Wednesday, September 11, 2013

30 Aug-2 Sep 2013 Gateway Cup & Season Wrap-up


 
I definitely saved the best for last, finishing up my US season with the four-day Staenburg Group Gateway Cup in St. Louis, guest riding for Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers in collaboration with cycling legend and all-around incredible human being Laura Van Gilder.
 
After a brief bout of cool Autumn-like weather, summer returned with Labor Day weekend temperatures approaching 100 (38°C). I headed south to the St. Louis area (see my Tour de Grove post about St. Louis) for my third time this season, commencing the four-day omnium on Friday with a twilight crit under the lights. The evening start did little to cool to sweltering heat of the day. To add to my own challenges, I started the weekend with a great big swollen painful belly and grumpy diaphragm that has only just now begun to resolve, a sign that my recovery is not quite complete and some time off the bike in the coming weeks will do me good.
Twilight racing under the lights on Friday at Lafayette Park. (Matt James - Copyright 2013)
The racing was animated and exciting throughout the four days with attack after attack coming from multiple riders, especially FCS and Primal. I did my best to keep an eye on the moves to help Laura stay fresh for the finish each day. Friday night’s race stayed all together for a bunch finish. Getting us off to an awesome start, Laura powered to an exciting win to take the early lead in the omnium. Hot on her rear wheel were talented sprinters Sam Schneider (TIBCO) and Amy Culter (FCS) in second and third.
Friday podium: Amy Cutler (FCS), Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), and Sam Schneider (TIBCO). (Matt James - Copyright 2013)
In race two, a break of Tiffany Pezzulo (Primal), Abby Ruess (St. Paul Racing), and I escaped for a good 25 min. But FCS drove the pace to reel us in with only two laps to go. Vanderkitten teammate Jenn Reither, guest riding for Primal, put in a perfectly timed attack to escape the bunch and take a solo win. Laura powered to the finish to win the bunch sprint for second with Sam and Amy close behind in third and fourth.
Tiffany Pezzulo (Primal) and me off the front. (Matt James - Copyright 2013)
In race 3, Anna Saunders (FCS) and I escaped off the front twice in promising breaks, but we were caught with one lap to go, with the reaction from the field leaving both me and Laura swamped. Amy took the win followed by Sam. Showing her amazing strength and ability of a crit racer, Laura somehow managed third.
Racing through the Italian neighborhood of The Hill on Day 3. (Matt James - Copyright 2013)
The result put the overall up for grabs with only five points separating Laura, Amy, and Sam in the top three spots, promising an exciting finale. We knew Monday would be a tough race, so we fuelled up with a visit to Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard, now located on historic US Route 66 and a St. Louis icon since about 1930. Apparently about a 1000 others had the same idea. 




Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard is a popular summer destination in St. Louis.
deally we wanted a small group off the front to absorb the highest weighted points. I definitely wore myself out watching moves and working for a break! Eventually, Coryn Rivera (Marian University) and Christa Ghent (Exergy TWENTY16) slipped off the front. Although Christa faded, Coryn survived to take the win, followed by Anna who escaped in the last lap. Laura took yet another bunch sprint for third, clinching the overall win. Racing with Laura was a real pleasure and honor, and a win was an excellent way to bring my season to a close.
Me patrolling the front of the bunch on Monday. (Matt James - Copyright 2013)
The weekend was made extra special by the wonderful generosity of Heather Testa and Greg Kates for host housing, including incredible and delicious dinners prepared by Greg. Thank you also to Michael Weiss and Big Shark Bicycle Company for putting on an excellent event, and for supporting women’s cycling with equal prize money, and to Matt James for fabulous photos.
 
Delicious cauliflower steaks made by Greg Kates.
After six fabulous months in the US, I’m now back in New Zealand to recharge. My adventure took me to races in six US states (CA, CO, IL, IA, MO, and WI), plus a visit to Rhode Island in March for a work conference. I spent 2 weeks in El Salvador (sort of) racing, 6 weeks training in Northern California with amazing hosts and cycling legends Katheryn Curi-Mattis and James Mattis, and the remainder of the time with my parents in Illinois. I raced 56 races for 13 wins and 22 podiums, as well as supporting teammates to 6 wins and 14 podiums.

NorCal coast on one of my spring training rides.
Only 2 races were rainy (Galena Crit & Glencoe), including a torrential downpour at Glencoe, and, way down from last year, only about 7 were ridiculously hot. I had one minor crash (while training), zero punctures, and ZERO sick days. The lack of sick days is HUGE because since my start in cycling I’ve contracted a lung infection EVERY season, indicating that possibly what was causing stress on my lungs has now been removed. The jury is still out on that one. Although racing through recovery was definitely challenging, who could say what I would face when the journey began. I met so many amazing people and made lots of wonderful friends, making every moment of pain worthwhile.  
Vanderkitten team training in February. Photo by Jono Coulter
My season was made possible in so many ways by amazing support from my parents, Eugene and Peggy Kuhajek, for whom I am grateful beyond measure. I’m thankful to Rob Curtis (PSIMET) and Wayne Simon (ENZO’s Buttonhole) for believing in me and for being outspoken supporters of women’s cycling, and to Vanderkitten manager Jono Coulter for amazing dedication to the team. Karrie Ozyuk (Lucky Brake Bikes) helped to perfect my fit on the bike and expert podiatrist Timothy Jantz fixed my foot alignment to give my feet and IT bands relief; Lorrie Janeczko (Algonquin Sports Massage) kept my recovery progressing, and Hamish Ferguson kept my training on track. Sponsors who supported Vanderkitten Racing this season include the Canary Foundation, DeFeet, ENZO’s, Kask Helmets, Microshift components, OSMO Nutrition, Pactimo Clothing, PSIMET custom wheels, Selle SMP saddles, Smith Optics, TRP brakes, Vanderkitten Clothing, Vittoria shoes, and Züca bags.
 




Pre-race meetings made easy by Züca. Photo by Jono Coulter