With improving form, buoyed by the oxygen-enhancing effects of altitude acclimation – possibly balance by the negative impacts of over-stressing still healing lungs (and that fact that I didn’t stay at altitude long enough to fully acclimate…) – I had planned to coat tail my trip to Utah with a visit to Colorado for a women’s race held in conjunction with another of the biggest cycling tours in the US, the USA Pro Challenge, a.k.a Tour of Colorado. Sadly the race was cancelled a few weeks out from the race, so few were the number of riders who actually knew that the race was happening! Fingers crossed that next year all of America’s top stage races (California, Utah, and Colorado) will incorporate women’s races. Although disappointing, the cancellation freed me up to head back to my homebase in the Midwest and defend my title at the Stifel Nicolaus Edwardsville Rotary Criterium, one of my favorite races last year.
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| In the pack at Edwardsville. Photo by Kelly Croy Patty |
The 5 hour drive down to Edwardsville, located in Southern Illinois about 25 mi (40 km) northwest of St. Louis, was less than inviting for someone whose list of favorite things to do does not include long drives. Black clouds looming on the horizon and a fine misty rain enveloping the landscape for much of the trip caused me, many times during the drive, to question the intelligence of making the long trek.
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| Front of the bunch at Belleville. Photo by Kelly Croy Patty |
As I arrived at the venue, I was reminded of the excellent reason to make the trip. The place was abuzz with energy: huge community involvement created enormous pride and enthusiasm in the event; multiple downtown businesses on the course opened up outdoor seating or sales stands for food and drinks; fans lined the streets eagerly cheering on races in progress and enjoying the music from a bandstand erected near the course.
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| Keeping a close eye on the competition. Photo by Kelly Croy Patty |
The pavement was nearly dry by the time the women’s twilight race kicked off at 7:00. The fast, technical course speckled with multiple primes was exactly my favourite type of race. The race was perfectly paired with a second albeit smaller crit, the Ardie Miller Memorial Bicycle Race, the following day just 40 minutes south in Belleville IL. The Belleville course was similarly exciting. Although somewhat less technical, wind and a punchy hill added interest and a slightly different challenge to the tight turns of the Edwardsville course.
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| Taking the win at Belleville with a successful attack on the last hill. Photo by Tracy Hurley |
With huge amounts of support from all around both courses, I was able to pull off a very exciting double victory for the weekend. The highlight of the trip was, after winning the Edwardsville Crit, with darkness descending and the bright street lights of downtown Edwardsville twinkling in the diminishing light, being presented with a beautiful diamond necklace paired with a golden bicycle pendant personally designed by Lisa Hudson, a member of the Hudson Jewelers family, the primary sponsor of the women’s race. I was absolutely blown away!
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| Necklace presentation with Lisa Hudson. Photo by Gary Doering |
Thank you to all the hard work from members of the Edwardsville Rotary Club, Dogfish Racing, and Big Shark Racing, and to the many sponsors, especially the Stifel Nicolaus Financial group, for making these races possible. Special thanks to Lisa Hudson and Hudson Jewelers for supporting the women’s race and making my Edwardsville win incredibly memorable and extra special.
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