12-21 July 2013 Prairie State Cycling Series

Summer is heating up in Chicagoland and so is racing with the inaugural Intelligensia Cup Prairie State Cycling Series. An omnium of seven races based in the Chicago area, the series also included four top-notch USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC) races. While I faded at the end, the series helped me to build back some confidence in myself. Just two weeks ago I wasn’t able to race multiple days in a row and I just did five! I’m feeling better and better and, six months on from surgery, my recovery is now full steam ahead.

Keeping an eye on the Schneider sisters at Kenosha. Photo by Karl Hendrikse

To commence the series, racing kicked off in the Wisconsin town of Kenosha. The race was aggressive off the line with Sam Schneider (TIBCO) driving a blazing pace. A break of three went early and, lacking confidence in my fitness, I opted not to respond. Bad choice because neither did anyone else and the break quickly lapped the field. Determined to get back in the race, I escaped with 20 min remaining. Driving on solo, I eventually did lap the field, but it was one lap too late, catching the field just on the finish of my last lap as the bunch went around one more time. The effort gave me an extremely hard-earned fourth on the day ahead of winner Skylar Schneider (TIBCO), followed by Sarah Huang (Exergy 2016) and Jen Campbell (ISCorp), but I gained a much needed confidence boost.

Beautiful display in downtown Crystal Lake. Photo by Karl Hendrikse

Race 2 followed in Crystal Lake. How exciting to have a race in my hometown! With so many friends out to support, I really wanted to have a great race. Inspired by my form at Kenosha, I went out super aggressive from the gun. Eventually Skylar and I forced a split about halfway through and we worked well together to stay away. In the final sprint, I was no match for the speedy Skylar and settled for second with her sister Sam taking the bunch sprint for third.

Crystal Lake podium with Skylar & Sam Schneider (TIBCO). Photo by Karl Hendrikse

Race 3, a road race on the lovely quiet country roads of Sharon WI on the border of Wisconsin and Illinois, was miserably hot. The oppressive temperatures made for a sluggish race. In the end I scored my second podium finishing third. Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Fearless Femme) took the win with Campbell second. The result was enough to move me into the Leader’s jersey for the series by only 2 points.

Awaiting podium presentations at Sharon with Jen Campbell (ISCorp), Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Fearless Femme), and race director Marco Colbert. Photo by Karl Hendrikse

Race 4, the series moved to south Chicago to kick off the NCC mini-series, attracting some big names and serious firepower to the field for the last four days. I had an absolute blast at this race. The course was exciting and the race was super animated with primes almost every lap! The organizers timed things just right: a few raindrops started to fall as we rounded the final three corners for the sprint; we had just enough time to get cover before the skies opened for a quick but drenching burst. Fearless Femme ruled the day with Kelly Goodwin-Fisher and Cliff-Ryan first and second and NCC leader Erica Allar (Care4Cycling) third.

Braving the wet roads after the downpour. Photo by Karl Hendrikse

Race 5, the fifth hot day of racing, I was feeling my aggressive ride the previous day. A strong breeze added further challenge to the heat. The field fractured several times during the race, but in the end it was Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) who launched an attack with one to go for the win. The pursuit by Fearless Femme gave Cliff-Ryan second and Christy Keely (Pepper Palace) third. Angry clouds moved in and a spectacular storm followed the race, bringing with it relief to the stifling temps.

Hot temperatures over the first five days of racing took their toll.

Race 6 moved to a technical course in Lake Bluff IL where temps cooled to the low 80’s (30’s) and hoards of spectators came out for a huge block party to cheer on the races. Despite loving the technical course, my legs felt like concrete as the back-to-back days of racing started to strain my precarious hold on fitness. After a hard-fought battle, the right combination with one rider from each team finally established up front and I was left with a chase effort all my own. With too much firepower in the break, I opted to sit up and fight out the field sprint for 7^th. Unfortunately a near crash ahead of me on the final corner devoured my momentum heading into the finishing straight which, given my lack of top end form, felt torturously long as my overloaded legs screamed with agony all the way to the line. Allar took the win in a spectacular photo finish to Cliff-Ryan with Mia Loquai (ISCorp) third.

Photo finish at Lake Bluff. Photo by Karl Hendrikse

Race 7 in St Charles IL drew another amazing crowd for an exciting finale to the series. The race came down to the final corner, where mayhem ensued, holding up several riders. Allar escaped the chaos to take the win while Cliff-Ryan showed her class by somehow powering to second, Keely third. The finish knocked me to second place in the omnium, with Cliff-Ryan taking the series win and Campbell in third.

Omnium podium celebration with Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Fearless Femme) and Jen Campbell (ISCorp). Photo by Karl Hendrikse

Although bummed to concede the jersey on the final day, I can’t be disappointed. The direction I’m heading is positive and in the end I was simply outclassed by an extremely classy rider. Next up, Tour of Elk Grove in two weeks.

Rolling to the line in the Series Leader's Jersey. Photo by Karl Hendrikse

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