15-19 Jun Nature Valley Grand Prix

In its thirteenth year, the Nature Valley Grand Prix is touted as the most exciting, fan-friendly stage race in North America. The tour includes six stages over five days, taking in six cities and two states. ABD headed into the tour five riders strong, Jessi, Stacy, Kristen, Sarah, and me, with our awesome Team Manager Mike Ebert, extra support from non-racing teammate Elena and the ABD “Van-aconda” to faithfully transport us to the start of each stage.

Stage 1

Stacy with a good pain face in Stage 1

The Tour started Wednesday morning with a 10 km time trial along the Saint Paul riverfront. The course hugged the banks and bluffs of the Mississippi River, heading out and back and then snaking up a 6% climb to finish with stunning views overlooking downtown Saint Paul.

The story for the day was Sarah, who continued a string of travel nightmares. Scheduled to fly from Michigan to Minnesota Tuesday evening, she waited in the airport terminal through multiple flight delays into the wee hours of the night. The flight was finally cancelled, so she went home for a few hours of sleep. Thankfully, she was able to get an early morning flight. She arrived in Minnesota at 6:30 AM and caught a taxi directly to the start of the first stage. The heavens decided to open and pour down so Sarah had a bit of a wet time waiting for us to arrive. Unfortunately she had an early start time so not much time to warm up.

The worst of the downpour lessened off as riders got underway, but we all got sufficiently soaked and covered in muck from the spray off the road. Former World and Olympic Time Trial Champion Kristen Armstrong (Peanut Butter & Co.) took an unsurprising win in 14:30, a massive 23 s clear of the next rider, reigning US National Time Trial Champion Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Highroad). Stacy had the best ride for ABD at 1:44 back with Jessi not far adrift. Filthy and soaking wet, we headed back to our amazing host houses, half of us to the Dorr’s and half to the Stewart’s, got cleaned up, had a nap (especially Sarah) and refuelled for the evening’s stage.

Stage 2



Wet conditions made Stage 2 treacherous.

Stage Two Wednesday evening was the St Paul Downtown Criterium, set in the heart of the city’s Entertainment District, featuring a five-corner 1.4 km technical course complete with twists, turns and brick sections. Despite a brief showing of sun midafternoon, dark clouds descended as we warmed up and the rain re-started about 30 min before the start, continuing just long enough to make the roads dangerously slick. A top-notch field of 98 riders, stacked with talent including World Champion Giorgia Bronzini, riding alongside New Zealanders Cath Cheatley and Rushlee Buchanan (Colavita), lined up at the start. The wet pavement made for a crash-filled stage, including one crash that took down 30 riders. Worse yet was the impact of the conditions on the tempo of the race. The bunch would scream into each corner, hard on the brakes, and then blast out full speed.



Massive pile up on Corner 1, Stage 2.



Coming off a lung infection from the previous week, I wasn’t the best judge of effort. I’ve heard that antibiotics take away top end fitness (probably a bit less so then illness, but there you go). Anyway, I can first hand confirm this as truth. I had zero top end. Sprinting out of every corner was absolutely agonizing. One lap in, I was completely gassed. Each lap, I lost three or four spots as I worked my way backwards through the peloton, unable to garner sufficient energy to match the pace of passing riders. Finally, with 13 laps to go, I fell off the back and settled into a much happier pace with a small group, including Stacy who, despite an abundance of power, struggled with the slick, technical corners. Jessi kept good position, establishing herself as a contender for the amateur jersey by finishing with the front bunch. Kristen hung on long enough to make the time cut the start the next stage, but poor Sarah, with her travel dramas, was pulled early. Tour over. On the bright side, ABD came away injury free, avoiding the worst of the chaos that took out top NZ-rider Cath Cheatley with a double-pelvis fracture.

Kristin Armstrong put into words the intensity of the race. “Tonight was one of the hardest crits I’ve done in years,” Armstrong said. “People were on fire. I know that there’s been past years that have been tough, but I think the depth of this field is the best I’ve seen at Nature Valley.” The hour-long stage was won by World Champion Bronzini, followed by defending champion Shelley Olds (Diadora) and Australian sprinter Chloe Hoskings (HTC-Highroad) with Armstrong retaining yellow.

Stage 3

Peloton passing through scenic Cannnon Falls

Stage Three on Thursday brought the Cannon Falls Road Race, 107 km of rolling hills through one of Minnesota’s favorite tourist destinations. The course wound along country roads known for their short, quick climbs and unpredictable winds, finishing with a challenging six-lap 3-km circuit through the neighborhoods of Cannon Falls. Warming up on the circuit, Kristen decided that Ebert was getting off way too easy. She came up with some last minute challenges, including a broken rear derailleur, minutes before the start. Ever composed, Ebert handled the damage without a flinch and had her on the line with seconds to spare. But the damage was done. With all the drama, Kristen’s head was no longer in race mode and she drifted off the back of the bunch within the first 20 km. Now we were down to three.

The stage was filled with was nearly continuous attacks, but in contrast to the constant stop and go of the night before, I felt so much better. The pace was fast, with always something going on. The kind of racing I like. A small break got a minute up the road for the first QOH. Once that was caught, nothing else was allowed more than 20 s freedom. The beautiful scenery rushed by in a blur. A short section of unsealed road in the last 10 km of the race proved the crux of the course. Peanut Butter & Co put on a blazing pace going into the dirt, stringing out the bunch. Multiple crashes and out-of-control riders split the peloton to a front group of 35 riders.

I made it through the chaos with good position at the front, shutting out screams of terror emerging from riders behind me. Fortunately, Jessi and Stacy also made it through unscathed, unfortunately though, on the wrong side of the split. I dropped back off the bunch through a string of riders spread out on the finishing circuit. Reaching Jessi and Stacy, the three of us dug deep in an effort to limit the damage to Jessi’s GC position. At the finish, the loss was 1:58 with Jessi maintaining sixth in the amateur jersey competition. At the front of the race, Bronzini powered to her second stage win with Hoskings second and 25-time World Inline Speed Skating and Former US Crit National Champion Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Colavita) third.

Stage 4

The peloton speeds by in Uptown Minneapolis

Stage Four on Friday night was the Uptown Minneapolis criterium. Twenty-eight laps of a pancake-flat course with six tight corners squeezed into 0.88 km. The peloton was down to 81 riders and, with Kristen’s bad luck in Stage Three, the team was down to three. Stacy and I lined up with terrible position, smack dab at the back of the bunch. Jessi had slightly better positioning, about mid-pack, but she got off to a bad start of lost most of that in the first lap. With the big field and tight course, we spent the whole race (somewhat unsuccessfully) trying to move up to better position. The yo-yo effect at the back of the peloton was brutal.

Horrible crash on Satge 4 with one lap to go

Mid-race, a small break got a good gap off the front and started to threaten the yellow jersey. With about 10 laps to go, Peanut Butter & Co chasing hard, the pace went on and the field started to splinter. Four laps left and the break was caught. The fight for the front was on. With the pace blazing hot, heading into the finishing straight, one lap to go, a massive crash at the front of the bunch caused a huge pile up as riders further back came around the corner to hit a wall of bodies and bicycles on the ground. The crash spread completely across the road. So many riders went down with multiple serious injuries, it was impossible to clear the road for the final lap. Race officials were forced to call the race and nullify the results. Most riders came away with minor bumps, bruises and skin off. Unfortunately, four riders, including defending champion Olds, were taken to hospital, out of the tour. Stacy, Jessi and I were fortunate to avoid the crash. For me, the real adventure of the evening was yet to come.

I had woken up that morning with a case of very itchy, ugly hives, origin unknown. With Jessi sitting in sixth in the amateur rider competition, only 25 s out of third, the priority was to keep her in contention. Other than being inconveniently itchy, I felt good and decided to go ahead and ride. During the race, my body was clearly a bit out of whack. Despite the pleasant temperatures, I felt chilled in the later laps of the race. Afterwards, probably spurred by the increased body temperature from the exertion of the race, my upper lip began to swell. Through dinner, the swelling continued. My fortune cookie that evening read “You will be the center of attention”. Little did I know…

By the time we got home, my lip was quite a concern—to everyone except me (the benefits of not being able to see one’s own face). My incredible host mom Laurie Stewart and her mother, Marge, who was visiting for the week, whisked me off to the emergency room. We arrived at triage and I was immediately admitted to the priority waiting area. I didn’t even have a chance to sit down before I was assigned to a room. As I waited for a doctor, my lip continued to increase in size, now joined by my feet.

Worried about the swelling spreading to my airway, the ER doctor got things under control quickly. Then it was just monitoring my progress to ensure I didn’t worsen. Although uncertain, the most probable reason for the swelling and hives was an allergic reaction to the antibiotic I was taking for my lung infection, exacerbated by the added stress on my immune system from the exertion of racing.

After about four hours of monitoring, the swelling had stabilized and I was able to convince to doctor to send me home. Laurie and Marge kept an eye on me the whole time and made the hours fly by so fast with their wonderful conversation. At 3 AM I was released from the ER and, with a whole bagful of lovely medications to take, we headed home to bed. Fortunately by morning most of the swelling had subsided and, still three strong, ABD would fight another stage.

Stage 5

Finishing in downtown Menomonie

Saturday afternoon, the tour headed east to Wisconsin for the 130-km Menomonie Road Race, a course punctuated by short, incessant rollers and climbs of up to two miles reminiscent of some of the European spring classic road races. Containing the biggest hills of the tour and finishing with four laps of a tough 3-mile circuit in the historic downtown district of Menomonie, the stage would prove to be the most decisive of the tour. The pivotal break got away on the first QOH about 20 km into the race. With race leader Armstrong missing from the front group, Peanut Butter & Co blew their team apart chasing but were unable to shut it down. The seven-rider strong break finished with a 1:13 gap, enough to give a new race leader. Finishing second in the stage, former World Time Trial Champion Amber Neben (HTC-Columbia) pulled on the yellow jersey while Leah Kirchmann (Colavita) took the stage honors with Erinne Willock (TIBCO) taking third.

Jessi rode a great race, finishing in the main bunch (only 27 riders) 1:13 back and moving into fourth spot in the amateur competition, only 3 sec out of third. Having learned a hard lesson in Stage Three, Jessi kept excellent position throughout the stage. Stacy, being fairly new to stage racing, was beginning to feel the accumulation of fatigue that builds up over several successive days of hard riding. Combined with the added energy drain of the unfamiliarity of large bunches, the hills took their toll. For me, the impact of my emergency room excursion and the subsequent fluid lingering in my lungs turned out to be a bit much in the company of world-class riders. I found myself unable to climb and dropped like a rock through the peloton whenever the road headed skyward. Reaching the bigger climbs mid-stage Stacy and I finally drifted off the back of the peloton to settle into a small group of eight and rode a more pleasant pace together to the finishing circuit where we arrived in time to see Jessi whizzing around in the final lurch to the line

Stage 6

The best for last. Nature Valley’s final stage, the Stillwater Crierium, has an international reputation as the toughest criterium in North America. The Stillwater course is 13 laps of a 2-km loop, featuring a trek up the epic Chilkoot Hill every lap. This lung-busting 24 % climb is followed by a short false flat and then a four-corner, white-knuckled descent bringing riders back to the foot of Chilkoot for the next lap. And while the start is at the bottom of the hill, the finish is at the top. With only 66 starters, the field was dwindling. Health not on my side, I opted to sit this one out. ABD was down to two.

A special jersey presentation ceremony to honor rider Carla Swart, who died in a training accident earlier this year, brought an emotional note to the start of the race. The jersey, given to the rider who sacrificed the most for her team leader as voted by the other riders, was awarded HTC-Highroad rider Ally Stacher. If Ally didn’t disserve the jersey after the first five stages of the tour, she definitely earned it in Stage Six with an impressive effort from the whole HTC-Highroad team.



Restarting up the hill after the crash at the start



Bronzini winning on Chilkoot Hill



The race started with disaster for much of the field. A crash in the first several hundred meters brought the back of the peloton to a standstill. Because of the steep grade, several riders, including Stacy, needed a push to get going up the hill. Ebert was there in seconds, but the chaos shattered the bunch. Within five laps, a decisive break of 11 riders formed. The rest of the field splintered. Riders dotted the course. Most, I’m certain, just waiting to be pulled. Stacy battled on for about 10 tormenting laps before the officials decided to end her agony. Jessi, in an unfortunate moment of confusion, thought she was pulled from the race, but went riders behind continued past she realised she wasn’t and had to head backward on the course to get enough momentum to continue up the hill. Having moved into virtual third spot in the amateur GC standings on the road, the mix up cost her the placing and by the time she was pulled for real a few laps later she was back in fourth. While fourth was disappointing because she actually finished third, her performance was admirable, and merely a whisper of bigger things yet to come. In World-Champion fashion, Bronzini took her third win of the tour in an electrifying finish with Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Highroad) second and Armstrong third. With strong support from her team, Amber Neben held on the yellow jersey to win the tour, Willock second and Armstrong third.

We may not have won the tour, but hands down we won the award for the best manager, best van, best host families, and best dramas.

11-12 Jun Tour of Galena

Finally fully adjusted and completely caught up with work and updates, we had a challenging week of hardcore training planned. The week turned out to be challenging, but for completely different reasons.  

From O’Fallon we headed north to Green Island, Iowa, to spend the week visiting with family and training on the quiet, rolly rural roads of northeastern Iowa before racing in the Tour of Galena on the weekend, my final prep before the most challenging race on my US calendar, the Nature Valley Grand Prix, next week. Unfortunately Monday night I came down with a nasty virus that had me miserable and exhausted with a horrible headache, shivering and boiling at the same time. The result was I spent more time sleeping than visiting—or training. My chances of being in any shape to race were looking pretty slim.

By Wednesday the joint pain and fever subsided (but not the headache) and my sinuses began to clear. Things were improving. Thursday, though, my lungs began to tighten and my energy levels were back to near zero once. Lung infection. Not good. Fortunately, with my aunt’s assistance, I was able to get in to see a doctor for some antibiotics (Thank you Aunt Janet!). Almost immediately, I began to feel better and in less than 24 hours my sore throat was gone. Now (COUGH) I just (COUGH) need to (COUGH) clear my (COUGH COUGH) lungs. What is it about sleeping that causes one to cough so much? Nonetheless, progress. I might race yet.

Galena IL

The week had started with the blistering hot temperatures that had arrived from the week prior. Thankfully, Wednesday night a spectacular thunderstorm brought cooler weather (Lami and I both love thunderstorms—they’re a real treat since they’re so rare in New Zealand). By Friday temperatures dropped from insufferably hot and humid (upper 30’s; 100) to a much more manageable high teens (60’s).



Main Street, Galena

Friday afternoon we headed 40-minutes’ drive (Lami rode while I drove) north across the Mississippi River and back to Illinois for the inaugural three-stage Tour of Galena. Galena is a small tourist-destination town of about 3500 located in the far northwest corner of Illinois. The area is part of the Driftless Zone, an area that was not covered by glaciers during the recent ice ages. Because it escaped glaciation, this area is known for its hills, valleys, bluffs and large amounts of exposed rock. Perfect terrain for a bicycle race.

Floodgates, downtown Galena

The city is named for the mineral "galena", the natural form of lead sulfide and the most important lead ore mineral. Native Americans mined the ore in Galena for use in body painting. In the 1690s French trappers discovered the area and began mining the lead. The area was settled 100 years later and by 1845, Galena was producing 80% of the lead in the US. Until the late 1980s, Galena remained a small rural farming community. In the 1980s, a tourist campaign completely changed the face of Galena. Long-standing businesses closed their downtown locations, many relocating to the outskirts of Galena, in favor of touristy shops. The transformation rejuvenated the once boarded up buildings of Main Street into a thriving community. In 2011, Galena was rated as one of the top ten "Charming Small Towns" by TripAdvisor.

Back to the racing. The inaugural Tour of Galena was run as a three-stage, two-day omnium, where placement in each stage is awarded by points. The rider with the highest accumulation of points at the end of the tour is the winner. Riders choosing not to compete in all three stages can participate in any stage independent of the omnium competition.

Stage 1: Time Trial

The tour kicked off with a brutal 7 km time trial. The out-and-back course was rolly with a steep sweeping decent that became a leg-zapping 14% climb after the turnaround. Race info stated, “Aero equipment is allowed but not necessarily recommended.” Hmm. I opted for the Eddy Merckx-style nonaero-equipment approach. Warming up, I could feel my body resisting any effort, especially after my sluggish week. I was quite glad for the short distance. On the start line, the clock beeped down the last five seconds. Beep-Beep-Beep-Beep-Go! I got off to a good start, building speed up the gradual incline off the start line. I crouched low over the handlebars to get as aero as possible, but when I began feeling faint I realized that my oxygen intake was a bit impeded. I decided that, in my current state of health, I was going to need to compromise between aerodynamics and oxygen supply.

I felt reasonable to the turnaround and plowed up the hill with gusto, passing my 30-sec rider and gaining time on the rider behind. On the way back the effort was a bit easier with a gentle tail wind. I felt like I should be going so much harder. I just..didn’t…have…any…more…to give. With about 1 km to go, my energy reserves bottomed out. My legs and arms turned to jelly and I was barely holding myself up.

“You’re almost there” were the cheers from the side of the road. “Almost there” I thought, sprawling over my handlebars in an effort to keep from falling off. I crossed the line completely spent; I think the most exhausted I’ve ever felt after a TT. Yes, after only 7 km. I hadn’t even gone that hard! Apparently my efforts the previous weekend had a beneficial effect on my fitness (although not necessarily reflected in how I was feeling). Somehow, the results showed me finishing second, only 9 seconds behind teammate Jessi Prinner. At 18 years old, she can have those 9 seconds. I’m taking a nap.

Stage 2: Road Race

The afternoon stage (after a long hot shower and rejuvenating nap) was three laps of a 22-mile course for a smidge over 100 km—but with five substantial climbs each lap, some quite steep, the course was testing. The first lap was relatively uneventful as we mostly got familiar with the course and each other. On the second lap, teammate Jessi started putting in some little digs on the hills. By the third climb, 10 km into the second lap, Jessi attacked and this time riders started falling off her wheel. I punched it around the fading riders up to her. Liz So (Team TATI) caught my wheel as we crested the hill onto 5 km of exposed ridge. Not wanting to drag anyone along the ridge, I sat up. She sat up—I think a bit relieved. As further riders joined us, a few bridge attempts were made, but with Jessi not competing in the omnium, the other riders were complacent to let her go and she quickly powered away out of sight. I bided my time along the ridge until a good chance to escape. I found it in the fast descent off the ridge. At the bottom was a rough rail road crossing immediately followed by a sharp right turn that dropped quickly around the corner shortly followed by a steep climb. A perfect place to attack.

I got a good gap around the sharp corner and could see the bunch chasing hard as I crested the climb. I could also see Jessi up to road. Not really being in the best condition to ride 50 km solo, but also not wanting to endure a test-of-patience race and then take my chances in an unfamiliar technical finish, I opted to plow ahead in an effort to reach Jessi’s wheel. The course was a great breakaway course with the rolling terrain and winding roads ensuring quick cover. Whenever a longer climb loomed in the distance, I could see Jessi up ahead. But I also knew that meant the bunch would soon be able to see me as well. Looking back mid-climb from the spot where I had seen Jessi moments before I could see the bunch just coming into view, still chasing. But my rough measures, that put me closer to Jessi than the bunch was to me. Darn. I was hoping to sit up. Onwards towards Jessi.

Soon my glances behind became open road—and my occasional glimpses of Jessi became less of less frequent. I saw her one last time, on the hill where she had escaped one lap prior. (After the race I found out that the reason I saw her was that on that hill she had dropped her chain and had to stop momentarily to replace it on the ring.) I pushed hard up the climb in renewed hope of joining her, but she and I had no way to communicate on the road. Each time she looked back, seeing an unknown rider chasing, she went harder, uncertain who it was. And then I cracked. Jessi became a dot of the ridge. And then, she was gone.

Road Race Podium

I crept up the hill. I knew the bunch would have a good glimpse of me on the exposed ridge, and I would need to dig deep to get off quickly. Still clear of the bunch, I made it off the ridge, over the tracks. 20 km to go. Winding my way up the next climb, I began to hear the horn of a car, a support car, in the distance behind me. “Oh no,” I thought, “I’m caught.” Glancing behind I saw a single rider snaking around the corner, climbing strong and closing fast. That looks like ABD kit. Too far away to tell. Then I realized, that car’s way too flash for the women’s race (the men’s Pro/1/2 field gets the flash cars). Phew! The approaching rider was fellow ABD-er Ben Damhoff, off the front of the men’s field, accompanied by the men’s lead car. He blew past on the descent with a wave. Behind him, quiet, empty road.

One more climb. Two more men come past. Empty road behind. 10 km to go. It’s all downhill from here! Except (GASP) for that last (GASP) little (GASP) kicker right before town. Home stretch now. Not much left in the tank. How absolutely lovely to be able to enjoy the finishing straight and cruise over the finish line. Another one-two for ABD.

Stage 3: Criterium  



Criterium Podium



The final stage of the Tour of Galena omnium was a 50 minute criterium on a flat, 1-km course in the heart of Galena’s downtown district on Sunday afternoon. With Jessi back at home celebrating her high school graduation and me securely leading the omnium, the goal for the day was to move teammate Kristen Meshberg up from sixth to third in the omnium competition—not impossible, but would require a win from Kristen and at least two riders finishing the crit in between her and the third placed rider. Kristen started out hard, attacking off the line and stringing out the field. I countered a lap later, but with competition tight for the lower podium places, the girls weren’t letting anything get away easily. When the pace got a bit too slow, I took the opportunity to attack, staying away for several laps while I collected two primes in a row. Kristen bridged up and we had the ideal break, but I was gassed from my effort and we were soon caught. With the bunch together, Kristen and I took the opportunity to take turns taking the multiple primes—I think there were eight all up. I love crits with heaps of primes! I tried to use a couple of the primes to launch Kristen, but the field was quickly on her wheel. One lap to go and it was down to a bunch sprint. Ironically, had Kristen and I been racing as individuals, one of us would have won the sprint easily. However, in an instance of riders unfamiliar with riding together messing up a sure thing, we finished second and third with Liz So (Team TATI) taking the opportunity to grab the win. The result launched Liz from fourth to second, but was only enough to move Kristen into fourth overall, only three points out of third. We’re learning, and with seven podium spots, including three of four top spots, and the overall win for the weekend, an awesome result for ABD.  





Omnium Podium



5 Jun O’Fallon Grand Prix Criterium

Thank goodness for morning clouds. Temperatures on Sunday dropped to almost tolerable and the breeze even gave an ever so slight coolness to the air. The crit was a fun albeit bumpy hour glass-shaped course, on-mile in length with ten corners, including an exciting chicane corner heading into the finishing straight. The turnout for the women’s Pro/1/2/3 was disappointing at only six riders. But quality isn’t necessarily related to quantity. The race was brutal. When Chris Roettger and Carrie Cash Wooten (Revolution Racing) lined up on the start line, I knew it was going to be a tough race.
I went out hard from the gun, hoping to split up the two teammates straightaway, but with both women experienced strong riders, my plan came to no avail. After a couple of laps on the front I began to question the intelligence of my tactic. My enthusiasm faded, soon to be replaced by a slight feeling of dizziness and perhaps a touch of nausea. We shelled two riders straight away so it was a race of four. Carrie came around and she and I shared the load for a few laps as I regained a bit of equilibrium. Then the attacks, as expected, began in earnest. Chris flew by to my right. No sooner had I grabbed her wheel did Carrie put in an explosion of speed. I chased her down and Chris countered with another effort. And so it went.
At 15 minutes the prime bell rang and, being the optimistic and often nonsensical rider that I am, I put in a big effort, only to be rolled on the line by a very speedy Carrie “I’ll take the Cash” Wooten. We had a big gap after the sprint, so I pushed the pace hard for a few laps, taking advantage of the opportunity to get away from the constant one-two attacks. But with a good 25 minutes to go in the race and Carrie catching a free ride on my wheel with no incentive to work, I was conscious that too much effort on my part would give away the race.
A couple of laps and we were again four—and back to one-two attacks. Thankfully, Chris was now a bit tired from her chase effort, mediating her attacks, the fourth rider, Natalie Carroll (Dogfish Racing) hanging on for dear life, teeth firmly wrapped around her handle bars. Final lap, I had the advantage going into the final chicane, but in a deja vu of the earlier prime, the speedy Carrie came around at the line to take the win. I took second with Chris crossing the line in third. Definitely a good race to work the molasses out of my sprint. A weekend of good hard training accomplished. Thanks to Metro East Cycling for putting on a great weekend of racing.

4 Jun O’Fallon Grand Prix Road Race

With no team race on the schedule, Brian and I decided to head down to O’Fallon, Illinois, for two days of racing aimed at boosting our fitness for the harder racing ahead. About five-hour’s drive south of Chicago and just east of the Mighty Mississippi River, O’Fallon is a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. The course was a 40 km loop through mostly narrow rolling rural roads, the rows of early season corn lining the course lush green and just inches above the soil.

With the point of the weekend being training, I was hoping to get in some hard racing. Well, I got it! Not because of the field, the course or even the intensity of the race. It had entirely due to Mother Nature.  With temperatures soaring above 45 degrees (high 90’s) with humidity to match, a cloudless sky, and a stiff headwind on most of the longer straights, the race was one of attrition. The women’s race was two laps (80 km) of suffocating, energy draining heat. I tell you what, that was plenty. Brian’s mater’s race was three laps and the Pro/1/2 guys had a brutal 150 km.

I wanted to make the race hard without blowing myself apart, so around each corner (the course had 23 per lap) I went to the front and rolled through so that anyone breaking into the corner would have to work to get back on. About halfway through the first lap, the field was struggling. I upped the pace around the next corner transitioning from head-cross into a tailwind and the bunch splintered, leaving a lead group of six. With two of the three bigger hills on the course in the last 8 km of the lap, my legs and arms began to feel like jelly as we passed through the start/finish and a nap seemed like quite a good idea.

Having finished two of my three bottles, I was grateful to grab a fresh ice-cold one through the feedzone (Thanks Jane!) where, unloading my empty bottles, I accidentally threw my remaining half-full one. Being a bit loopy, but not crazy, I stopped to retrieve the accidentally discarded bottle (Thanks again Jane!). A modest attack after the feedzone meant a bit of work chasing back on but the heat quickly demotivated much output of effort from the girls and I was quickly back in the group.

One rider tailed off not long into the second lap and we were soon five. The remainder of the race was relatively uneventful as we each struggled to conserve enough energy (and water) to finish the race. By about 15 km to go, I had just a splash of drink left in my bottle. Heading into the last 5 km of the race, all of us dragging in the heat, one rider attacked up the climb. I dug deep and followed with Chris Roettger (Revolution Racing) on my wheel. We pulled hard over the top, I took my last sip of water, and heading into the last hill at 2 km to go Chris attacked up the climb. And then there were two.

Cresting the hill I felt pretty blown, but the 500 m to go sign boosted my spirits. Gasping for air I stayed on Chris’s wheel out of necessity rather than tactics. She put in a dig for the line but when I stayed with her she sat back down. I stayed on her wheel, sprawled on my bike, melting. Two-hundred meters to go and Chris let loose again. I had just enough left to come around. Chris sat up and I was able to cross the line solo in a full victory salute. My first 2011 US win!

30 May Rock Island

Back across to the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, Monday we headed to Rock Island Illinois for the Quad Cities Criterium, one of the longest running cycle races in the country. The flat, fast, three-quarter mile hourglass-shaped course just one block from the Mississippi River boasts one of the best wheel pits in the world.

With better weather on the forecast, four of us decided to do the double. In contrast to the previous morning, Monday started HOT. By 9 AM temps were already pushing 35 (mid 90’s). Stacy and I used the 2/3 race to work on some team tactics. Although my sprint felt like I was riding through molasses, I grabbed the midrace prime and we had great position at the front with two laps to go. The lead out didn’t go quite so well and we lost position with two turns to go. We need a bit of practice, but not bad for a first attempt. We salvaged out botched effort with a 7^th and 9^th.

In the afternoon, we were joined by Jessi, who opted to spend the morning studying for a course she’s taking, and 6^th team member Kristen, who drove down that morning to join us for the Pro/1/2/3 race. Our first race as a complete team! From start to finish the race was filled with excitement. Four of us got call ups to the start line, Stacy for her 3^rd-place finish the previous day, Jessi for her selection on the US National Team, Kristen as the defending champion, and me for my New Zealand license. As with the previous days’ races, several riders charged off the start line, full gas. I really need to get used to these fast starts!

The field wasn’t ready for it either and a break established early. With Kristen up front, the rest of us were able to relax for a bit. Not long though as the break was caught after several laps and attacks started flying. I had good position at the front to cover and cover and cover. I started to feel pretty blown! With two riders dangling off the front I was able to catch a ride with a bridging rider to establish a four- rider break. We lasted several laps longer than I wanted to and I was quite relieved when the bunch finally shut us down.  More attacks and this time Stacy was on it. She bridged to a disintegrating break and blew right past. With a gargantuan effort in gusty winds, Stacy stayed away for 12 laps for a very classy solo win. With nothing left in our legs, Jessi and I finished mid-bunch. Coryn Rivera (Peanut Butter & Co) took the bunch sprint and Holly Matthews (ISCorp) rounded out the podium. Overall, a very successful weekend for the ABD women’s team. And not a bad result for our first effort as a full team!  Thanks to race organizer Donnie Miller for putting a special focus on the women’s categories by offering Women’s 2/3 races throughout the weekend.

Stacy taking the win

Applewick picks up women's win at QC Criterium

29 May Melon City

Sunday morning, while the other girls enjoyed a sleep-in, I decided to double up my races for the day in hopes of fast-tracking my fitness. Brian and I headed about 30 minutes north to Muscatine Iowa for the Melon City Criterium. The course was a one-mile circuit with a fast decent complete with speed bump (judder bar) at the bottom, sharp uphill gradient, and two 90-degree turns at the top. The course circumnavigated a lovely park with statues of wild animals—elephants, deer, moose bison—variously dotted throughout terrain.

Mid-morning, racing was delayed while we huddled in shelters, waiting out 70 mph winds, horizontal rain, and pitch-black skies. Fortunately the forecasted baseball-sized hail never materialised. After 90 minutes, the skies brightened and racing was back underway, beginning with the Women’s 2/3, first women’s race of the day. I tested my legs on lap three to grab a prime, but two laps later lightening brought the race to a temporary halt. Soaking wet, I struggled to stay warm in the chilly temperatures. Several riders decided to abandon. When racing resumed 30 minutes later, my legs felt like concrete. Nine more laps felt like a long way!

Somewhere on the course, with two laps to go, my brain fast forwarded to the bell lap. I put in a huge attack up the hill and had a massive gap at the top. You can only begin to imagine my disappointment when, thinking I had won the race, I neared the start/finish line to see one lap to go on the lap counter. Oh no! OK. Salvage mode. I had a good gap, but not enough beans left to hold it through the headwind downhill section. I tailed to the back of the bunch for protection, thinking, “recover, recover, recover”. Over the speed bump I launched to the front of the bunch and somehow hung on up the now massive climb for fourth. Not quite the result I was aiming for, but a testament to the combined mental and physical acuity required for victory—and the mental impact of sleep deprivation.     

By afternoon the skies cleared, the roads dried and my second race, the Women’s Pro/1/2/3, bordered on hot. A bit over twice the distance of the first race, this race—which included a handful of pro riders—was going to be a massive effort given how I was feeling. Joined this time by four teammates, I worked to keep them in contention. The race was won solo by Ashley James from Team Kenda who slipped off the front early on. Little incentive to chase from the bunch meant a fairly neutral race. Late in the race, with Stacy in a small group towards the front, I faded with two laps to go. Stacy launched up the hill to take third to Amanda Miller (HTC Highroad). Coryn Rivera (Peanut Butter & Co) took 4^th and Jessi just got pinched on the line by Samantha Schneider (Team TIBCO) for 6^th. Not a bad result against some top pro riders.

28 May Snake Alley

My 2011 US racing sojourn began with a bit of an uphill battle, as it were. First race on the schedule: the infamous Snake Alley. Snake Alley, located in Burlington, Iowa, was once recognized as “the crookedest street in the world.” The road was constructed in 1894 to link the downtown business district and the neighborhood shopping area of the region. Three German immigrants conceived and carried out the idea of a winding hillside street, similar to vineyard paths in France and Germany. The street was completed in 1898 and was later named for its resemblance to a snake winding its way down the hill.

Bricks were laid at an angle to allow horses better footing as they descended. Snake Alley is a one-way street, with all traffic heading downhill—except for one day each year when cyclists tackle the uphill climb.

Snake Alley is 84 m long (about a block) and has 5 switchbacks in an 18 m climb with an average gradient of 21 percent. The women’s race was twelve laps of the fifteen block course. Oh, did I mention the weather? You got it. Wet. Fortunately the bulk of the rains finished in time for my race, but wet roads always add interest to windy descents.

Jetlagged and sleep-deprived, I lined up on the start line slightly unenthusiastic. The feeling was mediated, however, by the excitement of lining up for the first time with my ABD teammates. We lined up not quite a full team today as a change of plans meant Kristen would missing out Saturday and Sunday’s races, joining us on Monday instead. I have a hunch that Kristen, not being too keen on hills, wasn’t particularly bummed about this. Showing true dedication to the sport and the team, Jessi began her day with her high school graduation ceremony—graduating top of her class—then, still donning her graduation gown, driving the four hours to the race. She made it just in time, arriving only minutes before the start. I think she would have skipped it, but our crafty Team Manager Ebert pinned her number on a jersey so that it was all ready for her when she arrived, sending her a text enroute to quell any concerns she might have about having sufficient time to prep for the start.

The start gun blasted and off we went. Full gas. The thing about Snake Alley is that a thorough warm-up and good position off the start line are crucial to a top result. Stacy and I had a bad start and were quickly at the back of the field for the first climb up the Snake. Eventual winner and defending champion Amanda Miller (HTC Highroad) quickly disappeared from site up the windy alley before I even hit the bricks. Despite my poor start, I loved the course with the steep punchy climb and fast sweeping descent. Travel-weary, my body wasn’t quite in agreement with this assessment and I took the course at a cruisey pace. Stacy and I moved up consistently throughout the race but couldn’t regain the front riders, finishing 11^th and 13^th. Elena, the powerhouse that she is, broke her chain right on the start line. Sarah, not particularly enthusiastic about the steep climb, attacked off the back and did her best to limit the number of times she had to climb the alley. With no time to warm-up, Jessi took several laps to get going and, with an impressive buildup of speed during the second half of the race, worked her way up to 16^th spot. For me, a bit of an abrupt start to my US racing season, by why start off slowly when you can jump right in!

27 May Team & Race Schedule

For the next 12 weeks I’ll be racing with the Chicago-based cycling team Athlete’s by Design (ABD). The team is six riders strong, anchored by experienced speed demon masters rider Kristen Meshberg and impressive up-and-coming junior rider and US National Team member Jessi Prinner. Transitioning to road in the last two years, ex-triathletes Sarah Demerly and US masters National Pursuit Champion Stacy Applewick add incredible power to the team while new-to-the-road track sprinter Elena Dorr is a blaze of speed. Team Manager Mike Ebert keeps us focused and we have incredible support from Mike Farrell and our bike shop sponsor Prairie Path Cycles. We’re riding sponsored Trek Madone Six-series bicycles. My arrival in the US completes the team line up. Let’s race! First up, the Quad Cities Criterium, three days of racing over Memorial Day weekend. 

Schedule (with links):

25 May                 Arrive in Chicago

28 May                 Snake Alley Criterium                    Burlington IA

29 May                 Melon City Criterium                     Muscatine IA

30 May                 Quad Cities Criterium                    Rock Island IL

5 Jun                     O’Fallon Grand Prix Road Race    O’Fallon IL

6 Jun                     O’Fallon Grand Prix Criterium      O’Fallon IL

11-12 Jun             Tour of Galena                                Galena IL

15-19 Jun             Nature Valley Grand Prix              Minneapolis MN

21-26 Jun             Tour of America’s Dairyland        Wisconsin

25 Jun                   Glencoe Grand Prix                       Glencoe IL

3-5 Jul                   West Michigan Stage Race          Lowell MI

9-17 Jul                 SuperWeek                                    Illinois/Wisconsin

30 Jul                     Pres. Hospital Intern’l Crit          Charlotte NC

5-7 Aug                 Tour of Elk Grove                          Elk Grove IL

13-14 Aug            ABR Nat’l Crit Champs                 Winfield IL

20 Aug                  Meijer Grand Classic                    Grand Rapids MI

21 Aug                  Evanston Grand Prix                     Evanston IL

23-25 Aug            Return to New Zealand

26 May Arrival USA

Well, it was a hard-earned accomplishment, but Brian and I successfully made it to the US—fifty-seven hours after leaving home.

We headed off on our adventure last week early Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, heavy fog in Auckland meant delays, delays and finally cancellation of our flight. With no chance of catching our afternoon flight to Los Angeles, we began to explore rebooking options. Perhaps more unfortunate than our cancelled flight, we were told that the next available flight at the same fare would be June 1st, eight days away. Having rented out our house and packed the bare minimum for our trip, eight days would be a bit of a stretch. Not to mention the weekend of racing we had planned.

Putting to use profits from months of selling cookies, we opted to upgrade our fare and obtained a flight scheduled for the very next day. Not wanting to risk a repeat of the foggy morning, we got on the next available flight to Auckland (via Christchurch!) and made use of the excellent opportunity to catch-up with an Auckland-based friend for dinner and an overnight stay (Thank you Gayle!).

The following day, fog-free, our travels to LA went smoothly. We even caught up with Brian's friend Peter whom Brian had not seen in 15 years. The original plan had been to spend our eight-hour layover touring Paramount Studios where Peter works. Our flight change gave us a shorter layover of four hours, a day later than planned, but Peter was still able to meet us at the airport, and, taking advantage of the quiet early morning traffic, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast at Venice Beach. (Thank you Peter!).

Back at the airport for our late morning flight, we waited further delays as thunderstorms hammered Chicago, our final destination. Fortunately the delay was only a few hours this time and we were soon back in the sky. We landed in Chicago Wednesday evening in moderate rain and chilly but pleasant temperatures—not too dissimilar from the weather we had left in New Zealand. An hour's drive further and we made it. A wee snack and then straight to bed exhausted!

Having missed out already on one day of preparations, we busied ourselves on our first day in the US with organising our bicycles for the racing ahead (and for me finishing up a report for work). We unpacked and then repacked (and I stayed up all night writing) and, the next morning, headed off for more travelling, this time in the car. We drove four hours southwest to the Quad Cities, on the border of Illinois and Iowa, for our first weekend of racing.