28-29 Jul GR Cycling Classic & Prairie State Crit

Frustration. That was my key word for the weekend. On tap were two fantastic races, the Herman Miller Grand Cycling Classic and Sammy’s Prairie State Criterium. Both events were fabulous and well-run races on fun and exciting courses. But despite a relaxing week, my recovery hit a plateau, leaving me frustrated and short of a good result.

Castle Park in Holland MI is thought to be the inspiration
for L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900.

Leading up to the weekend, Lami and I enjoyed a lovely week in Holland MI visiting with Lami’s family and basking in the beauty that is Holland in summertime, including our first weekend off racing since our arrival in the US in May.

Saturday’s race, the Grand Cycling Classic, was a 75 minute crit on an eight-corner 1.3 km (0.8 mile) course over historic brick-paved streets of downtown Grand Rapids MI. As a National Criterium Calendar (NCC) race, it drew a big field of high caliber riders. Pro team TIBCO controlled the race with a star-studded six-rider squad of top-notch riders, putting in attack after attack that kept the race animated from start to finish. Optum was the other main powerhouse with three riders.

Rides strung out on the GR course with the pace high and
TIBCO leading the charge. I'm 4th wheel back.

I got good position off the start line, ready to go with any moves off the front. I knew that a successful break would need a Tibco and an Optum rider, so I concentrated on going with those attacks. From a small 5-rider break early in the race, I grabbed a prime but we were reabsorbed quickly back into the group. Attacks continued and I was enjoying the aggressive racing—that is, until about 30 min in when my legs started, for lack of a better description, freaking out—literally—with little mini cramps. While each cramp lasted only for a second or so, the spasms progressed randomly and successively through all the muscles of my quads.

Grand Rapids course from above. Photo from GR Press.

Unlike ‘normal’ cramps, these cramps were an indication that I wasn’t quite recovered and my body was telling me that things were still a bit out of whack to be able to handle competing at this level. Unable to ignore the message (since my legs wouldn’t work) I backed off and did my best to race conservatively. A three-rider break containing US National Crit Champion Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Exergy TWENTY12), Jade Wilcoxson (Optum) and Jen Purcell (TIBCO) escaped the bunch mid-race. Staying away, the trio finished in that order. Back in the bunch, TIBCO kept things animated, and, although missing out on the win, dominated with 4 of the top 10 spots. In the bunch finish, I salvaged 14^th, which, while not what I was gunning for, wasn’t too bad all told but frustrating nevertheless.

Me trying to make a move at St. Charles with Optum
keeping a very close eye.

After the race we headed back around the Lake to race the inaugural Prairie State Criterium in downtown St. Charles IL the following morning. The race featured a fun 4-corner course, 0.8 mile long, with one technical corner and an exciting super-fast finish. With my legs extremely grumpy and unhappy doing pretty much anything that involved movement, I knew the race was going to be a challenge. The challenge was accentuated by a tiny field of only 18 riders with 4 of those riders being pros from Team Optum and 3 being representatives from the Columbian National Team. With no other organised teams present, Optum absolutely dominated the race.

Race announcer Todd Busteed doing interviews for the
Dog of the Day at St. Charles.

I knew that Optum would attack until they launched a rider free, but which rider to follow? Any one of them was strong enough to ride away solo. So I did my best to follow every single move. And then the one where my legs needed a break. That one got away. Jade Wilcoxson (Optum) and Serika Guluma Ortiz (Team Columbia) launched off the front with Optum riders chasing down any attempts to bridge. Looking for some time trial training, Leah and Kelli (PSIMET) took control on the front driving the pace for a couple of laps, but Optum quickly went back at it with another flurry of attacks, eventually launching another Optum-Columbia pair. Conscious of the warning I had received from my body that day before, I couldn’t do much about it. The second Columbian rider fell back to the bunch leaving us to race for 4^th. 2010 & 2011 Canadian National Crit Champion Leah Kirchman took the bunch sprint with me just missing out on 5^th by a fraction on the line. Gutsy attacks from some local riders were great to see. Keep it up! That’s the sort of aggressive women’s racing Chicagoland needs more of.  

Right in the middle of the action at the Grand Cycling Classic.

Race promoters Midwest Cycling Series have plans to grow the race into a multi-day Prairie State Cycling Series, scheduled for next July in multiple Illinois cities so keep an eye on the calendar. It promises to be a great series. Big thanks to race promoters Arlington Sports and Midwest Cycling Series for putting on some great racing, and PSIMET, ENZO’s and Brian Grant for awesome support. Next up, Tour of Elk Grove this coming weekend.