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| Miranda, Lizzie, Kate, me, Gillian, Amy, and Korina (not pictured) ready to race at North Star GP. Photo by Jono Coulter |
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| Powered by Colnago. Photo by Jono Coulter |
I came into the race with some degree of confidence moving forward as recent tests confirmed the lack of any obvious physical damage to my lungs from a nasty lung infection earlier this year. So, albeit more slowly than expected, my lungs are healing and I can push ahead without fear of doing further damage. Coincident with this knowledge came some degree of reduction in the tightness and burning in my lungs, which have for the past three months limited training. With the removal of these limitations was revealed a new restriction: crap fitness.
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| Fake it till you make it! Showing off my Vittoria shoes. Photo by Todd Fawcett |
The tour started with a rolly 5 mile (8 km) time trial along the Mississippi River. Time trials are a good reminder of my struggling fitness… In this game of pain, everyone hurts. Fitter, stronger riders hurt just the same as weaker riders, they just go faster. Ultimately, though, the rider who comes out on top is one who can really suffer, setting pain aside to dig still deeper. Alison Powers (UHC) has shown time and time again that she is a master of pushing past pain. The reigning US National TT Champion set a blistering pace to win the stage and take the leader’s jersey. Vanderkitten teammate Gillian Carleton was not far off the charge, finishing ninth, just 39 s down, with Amy Charity, Lizzie Williams, and Miranda Griffiths all within striking distance.
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| Me working hard following the Mississippi River in Stage 1. |
Stage 2 that same evening was a fast, twisty-turny criterium
in the heart of downtown St. Paul. A five-corner course—with four of the corners exceeding
90 degrees—a generous mix of brick and blacktop, and a crammed field of 106
riders made for a crash-fest with riders going down approximately every second
lap over the 28-lap race.
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| One of many crashes in Stage 2, Photo by VeloNews |
As someone who likes to line up about 2 minutes before the
start, I was not particularly thrilled to roll to the line 30 min before kick off and find myself nearly at the back of the field. While starting at the back
should be no encumbrance to a fit and skilled rider, I lack at least one if not
both of those qualifications at the moment. I felt comfortable throughout the
race, used some skills to avoid multiple crashes, but did not have the fitness
to power through the sections that offered a chance to move up. As a result, I
yo-yoed mid-field for most of the race, unable to make forward progress. With
five laps to go, I and teammates Miranda and Amy were all caught behind a crash
that split the field. The clear road gave me a chance to work hard to try to
bring us back up, but my strength was lacking and we lost 55 s to the leaders. Vanderkitten
Lizzie Williams rode like a legend to capture third place in an exciting sprint
finish.
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| Crashes and corners spread out the field on the streets on St. Paul. Photo by Todd Fawcett |
Winds were a huge factor in Stage 3 the following day. Gusty conditions splintered the field within the first hour of the 95 mile (153 km) road race in Cannon Falls, with only 27 riders making the front selection. The challenging conditions ensured that everyone on the road had a very hard day on the bike. Stand out riding by Gillian set up Lizzie for the finish where she powered to fourth place, moving her up the GC ladder. The stage also saw a change of race leader as bonus time on the line put stage winner Carmen Small (Specialized-Lululemon) into the leader’s jersey.
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| Race convoy. Photo by SkinnySki.com |
Friday brought a criterium in Uptown Minneapolis for Stage 4. This time I started with slightly better position in the top third of the field. But again, I lost position quickly. With fewer crashes breaking up the rhythm of the race, I was able to slowly progress my way forward bit by bit each lap. About halfway through the race I had finally made my way close to the front when a crash brought the race to a halt. Unfortunately several riders went down hard and the delay was nearly 20 min.
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| Gillian and Miranda keeping good position in corner 6. Photo by Todd Fawcett |
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| Friday the 13th Full moon over Minneapolis. Photo by Todd Fawcett |
Stormy skies delivered rain within 45 min on the road in Saturday’s 82 mi (132 km) road race in Menomonie. The rain-soaked stage started out cruisey enough, with many weary bodies in the bunch. My job was to cover attacks in the early part of the stage, so the lack of activity was a relief for me. With thunder booming overhead, attacks started after about an hour of racing as riders positioned for the first sprint and subsequent first big hill climb of the stage. I was happy to find that I felt better than I had all week and did my best to cover everything that went off the front to give my teammates a chance to save their legs.
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| Cruising around Menomonie, before the rain. Photo by SkinnySki.com |
Halfway through the stage, as raindrops continued to fall and the air temperature began to plummet, I made the only decision that made sense: to pull out. With my immune system already pushed to the limit by my still-healing lungs, I figured that getting severely chilled twice in one week (the previous being the rainy road race in Galena last Saturday) was pushing the odds. So into the team car I went. In the finishing circuit, teammate Gillian slogged through the miserable and slippery conditions to power to Vanderkitten’s highest ranked win ever, with Lizzie on her heals in third.
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| A rain-soaked win for Gillian. Photo by Todd Fawcett |
The final stage on Sunday, 14 times up the wall that is Chilcook Hill, was the most exciting yet! Under pressure to take back the leader’s jersey, UHC sent riders off the front every lap, forcing chase efforts from threatened riders. As riders began to tire, Lizzie put in a blistering attack late in the race. With 5 laps to go, the girl had her work cut out for her. In an amazingly exciting and dramatic stage, Lizzie held off the chase to take the stage win—Vanderkitten’s second historic victory in as many days—and moved into fourth place in GC. The gutsy effort also earned her most aggressive rider for the stage!
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| Lizzie getting in the zone for her stage win. Photo by Todd Fawcett |
Thanks Jono for an amazing job directing the team! Huge thank you to our wonderful hosts Kelly, Kris, Miles, and Henry Newman for letting us take over their whole house, Kelli Richter for being an awesome travel partner (and for supplying me with yummy Kakookies!), and to Vanderkitten VIP Molly Brewer for dedicated team support. The tour marked the send off for VK rider Korina Huizar, who is off the Europe to ride with the US National team. Good luck Korina!
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| Our host family hanging out with Lizzie and Gillian. Photo by Jono Coulter |
Blogs from some Vanderkitten teammates:
Amy Charity: amymcharity.blogspot.com
Gillian Carleton: gilliancarleton.com
Kate Chilcott: katechilcott.blogspot.com
Korina Huizar: korinahuizar.wordpress.com
Liza Rachetto: www.lizacoaching.blogspot.com
Lizzie Williams: lizzie-williams.squarespace.com/blog-lizzie-williams
Miranda Griffiths: www.mirandagriffiths.com
Tiffany Pezzulo: www.tiffanypezzulo.blogspot.com
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