Race Report: Mt. Hamilton Road Race
W 1,2,3
Teammates: Ange McClure (or McCline according to the results on USAC), Maura Kinsella, Haley Juno-Galdes (our newest team member)
Placings: Ange (20th), Lauren (23rd), Maura (26th), Haley (34th)
Where to begin. We were all newbies to this race. In fact, we were all new to the climb. We all converged upon the race course by separate means and had somewhat of a giggly warm up. All of us were nervous and a little unsure of and daunted by what was to come. As we rolled around more and more pros appeared until we lined up and realized that despite the small size of the field, it was stacked. Peanut Butter had two riders, Tibco had a few riders, not to mention the local climbers that showed up to probably the most climby local race of the year.
After the somewhat frightening pre-race announcements (including instructions on how to ride around/near an airlift emergency situation) we set off behind the first female moto ref I have ever seen. We hit the climb and immediately strong riders hit the front and started with a good tempo. I was feeling pretty good and keeping an eye on all my teammates. About ten minutes into the climb Alli Starnes made the first attack for Tibco. At this point I was sitting in fine but knew that I could not sustain the effort that her attack required. I drifted to the back with the intention of monitoring my effort and holding on until the attack subsided.
Unfortunately that plan did not work out. I found myself in a small group about 50 meters off the back of the peloton. The group included Maura, which I was grateful for. We could see the group for about another 10 minutes until they reached the plateau bit when they gained speed and disappeared. This left myself, Maura, and another unattached rider to chase. We picked up two more girls and put our heads down for the rest of the long climb. About five miles from the top the grade steepens and two of the riders took off leaving three of us behind.
After cresting and descending our group became five again and began rotating through. We had had our share of protein swallowing the swarming flies for the last few miles and now we wished for the next feed zone more than ever. Eventually we reached the second feed zone and I was more excited to have that cold water than I have ever been before. Unfortunately I was too focused on the water and as soon as we crested the next climb I had my bottle out not knowing that we descended immediately into three sharp turns. I couldn’t manage the speed and the bottle so I had to ditch it and was waterless for the next 30 miles.
The descent to the finish was made exciting by the group of masters men who swarmed us. They were intent upon attacking each other down the whole descent making it difficult for our groups to stay separate. Eventually after some cat and mouse between our groups they took off down the last bit of windy descent until we caught them at 1km to go. Our groups actually sprinted together and I managed to sprint past everyone and get out of the mayhem. It was a very long day and most of us were just happy to be finished. At least now we can all say we have done the epic Mt. Hamilton Road Race!
--Lauren
Follow the Webcor/Alto Velo Bridge Team:
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– http://avbridge.blogspot.com/
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Tour of California Sacramento Crit
Tour of California Sacramento Crit
Teammate: Lauren, Kinsey and myself.
“The new sensation Coryn Rivera” a 17 year-old, did not fail to disappoint on the at the Sacramento Crit two weekends ago. The four corner course with long straights made it a massive drag race for the whole peloton. Girls went off the front throughout the race; however, it was only for a short time before the pack swept them up, the course was echoing sprinters finish! That said in the last few laps there were some very close corners, and tight squeezes for girls fighting for position, if the sprinters wanted a win they would certainly have to work for it! Indeed Rivera took the final sprint, with Modesta from Colivatia 2nd and Webcor’s Professional Team member Jolle taking 3rd.
Till next time
Ange
Teammate: Lauren, Kinsey and myself.
“The new sensation Coryn Rivera” a 17 year-old, did not fail to disappoint on the at the Sacramento Crit two weekends ago. The four corner course with long straights made it a massive drag race for the whole peloton. Girls went off the front throughout the race; however, it was only for a short time before the pack swept them up, the course was echoing sprinters finish! That said in the last few laps there were some very close corners, and tight squeezes for girls fighting for position, if the sprinters wanted a win they would certainly have to work for it! Indeed Rivera took the final sprint, with Modesta from Colivatia 2nd and Webcor’s Professional Team member Jolle taking 3rd.
Till next time
Ange
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Cat's Hill
Cat's Hill Race Report from Lauren on the Bridge Team
Race Report: Cat’s Hill Criterium
Category: W1,2,3
Place: 2nd/34
Teammates: Maura Kinsella (mechanical), Lindsay Meyers (9th)
After some overly complicated logistical preparation Lindsay, Maura and I met up on the road and made our way to Los Gatos for the infamous Cat’s Hill Crit. I have been looking forward to this race since last year when I had shifting complications on the hill and had to chase back on to finish 4th (ironically enough, by barely getting beat in the sprint for 3rd). This year would be different, or so I told myself.
We were about 10 minutes late to start but the race director told us we would race the 60 minutes as planned. And so we were off...
The race was rather uneventful. There were several cash primes, which were swept up by some Tibco riders and a few other ambitious souls. Some attacks went but were quickly reeled in. Unfortunately, Maura, being new to the hill, had the common chain-drop mechanical and ended up having to chase for two laps to get back on. I waited patiently for the laps to wear on everyone as they always do. Unfortunately, the lap cards came much sooner than expected and after only 42 minutes of racing we saw one to go. I was sitting about 4th wheel into the hill where Jazzy (Third Pillar) attacked. I hesitated just for a moment thinking that one of the two riders in front of me would surely react. When no one went I launched myself over the top and SLOWLY inched my way up to Jazzy’s wheel, only really catching it as we made the right hand turn down the hill. As we hit the last turn, Jazzy gapped me as I shifted for the sprint and had some technical difficulties (still unsure what they were). I sprinted my butt off but ran out of real estate and crossed the line a fraction of a rim behind her, with a spectacularly rambunctious bike throw. It was an awesome move by Jazzy and great to be able to go with it.
Thanks for reading! And special thanks to all those cheering on the hill!
--Lauren
Race Report: Cat’s Hill Criterium
Category: W1,2,3
Place: 2nd/34
Teammates: Maura Kinsella (mechanical), Lindsay Meyers (9th)
After some overly complicated logistical preparation Lindsay, Maura and I met up on the road and made our way to Los Gatos for the infamous Cat’s Hill Crit. I have been looking forward to this race since last year when I had shifting complications on the hill and had to chase back on to finish 4th (ironically enough, by barely getting beat in the sprint for 3rd). This year would be different, or so I told myself.
We were about 10 minutes late to start but the race director told us we would race the 60 minutes as planned. And so we were off...
The race was rather uneventful. There were several cash primes, which were swept up by some Tibco riders and a few other ambitious souls. Some attacks went but were quickly reeled in. Unfortunately, Maura, being new to the hill, had the common chain-drop mechanical and ended up having to chase for two laps to get back on. I waited patiently for the laps to wear on everyone as they always do. Unfortunately, the lap cards came much sooner than expected and after only 42 minutes of racing we saw one to go. I was sitting about 4th wheel into the hill where Jazzy (Third Pillar) attacked. I hesitated just for a moment thinking that one of the two riders in front of me would surely react. When no one went I launched myself over the top and SLOWLY inched my way up to Jazzy’s wheel, only really catching it as we made the right hand turn down the hill. As we hit the last turn, Jazzy gapped me as I shifted for the sprint and had some technical difficulties (still unsure what they were). I sprinted my butt off but ran out of real estate and crossed the line a fraction of a rim behind her, with a spectacularly rambunctious bike throw. It was an awesome move by Jazzy and great to be able to go with it.
Thanks for reading! And special thanks to all those cheering on the hill!
--Lauren
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wente Road Race
Wente Road Race
Women’s 1,2
Teammates: Lauren
The course: 66 miles undulating with one climb each lap that was approximately 2 mile, 4 laps of the loop, 5 times up the climb to the finish.
This racing was challenging for a local race; the quality of the field was high with Peanut Butter and Tibco representing. The first lap was calm, the hammer went down on the second lap, and girls were spread out across the climb, but then regrouping took place on the downhill. The same was to be said for the third lap—no real groups being formed just spread out, battling for wheels up the climb. On the third lap downhill there was a group of 5 or so up the road and the remains of the “main” bunch, which I was in, turned very negative, with no one chasing down a gap of 20seconds to the “breakaway” riders. Half-hearted attempts were made, and I put in one large effort to catch the girls off the front, but honestly I was cooked by this time and really just needed another girl to hit over me once I pulled my turn, but there were no takers. The last lap saw our group getting even more negative. The final result was Shelly Evans taking the win. Lauren did a great job to finish in the third bunch, 19th place. I placed 13th, good last hit out before The Tour of Gila next week in Silver City, New Mexico.
Ange
Women’s 1,2
Teammates: Lauren
The course: 66 miles undulating with one climb each lap that was approximately 2 mile, 4 laps of the loop, 5 times up the climb to the finish.
This racing was challenging for a local race; the quality of the field was high with Peanut Butter and Tibco representing. The first lap was calm, the hammer went down on the second lap, and girls were spread out across the climb, but then regrouping took place on the downhill. The same was to be said for the third lap—no real groups being formed just spread out, battling for wheels up the climb. On the third lap downhill there was a group of 5 or so up the road and the remains of the “main” bunch, which I was in, turned very negative, with no one chasing down a gap of 20seconds to the “breakaway” riders. Half-hearted attempts were made, and I put in one large effort to catch the girls off the front, but honestly I was cooked by this time and really just needed another girl to hit over me once I pulled my turn, but there were no takers. The last lap saw our group getting even more negative. The final result was Shelly Evans taking the win. Lauren did a great job to finish in the third bunch, 19th place. I placed 13th, good last hit out before The Tour of Gila next week in Silver City, New Mexico.
Ange
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Santa Cruz Classic Crit
Race Report from Lauren
Race Report: Santa Cruz Classic Criterium
W1,2,3
Teammates: Ange McClure, Katheryn Mattis
Place: Lauren 8/44, Ange 23/44, Katheryn 13/44
This is such a great race. The course is so unlike anything else in the area. And, lucky for us local gals, a bunch of the professional gals were around to show us a good time. It was a beautiful day in Santa Cruz as 44 of us lined up to race 30 laps.
No one wasted any time getting things started. It helped that the first lap was a hot lap that had $20 on the line. Several attacks went off and, to be honest, I was suffering so greatly that they all became a blur. The tearing of legs for this race became indistinguishable from the tearing off of legs the day before at Sea Otter. Eventually Olivia Dillon and Amanda Miller got off the front and it looked promising, only after Mrs. Mattis’ painfully impressive prime attacks. In the next few laps Mary Maroon bridged the gap to the two off the front and they remained there for the duration. That didn’t stop the field from putting the hurt on; we dropped a whopping 15 riders.
Katheryn rolled back and asked me how I was feeling and, unfortunately, my response was less than reassuring. Ange put out a great effort in the last 8 laps or so to try and shorten the gap to the break. She brought it down by about 10 seconds but no one else was interested in bringing it in. On the last lap I tried to muster as much strength as I could, still feeling less than ideal. I came out of the last turn on the Tibco/Peanut Butter Co. train and did the best I could to get up that hill in the sprint. My position was not the greatest I just didn’t have it in me to pass many people. Great, hard racing!
--Lauren
•Follow The Team
–http://facebook.com/avbridge
–http://avbridge.blogspot.com/
Race Report: Santa Cruz Classic Criterium
W1,2,3
Teammates: Ange McClure, Katheryn Mattis
Place: Lauren 8/44, Ange 23/44, Katheryn 13/44
This is such a great race. The course is so unlike anything else in the area. And, lucky for us local gals, a bunch of the professional gals were around to show us a good time. It was a beautiful day in Santa Cruz as 44 of us lined up to race 30 laps.
No one wasted any time getting things started. It helped that the first lap was a hot lap that had $20 on the line. Several attacks went off and, to be honest, I was suffering so greatly that they all became a blur. The tearing of legs for this race became indistinguishable from the tearing off of legs the day before at Sea Otter. Eventually Olivia Dillon and Amanda Miller got off the front and it looked promising, only after Mrs. Mattis’ painfully impressive prime attacks. In the next few laps Mary Maroon bridged the gap to the two off the front and they remained there for the duration. That didn’t stop the field from putting the hurt on; we dropped a whopping 15 riders.
Katheryn rolled back and asked me how I was feeling and, unfortunately, my response was less than reassuring. Ange put out a great effort in the last 8 laps or so to try and shorten the gap to the break. She brought it down by about 10 seconds but no one else was interested in bringing it in. On the last lap I tried to muster as much strength as I could, still feeling less than ideal. I came out of the last turn on the Tibco/Peanut Butter Co. train and did the best I could to get up that hill in the sprint. My position was not the greatest I just didn’t have it in me to pass many people. Great, hard racing!
--Lauren
•Follow The Team
–http://facebook.com/avbridge
–http://avbridge.blogspot.com/
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Sea Otter
Sea Otter Classic --Women's 1/2
15th April- 17th April
This was my first experience at Sea Otter and for the most past I was doing it solo, without my usual Bridge Team teammates!
Thursday brought about a 50minutue criterium around a race smooth asphalt track, the shape of the course being a hot dog with sweeping bends and a hill up to the start finish line. The race was on from the gun and with Team Tibco and Colivatia having full or close to full squads made it a challenging race. The race broke up quickly and soon 10 riders were off the front. I missed the break and my effort with the other teams to bring the break back was unsuccessful, mainly due to all the teams represented and no one willing to help and not that they should, a big mistake on my part. Amanda Miller from Team Tibco won the race in a solo break from the original breakaway group.
Friday was the road race and what a race it was, 6 laps of a tight technical road loop with one descent 1 mile steep hill amongst rolling and pitching terrain, finishing with a 2mile climb to the start/finish. I was annoyed with my race yesterday and was set to be in the moves. The pace was on from the moment we hit the 1st lap of the circuit. I attacked first to get things moving and to try and spark the break away. The first four laps girls where attempting to go off the front but nothing was sticking. Then at the bottom of the fifth I attacked solo and made some ground. I was caught at the top of the hill on the 5th lap to be counter attacked by Tibco, I made it over to the move before another counter went and my legs this time didn’t make the cut. 8 girls were now up the road, everyone was content with being in groupetto. The last climb saw me hold it up the front to finish 12th, not happy with the result, again a breakaway I missed.
Saturday was the hardest stage yet 2hours of the race course route with a nasty climb of approximately 600meters. After 2 days of working hard and being aggressive my legs certainly knew about it while I was standing on the start finish line ready to begin what I knew was going to be a painful 2hours; however, I had some relief knowing my teammate Lauren was racing as well. The first hour was solid but no serious attacks. Once we were at 50minutes to go the pace heated up and again for the third time this weekend the break went and I wasn’t in it. That break survived and Kathryn Mattis did a fantastic job for Webcor finishing 3rd.
This weekend I learnt some big lessons on when to put my efforts in to make breaks and to change the race to my favour. Unfortunately it didn’t come together this time round, but I know with more racing, I’ll be stronger and smarter to make the right moves to get the results the Bridge Team and I want.
Till next time
Angela
15th April- 17th April
This was my first experience at Sea Otter and for the most past I was doing it solo, without my usual Bridge Team teammates!
Thursday brought about a 50minutue criterium around a race smooth asphalt track, the shape of the course being a hot dog with sweeping bends and a hill up to the start finish line. The race was on from the gun and with Team Tibco and Colivatia having full or close to full squads made it a challenging race. The race broke up quickly and soon 10 riders were off the front. I missed the break and my effort with the other teams to bring the break back was unsuccessful, mainly due to all the teams represented and no one willing to help and not that they should, a big mistake on my part. Amanda Miller from Team Tibco won the race in a solo break from the original breakaway group.
Friday was the road race and what a race it was, 6 laps of a tight technical road loop with one descent 1 mile steep hill amongst rolling and pitching terrain, finishing with a 2mile climb to the start/finish. I was annoyed with my race yesterday and was set to be in the moves. The pace was on from the moment we hit the 1st lap of the circuit. I attacked first to get things moving and to try and spark the break away. The first four laps girls where attempting to go off the front but nothing was sticking. Then at the bottom of the fifth I attacked solo and made some ground. I was caught at the top of the hill on the 5th lap to be counter attacked by Tibco, I made it over to the move before another counter went and my legs this time didn’t make the cut. 8 girls were now up the road, everyone was content with being in groupetto. The last climb saw me hold it up the front to finish 12th, not happy with the result, again a breakaway I missed.
Saturday was the hardest stage yet 2hours of the race course route with a nasty climb of approximately 600meters. After 2 days of working hard and being aggressive my legs certainly knew about it while I was standing on the start finish line ready to begin what I knew was going to be a painful 2hours; however, I had some relief knowing my teammate Lauren was racing as well. The first hour was solid but no serious attacks. Once we were at 50minutes to go the pace heated up and again for the third time this weekend the break went and I wasn’t in it. That break survived and Kathryn Mattis did a fantastic job for Webcor finishing 3rd.
This weekend I learnt some big lessons on when to put my efforts in to make breaks and to change the race to my favour. Unfortunately it didn’t come together this time round, but I know with more racing, I’ll be stronger and smarter to make the right moves to get the results the Bridge Team and I want.
Till next time
Angela
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Spring Hill Road Race
Race Report: Spring Hill Road Race
Category: W1,2
Teammates: Ange McClure, Maura Kinsella
Placings: Lauren 2/9, Ange 5/9, Maura DNF
Conditions: less than ideal aka pouring rain, wind and low temperatures
Course: 22 mile loop with three short climbs and rolling terrain in between. Potholes galore. 600m climb to the finish.
From the moment we woke up it was POURING down rain. Not the kind of rain that lightly falls over everything and freshens up the air but the kind that soaks you to the bone in a matter of seconds. We piled into the car and charged forth to the start, watching the temperature gauge slowly lower as we drove out of town. Our fabulous manager, Andi, called to tell us she was at the race course with towels, rain jackets, and, most importantly, PB&Js.
All three of us managed to change inside my CRV and only touched the rain to prepare bikes and head to the start. Needless to say, there was no warm-up. We descended down to the start line and realized we were a few minutes early so we trudged through ankle-deep mud to the registration tents for cover. Only problem was that we were standing in water and the wind was blowing water that had collected on top of the tent down over the sides and into our faces. So much for shelter.
We rolled to the start to find only six other brave souls. Already shivering we started our shortened race (from three laps of 66 miles to two laps of only 44). Despite the conditions and small field size the pace wasn’t too slow. No one wanted to face the conditions alone so the attacks were limited and mostly intended to tire others out. The first lap was uneventful; it was a “get-it-done” kind of pace. The second lap was also relatively uneventful except for the guest appearance of a medium-sized, unidentified black animal that decided to run out into the front of our peloton. One rider attacked the field two or three times and managed to break it up and cause some chasing.
With three km to go no one wanted to touch the front. Ange said that she was feeling better and would go for the finish so I decided to cover the front. Sure enough a Colavita rider attacked from the back of the field. I jumped to go with her, although rather slowly and numbly. I saw the moto roar up to her and give her the “throat-cut” sign. I assumed she had crossed the centerline and kept my momentum up and squeezed right between them as they discussed the offense. I was caught by the group as my legs gave out. Another Colavita rider attacked and I jumped to go with her only to see the third and final Colavita girl come flying up on the left. I saw her cross the center line and new she would be disqualified as well so I kept going. The winner of the race took off somewhere during that mayhem and I missed the move. As we hit the final climb I found myself with the last remaining Colavita rider and a Touchstone rider. I knew that both were climbers so my only job was to stay with them until the sprint when I thought I could jump them. We played a little cat and mouse and I managed to stay on until the line when I jumped for a short 10 meter sprint for second. Ange rolled across the line just behind my little group for fifth. It was a cold day but we all felt tougher for having faced the weather challenges.
Category: W1,2
Teammates: Ange McClure, Maura Kinsella
Placings: Lauren 2/9, Ange 5/9, Maura DNF
Conditions: less than ideal aka pouring rain, wind and low temperatures
Course: 22 mile loop with three short climbs and rolling terrain in between. Potholes galore. 600m climb to the finish.
From the moment we woke up it was POURING down rain. Not the kind of rain that lightly falls over everything and freshens up the air but the kind that soaks you to the bone in a matter of seconds. We piled into the car and charged forth to the start, watching the temperature gauge slowly lower as we drove out of town. Our fabulous manager, Andi, called to tell us she was at the race course with towels, rain jackets, and, most importantly, PB&Js.
All three of us managed to change inside my CRV and only touched the rain to prepare bikes and head to the start. Needless to say, there was no warm-up. We descended down to the start line and realized we were a few minutes early so we trudged through ankle-deep mud to the registration tents for cover. Only problem was that we were standing in water and the wind was blowing water that had collected on top of the tent down over the sides and into our faces. So much for shelter.
We rolled to the start to find only six other brave souls. Already shivering we started our shortened race (from three laps of 66 miles to two laps of only 44). Despite the conditions and small field size the pace wasn’t too slow. No one wanted to face the conditions alone so the attacks were limited and mostly intended to tire others out. The first lap was uneventful; it was a “get-it-done” kind of pace. The second lap was also relatively uneventful except for the guest appearance of a medium-sized, unidentified black animal that decided to run out into the front of our peloton. One rider attacked the field two or three times and managed to break it up and cause some chasing.
With three km to go no one wanted to touch the front. Ange said that she was feeling better and would go for the finish so I decided to cover the front. Sure enough a Colavita rider attacked from the back of the field. I jumped to go with her, although rather slowly and numbly. I saw the moto roar up to her and give her the “throat-cut” sign. I assumed she had crossed the centerline and kept my momentum up and squeezed right between them as they discussed the offense. I was caught by the group as my legs gave out. Another Colavita rider attacked and I jumped to go with her only to see the third and final Colavita girl come flying up on the left. I saw her cross the center line and new she would be disqualified as well so I kept going. The winner of the race took off somewhere during that mayhem and I missed the move. As we hit the final climb I found myself with the last remaining Colavita rider and a Touchstone rider. I knew that both were climbers so my only job was to stay with them until the sprint when I thought I could jump them. We played a little cat and mouse and I managed to stay on until the line when I jumped for a short 10 meter sprint for second. Ange rolled across the line just behind my little group for fifth. It was a cold day but we all felt tougher for having faced the weather challenges.
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