20-30 June 2013 Tour of America’s Dairyland

Racing at TOAD. Photo by On the Rivet

 

While I didn’t impress anyone with stellar results or classy riding at this year’s Tour of America’s Dairyland (TOAD), I did make some gains on my health and came out feeling better than when I went in.

Bicycles on display at Fond du Lac during TOAD. Photos by Laurel Green

 

TOAD is an 11-day omnium series based near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a state known as one of the nation’s leading dairy producers. Last year, despite winning the Oarsman Capitol amateur jersey, I struggle through the series with unexplained health issues. Late last year I discovered the probable cause of those issues and had surgery earlier this year. Still easing back into fitness and no teammates to ride for, I decided that 11-days of high-level racing (nine 60-min crits and 2 road races) would be a bit more than my body was up to and opted for an every-other-day approach.

The series was actually two omniums. The first four days of racing were part of the season-long National Criterium Calendar (NCC) series, attracting star-studded fields reaching well over 70 riders. I started my series on day 2, at a charming venue centered in the historic town square of East Troy. With lots of fire power in the field, it wasn’t long before my legs were screaming. I worked myself into good position with 10 laps to go, but got pushed off the road and ended up losing ground in the final laps and finished mid-field. The race was won by US National Crit Champion Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Fearless Femme).

Rolling at East Troy in good company. Photo by On the Rivet

 

My intestines became super grumpy with me during (and after) the race, and I spent the next day, and much of the time on my rest days, doing plenty of intensive yoga and visceral manipulation to work out deep scar tissue that I discovered was forming in my lower abdomen, as well as along my ribcage where my diaphragm has for the past several months been attempting to grab on to something tangible in its relatively new-found freedom. I think this work contributed significantly to my feeling better as the series went on.

Lead car at TOAD. Photo by Scott Siebers

For my second race, I headed to Waukesha for the final battle of the NCC omnium. A minor crash in the first corner sent me to the back of the peloton, and I spent 45 min of the 60 min race maneuvering my way through the field. In the final sprint, I was still working my way forward and finished well back in 15^th, legs feeling better but intestines still grumpy. The race was won by Australian National Crit Champion Kimberly Wells (Fearless Femme) with the ever-amazing Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) taking the four-day-omnium win.



Navigating the crash (right in front of me!) at Waukesha. Photo by On the Rivet

 

After another day of intensive recovery, I headed just around the corner from my host house to Schlitz Park. The morning thunderstorms finished up just in time for the start of first race of the day and the roads were starting to dry by the time the pro women got on course. With a two-block-long climb and a technical descent, the course obliterated the field with fewer than half the starters finishing. I have to say, I’m kind of surprised I finished, although well back in 20^th place. The race was won in impressive solo fashion by Scotti Wilborne (Mellow Mushroom), now on her way to France to represent the US as part of the US National Team!

Heading up the climb at Schlitz Park. Find Ophelia! Photo by On the Rivet

 

Next up (for me) was a 53 mi/85 km road race at Road America, an exciting world-class motorsport track with undulating terrain, high-speed curves, and an uphill finish. The slower pace of a road race versus a crit was a relief for my grumpy abdomen. Despite fading in the final push along the seemingly endless finish straight after cresting a steep little lung-burning power climb, I came up with my best result of the series in 9^th. The race winner, again from an impressive solo break, was time-trial specialist and overall amazing rider Ali Tetrick (Exergy Twenty16).

On course at Road America. Photo by John Wilke

Road America took me backwards a bit, with a sleepless night working out abdominal discomfort, but with a focused day of recovery of Friday I was able to race at the ISCorp Downer Classic, one of the most famous urban criterium courses in the country. Still a bit on the back foot, I struggled to produce any reasonable level of power during the race. Sprinting with all my might into a gruelling headwind finish, I was passed by at least ten riders to finished 27^th. Another impressive breakaway saw Tetrick take another win, as well as the $1000 super prime.

Pro men on the start line at Downer Ave. Photo by John Wilke

 

The next day, the series moved to the charming trade district of East Wauwatosa for the finale. I was a bit worried about my body’s response to two consecutive days of high-intensity racing, but in the end I felt better at this final race than I did the whole rest of the series. I enjoyed a handful of laps off the front with ISCorp rider Jenn Campbell before being reeled in to finish 12^th. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) took the victory while the overall omnium win, after a hard-fought and very close battle, went to Sam Schneider (TIBCO).   

Getting started at East Tosa. Photo by Hayley Giddens

 

Thanks to Paul Schilling for excellent race support, especially at Road America, and to my parents, John Fleckenstein, and Jake and Josh Schilling for coming out to cheer me on. I enjoyed some fabulous meals with my mom & dad, John, and wonderful friend Jane Ore, which kept me well fuelled for racing. I’m grateful to Karen Larson for organising host housing, and to Sydney Chamberlin for being a wonderfully generous host.

Cool new black Vanderkitten socks, summer cycling jerseys, and Manderkitten t-shirts available now at Vanderkitten.com. Use the checkout code ‘kitten’ to get 20% off your purchase!