell you!).
As well as having numbers, we had extra incentive to win because Altarum was the main sponsor of the event!! No pressure or anything! ;-)
Anyway, our plan went perfectly, with a couple of us dedicated to setting the early tempo, then others launching off the front forcing other riders to chase. Michele was the first to go, flying around the course and eventually getting caught on the hill up to the finishing straight on the 1st of three laps. Kristy then countered this, splintering the field and leaving Kate and Jenette with a select group of riders. Jenette’s attack on the next big climb forced the other riders to chase while Kate patiently sat in until Jenette was caught, then she deftly launched out of the bunch like a rocket, never to be seen again – taking the race win by over a minute!! Just like the Tour de France!!!
It was a truly fantastic win for the team and a brilliant sign that Kate’s build up to Road Nationals in Oregon this week has gone to plan and she is FLYING! Anna will be joining Kate out there on Tuesday and we wish them all the very best. These girls are hammers. We know this for sure because sometimes we can’t hold their wheel. Hee hee
Following the race and podium presentation we then had a Wedding Shower for Anna Kelso and a Baby Shower for Lorena, which was graciously and generously hosted by the ever wonderful Marijka (and it was her birthday too!) in this fantastic country house her and her awesome friends were renting for a week long holiday! We had all sorts of games and laughs and while we will be sad to see Lorena and Rob head to Sweden on Tuesday, where they will be living for 3 years, we are looking forward to their stories of their adventures.
Ok, that's all for now!
Ciao
DT
Saturday, July 18, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!
We would all like to wish our beautiful team mate and incredible manager Michele a HUGE happy birthday!! Hope you have a brilliant day Mama! We think you are the best!!
xxxooo
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Shorewood, WI
Shorewood has been my favorite race at Superweek the last two years I have done it, and this year in no exception because…..drum roll…..Jenette came 2nd!! Yah!
The day was nice and cool, although a little windy, and the race had a whole heap of mid race money primes which ensured it was active and positive racing as everyone sought out a few bob.
The plan was that I would try and go for a few mid race primes, cover any break away attempts and try and instigate some breaks. Well, I was getting absolutely smoked in the mid race primes (apparently the smell of money makes people super fast!) so focused on trying to attack at opportune moments and follow any threatening looking breakaway attempts.
The race ended in a bunch sprint with Jenette needing 5 more meters to take the win - she was flying up there that fast! It was an outstanding performance after a long break off racing and while still struggling with major injuries.
We hung out at and cheered for fellow Kiwi Heath at the race afterwards and enjoyed the fantastic atmosphere with live music, bbq’s and hundreds of cheering fans!
Rest day tommorrow.......well earnt. My legs are smashed and I felt like I was pulling a truck and trailer unit behind me by the end of the race today!
Ciao
DT
The day was nice and cool, although a little windy, and the race had a whole heap of mid race money primes which ensured it was active and positive racing as everyone sought out a few bob.
The plan was that I would try and go for a few mid race primes, cover any break away attempts and try and instigate some breaks. Well, I was getting absolutely smoked in the mid race primes (apparently the smell of money makes people super fast!) so focused on trying to attack at opportune moments and follow any threatening looking breakaway attempts.
The race ended in a bunch sprint with Jenette needing 5 more meters to take the win - she was flying up there that fast! It was an outstanding performance after a long break off racing and while still struggling with major injuries.
We hung out at and cheered for fellow Kiwi Heath at the race afterwards and enjoyed the fantastic atmosphere with live music, bbq’s and hundreds of cheering fans!
Rest day tommorrow.......well earnt. My legs are smashed and I felt like I was pulling a truck and trailer unit behind me by the end of the race today!
Ciao
DT
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Arlington Heights and Bensenville, IL
Well, two more races under the belt at Superweek and some tired pins!
We raced in Arlington Heights Tuesday which was long course with 8 corners to keep us on our toes. There were many riders keen to breakaway so the race was very active – I attacked numerous times, and as a result there wasn’t much fuel left in the tank for the last 5 laps (read – hanging on for dear life!). The stronger and bigger teams wanted a bunch sprint and that is exactly how it ended up. Jenette rocked up for 10th which is was a great effort considering she had no form of lead out as I dangled on the back!
We talked to many friendly spectators after the race and Jenette supported the local economy by downing several cups of home made lemonade from the stand on the corner after the race (the wee girls admitted that they made it from a powder mix, but Jenette reassured them that this still counts as homemade since they had to put some kind of effort in their homes. Hee hee, I was giggling in the background).
Hosts Duane and Shaun cooked us a splendid meal of steak, salad and potatoes as we rounded out the evening solving the worlds problems on the patio. Magic!
Wednesday was a lazy start, we watched the Tour in the morning and headed out to Bensenville after lunch where it was a hot and windy day. As a result, the racing was negative – no one wanted to face the wind and it was too hard for a break to stay away. I think everyone was just really tired and that made the whole race a bit of a non-event to be honest. I tried to rark it up a couple of times to make the sprinters work, but to no avail since no one else was too interested in doing anything much.
Jenette got boxed in through the twisty finish but still came 12th so that bought our dinner as we hit the road for Wisconsin. The State of Cheese.
We are planning a visit to the ‘Mars Cheese Castle’ at some stage in the next few days…… which, by the way, is not a castle at all. The first time I visited there in 2007, I had heard so much about this amazing destination that I had let my imagination run wild and was dreaming of some kind of cheese version of Charlie and the Chocolate factory. I was bitterly disappointed when we rocked up to a perfectly normal building which merely stocked a variety of cheese, candy and trinkets. There were no ompalompahs, no edible furniture or plants and not even a tour of any kind of factory. However, now I have worked through the disappointment I am ready to revisit the ‘castle’ and perhaps sample some cheese curds and buy a cow magnet.
Tommorrow we race in Shorewood, Wisconsin which is a fun crit through a vibrant wee town where the locals always come out en-masse. Should be fun!
Ciao
DT
We raced in Arlington Heights Tuesday which was long course with 8 corners to keep us on our toes. There were many riders keen to breakaway so the race was very active – I attacked numerous times, and as a result there wasn’t much fuel left in the tank for the last 5 laps (read – hanging on for dear life!). The stronger and bigger teams wanted a bunch sprint and that is exactly how it ended up. Jenette rocked up for 10th which is was a great effort considering she had no form of lead out as I dangled on the back!
We talked to many friendly spectators after the race and Jenette supported the local economy by downing several cups of home made lemonade from the stand on the corner after the race (the wee girls admitted that they made it from a powder mix, but Jenette reassured them that this still counts as homemade since they had to put some kind of effort in their homes. Hee hee, I was giggling in the background).
Hosts Duane and Shaun cooked us a splendid meal of steak, salad and potatoes as we rounded out the evening solving the worlds problems on the patio. Magic!
Wednesday was a lazy start, we watched the Tour in the morning and headed out to Bensenville after lunch where it was a hot and windy day. As a result, the racing was negative – no one wanted to face the wind and it was too hard for a break to stay away. I think everyone was just really tired and that made the whole race a bit of a non-event to be honest. I tried to rark it up a couple of times to make the sprinters work, but to no avail since no one else was too interested in doing anything much.
Jenette got boxed in through the twisty finish but still came 12th so that bought our dinner as we hit the road for Wisconsin. The State of Cheese.
We are planning a visit to the ‘Mars Cheese Castle’ at some stage in the next few days…… which, by the way, is not a castle at all. The first time I visited there in 2007, I had heard so much about this amazing destination that I had let my imagination run wild and was dreaming of some kind of cheese version of Charlie and the Chocolate factory. I was bitterly disappointed when we rocked up to a perfectly normal building which merely stocked a variety of cheese, candy and trinkets. There were no ompalompahs, no edible furniture or plants and not even a tour of any kind of factory. However, now I have worked through the disappointment I am ready to revisit the ‘castle’ and perhaps sample some cheese curds and buy a cow magnet.
Tommorrow we race in Shorewood, Wisconsin which is a fun crit through a vibrant wee town where the locals always come out en-masse. Should be fun!
Ciao
DT
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Super Week Day 1 - Richton Park, Illinois
A few weeks ago, Jenette and I decided to make a road trip up to Illinois, the day after Iron Hill, to take part in the legend that is ……..Superweek!.
Superweek or the International Cycling Classic is actually a 2 week series (Super Fornight doesn’t have the same ring I guess!) of criteriums and road races through Illinois and Wisconsin. It used to be a huge series but the prize money has been dramatically reduced and now that there is a similar series held up here in June, Superweek hasn’t attracted the same numbers as in previous years - there are about 35 to 40 women racing this year. Yesterday was actually day 4 of super- week, but the first day for us!
It’s a pretty long haul up here– (12 hours from Lancaster where we stayed with Michele the night after Iron Hill…..she set us on our way with omlets, coffee and snacks! We love our wee Mama!). We joked and laughed the whole drive and the time flew by, so we weren’t feeling too wrecked when we arrived at our host house in Downers Grove.
Duane and Shaun had hosted Jenette and Michele to stay last year, so they were so excited to see Jenette again and we have made our little nests in their sun room….which, coincidently has a huge flat screen television in order to watch the Tour de France – magic!!
Traditionally, it is like racing on the surface of the sun at this time of year in Chicago, however it is defiantly a bit cooler this year which is great! The race itself was aggressive from the get go with Jenette launching the first attack from the gun and a whole series of counter attacks going from there. We were both continually off the front making the sprinter teams work, until it became clear nothing was going to be allowed to get away. I told Jenette to sit in and wait for the sprint and I would continue to instigate breaks and cover any other breakaway attempts.
With 11 laps to go I was away off the front and really starting to feel the effects of all the work I had been doing. I got caught by the bunch just before the sprint lap and the group of 6 riders that were contesting a mid-race sprint prime got a small gap as they sprinted for the line and the rest of the bunch, who weren’t interested in the sprint sat back and conserved energy. Normally, things come back together after a sprint as the sprinter recover from their effort, but this time they had a reasonable gap and they kept on going! I was so exhausted but knew I had to get across as it was a good representation of the major teams– so off I went chasing, chasing, chasing. I dug and dug but just couldn’t close the gap before I ‘blew to bits’. I was so frustrated and angry and knew I hadn’t left enough fuel in the tank to deal with this final effort and it was my own fault! So off the break went, with the other individuals or smaller teams that weren’t in the break seemingly not that interested in chasing. For the last 5 laps I was hanging onto the back of the bunch for dear life and was no help at all in leading out Jenette for the bunch sprint, however she still managed to sprint to take 10th overall. Great effort!
While a frustrating day, we did learn a lot about the style of the racing is going down this week, so can go into the race today with a more informed game plan and hopefully come away with a win! We had a lot of compliments after the race from other teams and also the race commentator who said that we had really made the race and it seemed like we had a whole team racing, not just two riders, so it was really nice and very sencouraging to hear that!
Ok, that’s all for now. I am rambling as I procrastinate from my school work!
Ciao
Dale :-)
Superweek or the International Cycling Classic is actually a 2 week series (Super Fornight doesn’t have the same ring I guess!) of criteriums and road races through Illinois and Wisconsin. It used to be a huge series but the prize money has been dramatically reduced and now that there is a similar series held up here in June, Superweek hasn’t attracted the same numbers as in previous years - there are about 35 to 40 women racing this year. Yesterday was actually day 4 of super- week, but the first day for us!
It’s a pretty long haul up here– (12 hours from Lancaster where we stayed with Michele the night after Iron Hill…..she set us on our way with omlets, coffee and snacks! We love our wee Mama!). We joked and laughed the whole drive and the time flew by, so we weren’t feeling too wrecked when we arrived at our host house in Downers Grove.
Duane and Shaun had hosted Jenette and Michele to stay last year, so they were so excited to see Jenette again and we have made our little nests in their sun room….which, coincidently has a huge flat screen television in order to watch the Tour de France – magic!!
Traditionally, it is like racing on the surface of the sun at this time of year in Chicago, however it is defiantly a bit cooler this year which is great! The race itself was aggressive from the get go with Jenette launching the first attack from the gun and a whole series of counter attacks going from there. We were both continually off the front making the sprinter teams work, until it became clear nothing was going to be allowed to get away. I told Jenette to sit in and wait for the sprint and I would continue to instigate breaks and cover any other breakaway attempts.
With 11 laps to go I was away off the front and really starting to feel the effects of all the work I had been doing. I got caught by the bunch just before the sprint lap and the group of 6 riders that were contesting a mid-race sprint prime got a small gap as they sprinted for the line and the rest of the bunch, who weren’t interested in the sprint sat back and conserved energy. Normally, things come back together after a sprint as the sprinter recover from their effort, but this time they had a reasonable gap and they kept on going! I was so exhausted but knew I had to get across as it was a good representation of the major teams– so off I went chasing, chasing, chasing. I dug and dug but just couldn’t close the gap before I ‘blew to bits’. I was so frustrated and angry and knew I hadn’t left enough fuel in the tank to deal with this final effort and it was my own fault! So off the break went, with the other individuals or smaller teams that weren’t in the break seemingly not that interested in chasing. For the last 5 laps I was hanging onto the back of the bunch for dear life and was no help at all in leading out Jenette for the bunch sprint, however she still managed to sprint to take 10th overall. Great effort!
While a frustrating day, we did learn a lot about the style of the racing is going down this week, so can go into the race today with a more informed game plan and hopefully come away with a win! We had a lot of compliments after the race from other teams and also the race commentator who said that we had really made the race and it seemed like we had a whole team racing, not just two riders, so it was really nice and very sencouraging to hear that!
Ok, that’s all for now. I am rambling as I procrastinate from my school work!
Ciao
Dale :-)
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