Melbourne World Cup Race Day 2 Points Race Final

Wow, what a race. Becky placed 4th but that hardly tells the story.

After the qualifying heat where Becky was in a major crash, we started formulating a plan to just get her and her equipment prepped for the finals. We had a lot on our plate with two broken wheels, two broken pedals, and Becky's bumps and bruises. So the plan of attack was dealing with one issue at a time.

• Pedals- she rides special pedals and only one other team uses them- we needed to find a set for the finals to buy or borrow. Bob and John B. helped situate that plan into action.
• Wheels- we thought she taco'd her font wheel only but then we saw a fracture in her disc. She could ride her training wheels but we needed pit wheels. Start the search and ask for some big favors- favors were given by some old coaching friends, thank goodness!
• Gearing- with Becky's leg really roughed up- she had sustained a small hema-tomato as I call them and a massive bruise to the glute/hamstring we would need to under gear her- we figured it out.
• Bruises and bumps- minimize the swelling and impact over the 7 hours between racing- a massive ice/rub regiment took place- Becky was the perfect patient and did everything she needed to do.
• Skinsuits- she mangled her skinsuit so we thought we were short 1 and did a massive search in her gear bag to figure it out- we found one that she would use.
• Food- she needed to eat and hydrate which was a priority- with all of the caos we needed to make sure that was a priority.
• Mental aspect- a lot of things going on, a sore and hurt body, and a final to prepare for. Some friends from CA, family, and myself all said the same thing- hurt now, hurt later- what's the difference- just go ride and give it 100% and never give up...a "die trying" attitude.

With all of that we headed back to the velodrome to warm her up and get the equipment situated. Everything came together in an orderly plan- everybody did what they said they would just when we needed it. Becky was ready to go. My last advice was from her nephew Benny- "have fun Aunt B!"

Race starts and Becky gets into the pts in first round with 2nd. Becky stays back for 2nd set of pts and adjusts for 3rd set of pts- 2nd again- now Becky is tied in 2nd. The field is rolling, things are moving but nobody is letting off so to limit the attacks. Becky has had to roll into a few breaks from the pts but is doing well. 4th pts Becky misses the pts by a hair and it was a tough sprint- recovery is key and Becky has a pretty awful look on her face. I know I have to say something to keep her focused- I look up at the leader board and she is still in 2nd! I yell that to her and she livens a bit and situates for pts but has to wait until the 6th set and gets a pt. She is now in 3rd. 2 sets of pts left and the field is still rolling. 7th pts are fast and furious. Becky still in 3rd with 7 other riders who could take the bronze and I yell again to her- "everything Quinn, everything"- she is in the back and the field finally for the first time slows up and she jamms to the front just as the pace quickens and with 2 to go becky is 2nd position and the Ozzie starts jamming like no tomorrow- the final two laps was heart stopping- Olds gets on Quinny's wheel and sweeps and the Ozzie Goss is jamming like no tomorrow in the front and Quinn almost gets around her- game over- Goss gets 5 pts, Quinny 3...Goss wins the bronze by 1 pt. What a race.

Becky gave 200%, stayed in the race 200%, and raced a near perfect tactical, physical, and mental race. Knowing how many obstacles she had to overcome with her crash a few hours before it was a testament of what a world class athlete this woman is. She had a job to get done and no excuses. So coming up empty handed with a podium on this one was mixed emotion- it was a great race. the podium winners had massive team help- the Russian was protected by her counterpart, the Spaniard the same, and the Ozzie had 4 other Australian's in the race. So smarts, heart, and soul were Quinny's team and it was well noted by the coach's who knew her situation. It was a pts race where 6 women all won pts in 4 of the 8 sprints. The top 6 had been in the first qualifying heat of which Quinny and Clif-Ryan contested. It was a tactical and sprinter race. It was a race and Quinny executed an inspiring race.

Thanks to Bob the Ozzie mechanic, Gary W., John B, Tone, the Quinn's, John L., Dave, Becky and the Oz race crew, Old with a great wheel sweep at the end, theresa and Gary, and everybody else who kept Becky in the game with support, help, and encouragement.

Melbourne World Cup Day 2 Pts Race Qualifier

The women were first to go today and the air was a bit electric with the women ready to fight for the 24 positions. 36 total were in qualifying again. Becky and Theresa were in the qualifier of "sprinters" and Shelly lucked out with mostly pursuiters- which can be dangerous however.

The 1st heat started out fast and Becky positioned for the first sprint and won 3 pts. Taking the 2nd sprint as a recovery, Quinny sat back and after the 2nd sprint the field kept pace when out of the blue 3 riders flew in the air in turn 2 (3 for those who count the 4 corners). My heart sank when I saw Quinny flip over. Bob the Ozzie grabbed the wheels and we ran full tilt. Bob changed out the smashed 808 and I got Quinny in with 15 to go and she immediately got in the field and settled in. Armisted who also went down was spewing blood from some cut but also got back in and Theresa Clif-Ryan was on the apron and got a throw in as well but she did not go down luckily. The final sprint ended with a break of 4 getting pts and Armisted trying to be 1st across the line for a position finish but it wasn't good enough, nor was her health- she was a bloody mess- really a bloody mess. Quinny made it through in 5th or 6th place and is one big bruise. her disc was also cracked in two and her pedals bent. So now we have to find a 2nd pair of wheels and pedals. Malaysia/John Beasley, Ozzie Gary West, and Bob the Ozzie mechanic have been fantastic and offered help which is really beyond belief- I can't tell you how appreciative we are.

Oh and I forgot to mention yesterday 4 minutes before Becky's heat her race front wheel got a hole and we were saved by Malaysia with a back up wheel for the pit while Bob the Ozzie helped get a new tire glued on.

Finals in 5 hours. Quinny and Olds were the 2 who made it through BTW for the US.

Melbourne World Cup Day 1 Scratch Race

Day one was quite an excitin' one down her in Oz. Becky and some fellow USA riders Theresa Clif-Ryan and Shelley Olds all toed the line in the qualifiers. 36 riders, 24 go through. Becky rode a perfect heat- text book so she was through. Both Theresa and Shelly made it through- Theresa with an impressive fight to the line.

In the finals things were kicked off with the Korean attacking from the get-go. Theresa at one point was in the counter move and was off the front for a while but the field stayed motivated- laps would be hard to take with that attitude. About mid-way through after a constant pace of attacks a group of 7 splintered off and had about 40 meters and growing so Becky dove and bridged and passed several riders who did not have the energy to hang on but the field had already organized and had slowly been reeling the break in. Theresa ended out in front again with another rider but the field was rolling so both Shelley and Becky pulled through.

With 4 laps to go things were a tidy mess with speed, legs, bikes, and bodies just rev'd up. Becky was in good position but was being tailed by Armisted (sp? sorry) and Cuccinata from GB and Italy (two of the best scratch riders)- somewhere between 3 and 1 to go Armisted with an Ozzie in tow bumped Quinny from below just as some other riders pinched her from above- it was going down to the wire- bumping and shoving landed Quinny in 6th and Armisted in 1st. Quinny came off the track with a big grin despite her lack of podium- it was her style race and she loved it.
USA: Quinny 6th, Olds 11th, Clif-Ryan 19th.

SBW UCI Track Team Heads Down Under

SBW will be heading to Melbourne, Australia for the 2nd World Cup taking place 11/20-22. Updates on the race will be posted on this blog site daily! Good luck SBW!

Manchester World Cup

Manchester World Cup Racing Day 2 Finals

Well- I must say it was the best scratch race I have seen Becky ride. The field started a furious bunch of attacks that left the field strung out for the first 17 laps. The Brits had 4 riders and were just sending attack after attack. The Netherlands and 2 other riders countered just as the field let up and they moved into a 1/2 lap lead without any contention from the field. Quinny made a decisive move and in an amazing move shot out of the field, caught them completely by surprise and bridged up to the break within 3 laps. Unfortunately Shelly Olds with a late move trying to match Quinny motivated the field with two Americans now out in front and they followed Olds in tow- it was too bad because the move Quinny made was brilliant. Now with 16 laps to go things heated up again and Quinny needing a position move made another monster move over the top of the field and got into perfect position with 6 to go. Machacova from CZE came over the top with 4 to go and Quinny was clearly in the cat bird's seat if Machacova could hold the speed but she died and the field caught up and Quinny was now swarmed and blocked in- just when there wasn't any hope Whitten from Canada broke away with 2 1/2 laps and gave Quinny and out who was in 3rd position on the Spaniard- but both Whitten and the Spaniard were dying and a GB girl came down on Quinny and boxed her in- Quinny can get out of almost anything but unfortunately not this box and the sprint was contested by 5 riders of which Quinny finished in 5th in her boxed in position. Shelly finished 6th, her best World Cup finish.

Manchester Racing Day 2

Becky just rode a perfect qualifying race for scratch. Shelly slid into the final round too after a crash at bell lap- whew, US is OK- Swiss and Italy banged up. Both Americans in final!

Manchester World Cup Racing Day 1

Great racing!

Becky won 3 of the 4 sprints in qualifying and handily made it through as did other American Shelley Olds who won pts in a sprint.

Finals- Shelly Olds scored pts in 2nd round and Becky in 3rd and 4th. Becky was in 3rd and then Shelly scored in 5th while Quinny blocked and then Becky scored in 6th round and they were placed 2nd and third with 18 to go. Sheer pandemonium happened and the field splintered apart and 7 folks somehow made it off the front as individuals which sent the Brits into a dither and the 4 Brits somehow managed to organize into a 2nd break of 3...3 of the splintered caught with 10 to go and 3 of the Brits...so now 6 had a lap up. Becky not knowing if they caught scored pts in the sprint but they were given to the break who had not officially caught. Shelley ended with 8 and Quinn with 10th. A good race but not good enough for the US to podium.

Manchester World Cup Training Day 2

We just finished training session #2 and all is going well. Quinny starts racing tomorrow at about 10:30 AM California time and I'll update sometime after that. Points Race is Friday. Ta-ta for now.

Manchester World Cup Training Day 1

We made it to Manchester without too many problems. Flights were tight but that just meant that we hopped from one to the next...but bikes were not as lucky. Bikes followed however and Becky was on hers by the evening. With a confusion in time changes which may have happened last night...a mid-week shift?? We showed up an hour early to the training session- better to be on time wondering why we were the only folks here. We'll take some pics and update tomorrow morning at the track session but all is good and racing starts Friday afternoon. Weather is as cold and rainy as expected...hey it's England.
Becky and Neva

Elite Track Nationals - Points Race

Finals (25 km/100 laps) - October 5

Becky (2007 National Champion), Christen, JennX, and I took to the boards in the points race on October 5 to close out the 2008 Elite Track Nationals. SBW had a great presence with four riders out of 22 in the field. All four of us were very active from the beginning, attacking and trying to establish breaks. Becky looked to have gotten into a promising break, but it wasn't long until the field decided that was a dangerous move and reeled them back in. Christen got into a great break and managed to lap the field to earn 20 points.

Unfortunately, I was sent crashing to the boards on lap 50. However, once the doctors and paramedics checked me out, and Shimano got my front wheel changed out, I was able to get back into the race when they restarted. It was a bit difficult getting moving after going down hard and having several minutes of inactivity, and I ended up losing a lap on the field.

With about 27 laps to go I went off the front of the field and was joined by Kacey Manderfield, Megan Guarnier, and Julia Manley. (PictureWe worked together really well, and with about 5 laps to go, Kacey, Megan, and Julia jumped to lap the field, but I just didn't have any sprint in me to go with them. Once they had rejoined the field, I ended up alone to take the final sprint.

Christen's efforts in lapping the field earlier in the race earned her a 4th place finish, and once again SBW was present on the podium.

With that, the season came to a close for most of us. Becky will be out there on the World Cup circuit, hopefully laden with medals on her return flights!

Elite Track Nationals - Scratch Race

Heats (7.5 km/30 laps) - October 2
There were 27 women registered for the scratch race, necessitating heats to qualify for the finals. SBW had three women in the scratch race: Christen, the 2007 scratch race national champion; Becky, the 2007 points race national champion, and me. I am not a great scratch racer, but wanted to try to help Christen and Becky out.

Thinking that they would just eliminate enough racers to reduce the field to 24 for the finals, I was prepared to just need to beat out a few other racers to make the finals. When I got to the track on Thursday afternoon, I found out that I was in Heat 1 with Christen. Our heat had 13 racers, and Heat 2 consisted of 14 racers, including Becky. The communique said that they would be taking the top 10 from each heat, so I now had to beat 3 others. Then, the officials reduced it so that only the top 8 would advance to the finals.

I wanted to make sure that Christen advanced, but I also had to adjust my race plan so that I could hopefully qualify for the finals. I attacked early and went off on my own, hoping that I could maybe get away and lap the field. No such luck. I was out there alone for about 5 laps, then the field brought me back in. I attacked a few other times and covered attacks made by Anna Lang (Aaron's) and a few other riders. Anna Lang put in one final attack, but I didn't try to chase her down, thinking someone else would finally do some work. Instead, nobody reacted, and Anna would not be brought back. When the field finally reacted, I wasn't able to match the acceleration and had to chase. Julia Cross and Christen's mom were up in the center of Turns 3 & 4, and I could hear them yelling to me that I needed to catch a few more riders. Unfortunately, I came up one rider short and finished ninth. Christen rolled to the finish in 4th, easily advancing.

Becky had a relatively easy time in Heat 2. Kat Lundby (Helen's) went off the front early as I had done in the previous heat, and the field was content to allow her to stay out alone for about 6 or 7 laps before they reeled her in. Becky always kept herself in great position, matching every acceleration and avoiding putting too much effort in to save herself for the finals. She easily advanced to the finals, coming in 4th.

Finals (15 km/60 laps) - October 3

Photo of Becky, Christen, and Shelley Olds (Proman) talking in the ready area before finals. CyclingNews.com/Rob Evans
Becky and Christen took to the boards to represent SBW in the finals. Alison Powers (Colavita) was very active throughout the race, but the field always seemed to let an attack go for a few laps before bringing it back. Becky and Christen once again kept themselves in good positions, and both worked the front to bring back breaks before they got too dangerous. With about 4 laps to go, Shelley Olds (Proman) and Kacey Manderfield (Verducci) got away together and the field was unable to bring them back before the finish. Becky was able to hold off a charging Anna Lang to take 3rd, and Christen took 9th. They were not the results that Becky and Christen were hoping for, but SBW once again had a rider on the steps of the podium with Becky's bronze medal.

Becky on the podium(CyclingNews.com/Rob Evans)

Left: Becky in the Finals (CyclingNews.com/Rob Evans)

Right: Christen in the finals (CyclingNews.com/Rob Evans)

Elite Track Nationals - Individual Pursuit

Morgan, JennX, and Kelli each competed in the Women's Individual Pursuit (3 km) on Day 3 of Elite Track Nationals. Morgan finished in 9th with a 4:07.3, JennX in 10th with a 4:09.2, and Kelli in 11th with a 4:10.8.

Elite Track Nationals - Team Pursuit

The Women's Team Pursuit was held on Thursday, October 2, 2008, Day 2 of the USA Cycling Elite National Track Championships at the ADT Event Center in Carson, CA. The women's team pursuit is a 3 km time trial and the time is taken on the third rider across the line (unlike the men's team pursuits where they start with four riders but only have to finish with three). Four SBW riders stood on the podium after the event.

Christen teamed with Proman's Shelley Olds and Megan Guarnier and took the silver medal with a time of 3:45.370.

Morgan, JennX, and Kelli teamed up to form an all-SBW pursuit team and took the bronze with a time of 3:51.976. We were so excited about the time we set. In a month's time, we dropped 10 seconds. We had done a 4:01 in late August, and a 3:56 about five days before we hit the track at Nationals. We were 6 seconds off the silver and 8 seconds off the gold. Next year we could be right up there!

Many thanks go to Dotsie Bausch for all her help and advice and to Julia Cross for always being there to lend a helping hand.

Nationals

The amazing team support from Julia and our families and friends this week was incredible and absolutely made for a more successful run at Nationals. 

Our race was 4 laps of a 17 mile circuit.  The first half had a climb up Jamboree and the second half and a section of head wind and a gradual climb.   Right from the first lap Kelli was up front and JennX and I stayed protected up in the front.  In the second lap Kelli was up front coming down the big hill and just rolled off the front of the field!  The peleton didn't respond and Kelli's 8 second lead soon became over a minute!   The field stayed on her but Kelli's power into the headwind and the field's conservative effort gave her one of the two breaks from the field. 

The OTHER break from the field was JennX's attack into the climb on the last lap.  It was a decisive move that X made from the corner as she sprinted into the right had turn and never looked back.  Once again, SBW was off the front and the Shimano car sped past the field to support Jenn.  Meanwhile Christen moved to the front of the field and stayed in perfect postion.  Coming into the flat section the teams seemed to get more anxious about X's lead.  Finally, the field was forced to chase.  Once X was reached by the field the attacks for the finish started.  One after another into the climb where the field was strung out.  I stayed with the front group to the turn around.   We still had about 6 miles to the finish but the field stayed strung out.  The finish was 1K with a climb from the final right had turn.  When we made the right turn I rode in with the front group as the last attacks were launched but the hill was too much for an attack to stick.  Cresting the hill I realized I was still in a good position and just stayed on it into the finish.

I'm so proud of Kelli, Christen and JennX who made such an impression on this race.  Great day guys!

Happy but...

what is THAT picture?!?!?!    Ok, now on to Nationals...

SBW In Oregon

Morgan- 11th and Happy

The Girls

SBW Women At Cascade Cycling Classic

From July 9th to July 13th, JennX, Morgan, and I competed in the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Oregon. We were joined by guest rider Laurel Green of the Dolce Vita Cycling team in Northern California. The Cascade Cycling Classic is a 5-day, 6-stage NRC stage race, and we covered nearly 350 miles in those five days. The temperatures in Bend were HOT (high 90s), but thankfully the air was clear of the smoke from the wildfires in Northern California.

The field of 88 riders consisted of U.S. Olympians Kristin Armstrong and Christine Thorburn, and Canadian Olympians Gina Grain and Alex Wrubleski, and full squads from Webcor, Tibco, Aaron's, and Value Act. It was an amazing race, and I am so pleased with my experience in my first NRC stage race.

I have to thank Neva, my great friend, Jen Johnson, and Morgan's brother, Jay, for all their help during the race feeding us and helping us with whatever we needed. They were absolutely wonderful, and there is no way that we could have done the race without their help! Thank you so much!!

Wednesday, July 9th
Stage 1: Prineville Road Race – 83.2 miles
Redmond (Deschutes County Fairgrounds) to Bend (Pilot Butte State Park)

We started out on Wednesday from the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond and headed north before turning east toward Prineville. When we entered Prineville, it seemed like the entire town was out cheering for us. What a feeling! About 46 miles into the race we began the 3-mile climb up to the Prineville Reservoir. We were stopped at the top of the climb for 30 minutes or so due to a crash in the men’s field. They then released us in order and time of coming across QOM line. There was a 7-rider break we all chased but could not catch. (Cycling News had this great photo of JennX on the front of the field, working hard to chase down the break.) There was a crash with about 20k to go to the finish and JennX and Laurel went down. I waited to make sure they were okay and to pace them get back into the field. The race finished with a climb up to the top of Pilot Butte State Park, which was much steeper than I expected. Superstar Morgan finished 16th, I was 53rd, JennX was 71st, and Laurel was 77th.

Thursday, July 10th
Stage 2: Three Creeks Road Race – 78.5 miles
Bend (Summit High School) to Three Peaks Snow Park (near North Sister Peak)

We started out Thursday morning from Summit High School in Bend with a very fast first 20 miles. Tibco was constantly sending riders off the front trying to establish a break. A 6-rider break finally stuck. With Morgan sitting 16th, I went up to the front to try to bring down the time gap to the break. The race ended with a long 10-mile climb up the mountain. Morgan finished 26th, Laurel was 73rd, I was 74th, and JennX was 80th.

Friday, July 11th
Stage 3: Skyliner's Time Trial – 14 miles

The time trial was a 14-mile out-and-back course into the forest, with the out leg 7 miles uphill gaining over 900 feet and the back leg 7 miles back down the hill. We started around noon. Morgan finished in 31st, JennX in 32nd, I was 38th, and Laurel was 83rd. Kristin Armstrong set a blistering time. Since they had just announce on Tuesday at the Team Managers Meeting that there would be a time-cut, it looked like we would lose Laurel.

Friday, July 11th
Stage 4: Downtown Bend Criterium – 60 minutes

We arrived in downtown Bend for the evening crit and went to check results and sign in. Laurel and several other riders had missed the time cut. We began warming up and Laurel changed into street clothes. About 10 minutes later Neva came running yelling for Laurel to get dressed because the officials had just rescinded the time cut! Laurel quickly got back into her kit and got her bike ready to go. Wow, the crit was fast! We averaged over 27 mph. Laurel and Morgan went down in a crash, with Morgan falling very hard. They both got back in. Laurel was pulled from the race about 30 minutes or so in, but Morgan was able to hang in with the field. I finished in 33rd, Jenn X in 34th, Morgan in 44th, and Laurel in 49th.

Saturday, July 12th
Stage 5: Cascade Lakes Road Race – 70 miles
Wanoga Snow Park to Mount Bachelor Ski Park

The race started with a 3.5 mile climb before going downhill. Laurel and I got dropped up the climb. I was able to catch back on at the top, but Laurel didn't make it and abandoned the race. JennX was looking like she felt really good and was at the front of the peloton. I got dropped up the climb to the first feed zone and just couldn't get back onto the peloton, leaving me to chase alone for over 45 miles. When I got to the second feed zone I learned that JennX was off the front! She was off the front for about 20 miles or so, but unfortunately, she had another flat and ended up completely losing the gap she had on the field. Morgan finished in 45th, JennX in 65th, and I was 72nd. The race was spectacularly beautiful with the entire route through the forest, past lakes (one of which was emerald green), and then up the mountain. There was still snow on the side of the road, too!

Sunday, July 13th
Stage 6: Awbrey Butte Circuit Race – 67 miles (4 laps)
Start and Finish at Summit High School in Bend

Sunday's race was a circuit race of four 18-mile laps through northwest Bend, with the QOM up a steep 14% climb. The course was completely up and down with hardly any flat stretches. Unfortunately, I was dropped going up the climb to the feed zone and was once again doomed to chase behind, although this time I had other riders with me. JennX and Morgan once again did an amazing job in the field. Morgan finished in 29th, JennX in 32nd, and I was 58th.

Morgan finished the stage race in a GC position of 22nd, JennX had mounted a major comeback from earlier in the week when she was plagued by the heat and finished in 45th, and I was in 58th.

3 Days of Fiorenzuola

While the SBW women were kicking butt at Cascades in Oregon, the National Team sent me to Italy to participate in the 3 Days of Rose. I went there with the assumption that the women were going to have Madison races, but when we arrived the race organization did not include it on our schedule. The women's omnium consisted of 2 missing outs, 2 scratch races and 2 points races with two races each day. The track was a 400m outdoor concrete track which as you know is far different from our home track. It was enough difference to throw off my timing for the sprints. The racing was tough and the field was filled with World Cup medalists, World Cup white jersey wearers and Olympians preparing for the big show next month. We raced hard and held our own. My best finish was a 4th place finish in one of the Points races. The Ukranian pursuit team double teamed me twice in the break away. Unfortunately, being out smarted is part of the learning process. I also found that you really have to be on your toes because you can't understand the announcer yet lap cards change in the middle of the race, the total number of laps change, the rules of the missing out change as you're racing and probably don't count it being in your favor. I'm sure this is all part of the leaning curve and I look forward to many more races like it in the future. The riding in Italy is amazing. It's filled with beatiful views and cute villas everywhere you ride.

The picture above is taken at the top of the mountain on our way to the beach. It was about a 45 minute ride from the team house in Lucca to the beach. The next picture is of course the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Nature Valley Grand Prix

Nature Valley Grand Prix turned out to be extremely intense riding in all 6 stages. Morgan and I had a big job holding our own against the best pro teams in the country. Morgan did a great job maintaining her position in the peleton and always finishing with the top girls. Neva was awesome support for us. We cannot express how important her help was to us during the 5 day stage race. It was also really fun having JennX as the announcer. It is always cool hearing your name over the loud speaker. Thanx X!

State Crit Champs: Morgan Kapp Takes Third

Congratulations to Morgan Kapp, who took third place at Sunday's San Pedro Grand Prix, this year's SCNCA Elite Criterium Championships.

The course was challenging and served as a great warm-up to this weekend's Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, as the two courses have some of the same features. From the start/finish, it was wide and flat to very tight right-hand 180 degree turn. From there the course went uphill, then a long downhill run-in to a speedy turn that went 180 degree turn (two 90 degree turns pretty close to each other) to put you on the finishing straight, which was a long, gradual uphill. Already a challenging course, the 96 degree temperatures made it that much more difficult.

Holly Mulvaney joined Morgan and me at the race, and Holly put in a great attack early (I think it was the beginning of the second lap), taking a prime before being tracked down by the field. I was able to go on a short-lived attack with another rider about five laps into the race. Then, about mid-way through the race, with Morgan well-positioned at the front (as she had been from the beginning of the race), I struck out on a solo attack. Nearing the top of the hill on the backstretch, the field was back on. I started slowing it down, and then Morgan jumped, with SDBC's Bonnie Bourque, Helen's Kat Lundby, and Bicycle John's Skye-Lee Armstrong going with her. Since I was on the front, I was able to do a little blocking, and soon the four had a pretty sizeable gap on the field.

I was able to cover a few of the jumps from the field, but SDBC, Helen's, and Bicycle John's had good numbers and were able to keep pretty good control on the field, making it easier on me. With two laps to go, the break was back in sight, and Anna Lang (Aaron's Pro Cycling) started up the chase once again. I was suffering going into the final lap, but saw Neva on the sidelines telling me to get back up to the front. Seeing Neva gave me a little renewed energy, and I was able to get back up to the front going into the tight 180 degree turn to slow the race back down for a few seconds. Once we hit the final hill on the backstretch, the race heated up again, but the break would not be brought back. I used whatever I had left to try to sprint up the long finish straight to finish among the field.

I then saw Morgan and she said she had finished in third. Although I know she wished she would have finished first, it was still a great result for Morgan and SBW. Third place behind Kat Lundby and Bonnie Bourque is terrific.

Thank you, Holly, for joining us in the race, and a big thanks to Neva for cheering us on and helping out on the sidelines. Most of all, though: Congratulations to Morgan!

Back on Track

Last Tuesday was my first night at the San Diego Velodrome this year. Not only was it my first time on the track bike since Nationals last October, but it was my first time racing at the track in San Diego since I crashed in a race there last August and broke my ribs. I was a little nervous getting out there and racing again at the site of my crash, but I was soon very comfortable and did much better than I expected.

The night started with the customary motor-paced warmup of 30 laps. The first race was a 7-lap then win-&-out, and my final race of the night was a 20-lap scratch race. I was not aiming for any results in the races, but instead was using the racing to get some extra speed training in. However, being able to hang with the field of very fast men (who are highly motivated by the beer primes) and finish the races in the field made me very happy about where I am right now with a full three months to go before Nationals at the beginning of of October. Racing at the track each Tuesday night will now once again be added to my training.

From the first Tuesday in April through the last Tuesday in September, the San Diego Velodrome is the site of Tuesday Night Racing every week. The San Diego Velodrome is no ADT Event Center Velodrome, though. I am so thankful to be only 100 miles from the ADT Velodrome, one of the best tracks in the world -- an indoor, 250 meter track with a wood surface and 45 degree bankings -- and feel very spoiled every time I've ridden there and then come back home to the San Diego track. The San Diego Velodrome is an outdoor, 333 1/3 meter track in Balboa Park's Morley Field with a concrete-ish surface and probably only about 20 degrees of banking in the turns. However, although it's not in the class of ADT, I am priviledged to have a velodrome only a quick two mile drive away that I can race and train on.

Tuesday Night Racing draws a great crowd every week, with the bleachers always full of a great mix of people taking advantage of the opportunity to watch track racing for free. Some bring picnics, others bring beer and margaritas, and others just come and watch, but all the spectators do a lot of cheering for all of the racers. In the past, they've even had a wine tasting night and a live band on another night. Gary, the announcer for Tuesday Night Racing, is hilarious and entertains the crowd with his race commentary and his ability to poke fun at anyone whenever the opportunity presents itself. Joly and Ray, two USCF officials that everyone who races crits and road races is very familiar with, are there each Tuesday to handle registration and officiate. Their efforts every week are greatly appreciated.

Our International Soigne and Friend Monsieur Foss

A happy reunion with Larry after Stage 3 Time Trial. A Minneapolis resident, Larry came down to watch his peeps. Larry will be married in September- Congratulations!! (No- Larry is not marrying SBW's Christen King as pictured-he's marrying Sophie who is not pictured because she is working hard with the Canadian National Team!)

Kapp Positions in GC Day 2 but Really Day 1

NVGP had a wild start Day 1 with the rain soaked crit ending in complete mayhem. Who was in, who was out but still in, and why did the 3rd place break sprint 2 times? Who knows and who cares...because the officials threw the race out! Don't ask. So Morgan's 21st position was literally a wash. Good for Christen, bad for Morgan...but both were in high spirits because that's racing and now Day 2 would officially start the NVGP for official stage results.

Day 2 was a road race and was sure to be a hammerfest since there was no GC and it was any one's GC to take. The botched start started the 2nd day of mayhem when the motorcade took the wrong road over a narrow bridge and realized they were off course so they literally turned the peleton around and the back became the front and the front the back and now all the work riders had done to position was in vain and mayhem ensued. I heard zone 5 was the result with heart pumping speeds for the first 30 minutes and rumor had it a group of 30 was shelled off the back. At mile 25 100 riders remained in the main peleton (145 were to start) and both SBW riders were intact but Christen looked like she was being gapped off due to a positioning error on a steep downhill into a sharp right turn...hang on CK!

Feed was at mile 30 and I anxiously awaited her riders. All hands were grabbing at my bottles and riders pleading me for water (it was awful because I could hear their desperation) but I held tight only giving one away to a No Cal rider while I anxiously looked for Mojo and King. Then everyone was gone and I was still with bottles- gulp...I yelled to the big team cars that had radios and asked if there had been a crash and the response was no so I waited and about 4 minutes behind the peleton came 2 riders and one was Christen. She looked pretty fierce with a determined look on her face ad plenty of sweat so I kept silent and prayed she would be able to grab the bottle- she did. I knew it was going to be a long 20 miles because the rider with her was done so Christen would be TT'ing solo trying to make the time cut. Over 10 minutes back came a group of about 12...too far back to help her...she was in that awful place called no-man's land. Bummer.

Morgan must have stayed in the main peleton so I headed to the finish circuit hoping she was fine with water. As the peleton arrived into the 5 lap circuit and made its way into the start of the laps, I saw Morgan looking pretty good- and she was in about 40th position of about 80 riders who made it into the circuit to complete the 5 laps. For the first 3 laps Morgan moved up just a person or 2 and then with 2 to go she had moved up near mid pack and in a terrific finish she ended up 28th! What was even more amazing is she placed 3rd out of 50 in the amateur Cat 2 division just a few places behind the leader. I then got word that Christen made the time cut so prep started for an early morning TT start in St. Paul.

Oh My Gwash is that a Wheanies Jersey?

JanX in Action.......

rain, rain, go away...

come back some other day preferably after this stage race business...    Wow.  It rained most of the morning but then cleared up around 3 so there was some hope for the evening but as we were driving to the race it started to rain again and then harder and harder.   The great news is though it that it's not too cold.  

Once we surrendered to the weather and headed down to the start/finish area we found a great guy, Carl who is showing his line KINETIC of trainers.  He had a tent set up right at the start and let us warm up and was so supportive.  

The race got off to a fast start.  It was hard to see the front of the race and the corners were tight and tricky because of the speed, manhole covers and the rain.  It was really hard to move through the field, but patiently I could just move up a rider or two.  Then, the crashes started.  I could hear them mostly and just kept going forward.  Then after about 10 laps a rider rode across a manhole cover and slid out sideways.  I saw it so clearly and tired to clear her but I hit her bike and then slid across the pavement [slip 'n slide].  Our bikes were tangled together so once we pulled them apart and made our way to the pit, we were back in.  

The field was completely strung out chasing down Kristin Armstrong who was off the front and was trying to take the corners quickly and safely.  The rain was a huge factor today.  There were so many crashes.  K Armstrong took the win today.  Neva said her ride was impressive.  I finished 21st and Christen is in a main field with the majority of riders.  

Slip 'N Slide at NVGP Day 1

Pro Women Win State TTT

We did it! The 4 of us, Morgan, Jenn, Christen and Kelly won the Women's open California State Championship Team Time Trial. With little team training but excellent fitness we managed a winning rythem from the gun. We clocked in at about a 52:18 according to my watch, although "official" time is plus or minus 30 seconds. The 2nd place team put in a time in the 55 minute range.

We weren't the only Southbay riders to put in a TTT today. I think I saw 4 teams of 4. As I walked around the event I saw a lot of SBW riders, SBW member officiating, SBW support and SBW spectators. The club is really involved in the local scene. Kudos to Julia Cross and her team of time trialers, as we past them around mile 12 we yelled good luck. Her entire team replyed back with hoots and hollars. It really was a fun day. The team win puts us on a high note as we head in to the next month of hard racing.

Keeping you in the loop-

Morgan and Christen are off to Minnesota to race the Nature Valley Grand Prix and JennX goes to commentate.

Neva is still recovering from Tulsa Tough.

Kelly is focusing her training for Cascades in July.

All the women will be at the San Pedro Grand Prix while JennX is on assignment in Majorrca.

See you on the road

JennX

Tulsa was Tough

Just got back from a rather short-lived Tulsa Tough. Tulsa Tough is a 3 day crit omnium on the NRC calendar. Overall it is a great race to attend with plenty of prize $, great riders, and good fun all around. The races all sit within a mile from each other so once you get to Tulsa you can ride your bike everywhere. Tulsa also has some interesting sights including some fantastic architecture and some museums that are amazing like the Philbrook and the Gilcrest. Although I had a crash on day 1 of racing that took me out of the competition, I still enjoyed the weekend in Tulsa.

Day 1 race started at 7:30 at night with 60 riders for the women's 1-2 race. The pace started medium and it was hard to rev it up because it was an 8 corner .8 mile course so a lot of momentum stopped in the turns. I was riding Shelley Olds' wheel and following her course as she moved up through the field in the first 8 laps.

I had found a great spot in the top 1/3rd and was getting ready to settle in and find a wheel when a rider in a Vitamin Cottage jersey was cornering extremely erratically. I assessed very quickly that she was unnecessarily braking in the turns which was causing her to spin-out and wobble into the field. I knew to get far away from her and in turn 3 I was going to pass on the inside up the small incline. As I had that thought, she fishtailed out of turn 3 and completely lost control. I had moved to her inside and actually thought it was enough to miss her crash when either her bike or a rider behind her spun out and nicked my wheel just enough to send me into a perfect right sided slide interrupted by a rider plowing into me from behind and sending me into a full left sided tumble. I knew there were about 40 riders following so I tucked into a ball and tried to protect myself.

The pile-up had at least 16 riders in it and bodies were everywhere. I immediately knew I had hurt my ribs on the left side but was able to get back on the bike and found my way to the pit. the USA Cycling medic assessed me and through me back in a few laps later. I found I could not get out of the saddle due to my ribs and could not breathe so I sat on the back and just spun for the remainder of the crit trying to finish since it was an omnium. Later that night my injuries settled in and I knew I was a lot more hurt than I had anticipated. After a long night and an emergency ride to the hospital, it was obvious that my Tulsa Tough was over.

The races were all very exciting and Kelly Benjamin and Shelley Olds dominated. X-teammate Jennifer Wilson did great as well and placed 7th in the omnium. A shout out to Flavia, Jennifer, and Betsy who all kept an eye on me. So Tulsa was a bit tough on me but I recommend this race to anyone. Now for a long 5 weeks of rib healing.

A Great First Month With SBW!

What an exciting month! I jumped back into racing with one of the best teams in the country and with the greatest teammates in the world.

My first race with SBW was the Barrio Logan Grand Prix. Lucky for me, Barrio Logan is one of the very few races held in the San Diego area. While normally I have to drive at least two hours to get to the races up in the LA/OC area, I was able to leave my condo in downtown San Diego and drive about 3 miles on the freeway to get to the race. I met up with my new teammates at the course, donned my new team kit, got a warm-up in, and then hit the race course. It was a fast race (dominated by SBW) with Morgan off the front with Pam Schuster for several laps and Quinny right up there in the front with her. When the break was brought back, it became a field sprint with Quinny taking second behind a very strong Pam.

The next day was a road race near Fallbrook. I was able to contribute on the flats the first lap by being up in the front with Neva, taking some long pulls, and covering a few attacks, hoping to save X and Mojo's legs for the end, where they finished 5th and 6th.

The next week we were up in hot and windy Bakersfield for the State RR Championships on a course with the most exciting view of the oil fields. There was excitement early on as the peloton ran into a rattlesnake out on the course who thought he would try to take a bite out of Christen. I'm just glad I didn't see it since I have a severe phobia of snakes. Mojo was able to take 9th in the field sprint, with Christen not far behind.

Then last weekend we hit the State TT Championships in Lake Los Angeles (where there is no lake to my knowledge). Wow, it was a cold morning after the rain storm that hit the day before, leaving a lot of snow not that much higher than the elevation we were at. X had her motor going strong and flew around the course, taking 3rd, with Mojo 7th, Neva 8th, and myself 10th. I didn't do the kind of time I wanted to do, but it gave me a good measurement of where I am and the training I need to get in to peak for Nationals in August.

I can't wait to see what June holds for us!

Road Race State Championships

This year the SBW women took on the new 2008 road course with 3 riders. One of the riders is Kelli Jones, a new rider to the women's elite team. We are very happy to have her riding with us. She is a very strong rider, especially in time trials.

The women's race started last, so it was a pretty hot race. The only preview of the race couse I had was the video posted on You Tube. Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxxl2CyU3yE. This really made the road conditions look a little sketchy at the least. On top of poor road conditions, everyone was warning me about flats. Needless to say the first lap was raced pretty conservative by everyone. After riding the course, the roads were not that bad and I didn't get a flat.

My climbing legs seem to be coming back since I was able to stay with the lead group as the climbers attacked over and over again. Morgan I made it up the climb together on the last lap and started setting up for the finish. Morgan made an awesome move on the right side of the peleton at the right time. I waited too long and was blocked in by the team who had sent a rider up the road for the win. Morgan finished with another top 10 finish!

I can see that our team is getting stronger and beginning to get to know each other now that we are racing together once again. I can't wait for our next race together, so we can set our team up for the win!

Women on a MISSON, CA State Championships ITT

Miss Reither, this is your mission if you choose to accept it. Awake at 4:00 a.m., start hot water for tea, dress, get in car and drive to Lake Los Angeles CA. While you are driving, shove 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwich in your mouth and wash down with hot tea. When you arrive to Lake Los Angeles you will have approximently 17 minutes to pick up your registration packet, use the faclities, pin your number on your jersey before heading out to your warm up. After your warm up you will arrive to the start line of the the State Championship Time Trail. Be warned the bike holder at the start is a double agent and may try to sabatoage your start by dropping you off the steep ramp. You have been warned! And one more thing, it is not quite 40K the distance is only 37K or 23 miles. So all you preperation you have done for the past 3 months will need to be adjusted on the spot. This message will self destruct in 5 seconds.

As challenging as the State TT is with its early morning start the cold weather and lack of expierence of the bike holder made it even tougher. The team arrive ready to ride. Neva and Kelly got off to a good start, but the bike holder dumped Morgan off the ramp. As she got herself together, putting on her chain and composing her temper, she was off. I was the last SBW rider to go for the championships and opted to take the risk of the ramp. Sure enough when I started I headed over the side instead of down the ramp. With a quick yell of PUSH, I was righted and on my way. There is not too much to tell you about a 37K time trial, other than the toughts that go through my head which are: Breathe, spin, catch the carrot, breathe, I wonder if Nordy's is having a sale?, breathe, its cold, breathe, spin, push, look at the snow on the moutains, spin, breathe, sprint. That about sums it up.

The times were a bit slower than last year and I managed a bronze for the event, results are as follows: Gold Ruth Clemence (Cycles Veloce) 54.19 Silver Lana Atchley (Team Rock) 55:23 Bronze Jennifer Reither (SBW) 55:45. Other noteable times and placings: 7th Mogan Kapp 57:55 (but we take of 30 seconds for the fall off the ramp and chain drop) 8th Neva Day 58:03 and 10th Kelly Jones 59.18. With a stong showing at the ITT, the women hope for a team win at the State Championship Team Time Trail 6/7/08

Neva TT's at SBW's Baxter Series

There are many benefits of being affiliated with a 200+ active member cycling club and one of those benefits are club races. This is my 3rd year with SBW and 3rd year cycling and I never have attended a club race-and I can't really say why. But as fate had it, due to a flat tire scenario, I missed a key workout Saturday and was in need of a high-test workout. I remembered an email had gone to the club from our president Cary Alpert regarding the Baxter TT series being held on Sunday- this might fit the bill for what I needed.

I threw a kit on, had my TT bike in the car, and drove down to the Carson course 7:00 Sunday morning. I am the last to arrive and I see what is a real pre-race scenario taking place with close to 20 riders. Riders were warming up on trainers, everybody in full race gear with discs, TT helmets, booties, etc. Me...well I had my Hawaii water cages still on with a pump attached to them, a bento bag of extra tubes, training wheels that had near 60 pounds of air, my Rudy regular helmet, and no thought of a warm-up.

I quickly begged the race crew to let me start last so I could pull myself together and I asked if I could be behind Lynette Rock by a few places so chasing her would keep me honest. Lynette is a State and National TT champ and is an animal when it comes to the TT. I would be lucky to see her today with a minute head start but I knew keeping her ahead of me would keep me focused on task at hand- riding a strong 10 mile TT.

The course is a .9 mile rectangle and as I was riding it, I felt like I was on a really big outdoor velodrome. I had a solid well paced race finishing with around a 23:30 and most importantly was able to see some mistakes I need to correct before next week's State TT. I also had a blast. The competition was great, the support of Ted and the SBW riders continuous, and realizing what a great benefit the Baxter TT series is to my fitness and racing was invaluable. You have to be a member of SBW to do the race series and the cost for the event is $5 which covers everything and they even gave me splits by lap!!

Thanks SBW for putting these races on, you'll see me again very soon at the next Baxter TT.

Tour De Big Island- Neva's Report

Day 1:
Stage 1: 6.2 mile TT with last mile being a 7% hill climb. Winds favorable for most of the TT course, heat rising to 90, humidity very high. No race equipment including cycling computer. A TT bike, heart rate monitor and an old SBW kit did the job. Finishing place 1st with a 15:25 time.
Stage 2: 14 lap crit course. Course .7 miles with leg 1 being crosswind from the east, leg 2 a 7% descent with a tailwind 1/3 mile, leg 3 a crosswind from the east, leg 4 a 7% climb dead into wind 1/3 mile. Wind: 30 MPH gusts blowing a steady 20+ MPH. Equipment: road bike with 404's- oh crap. Mixed field with some men's fields. Women's field came down to a sprint between myself and Roberta and I took her by 100 meters and it was a fight all race. Finishing place: 1st
Day 2:
Stage 3: 40 mile RR with first 50% descent, second 50% ascent average of 7% ascent. Weather very unfavorable. Winds steady at 11 MPH, fog heavy, rain pouring. Course descent on open highway with traffic. Equipment: road bike with 404's- oh crap again. Field mixed with all men except the M1-2's. A few tears nearly shed on the first descent and the field split, I was with favorable split. We hit the ascent and the men hammered. I was dropped eventually and at feed almost pulled out- it was pretty miserable...but I don't quit and I decided to try to catch the field anyway, now a good mile ahead. I caught them about 4-5 miles when a guy named Doug was TT'ing trying to get back in. Then we got dropped the 2nd mile in on the climb and Doug kept me honest and we finished 1/4 mile back. Finish: 2nd
GC Final: 1st
Summary: An excellent weekend of racing and we got a delish meal at Tako Tako, a cool Tour De Big Island shirt, and prizes and shwag galore! With the smaller fields, which is hard to get large fields in Hawaii as the mainland, it would be more like a formal training race for those used to larger fields but the race was 100% professionally done and the racing hard! I was so impressed with the Race Director and his team and the team of volunteers- it was their first stage race and it went like clock-work- if all races could be organized this well- nice going Hawaii Cycling Club! My fellow racers were awesome- both women and men, and Roberta gave me 'ell all weekend- watch out for her at Master's Nats- she's an animal! I hope this race starts a new tradition on the Big Island and with prior notice of the event I will make every effort to return. Thank you Big Island for a great weekend- you really made it worth my while on many levels, mahalo.

Vog Training on the Big Island

I am in Kona for some good 'ole vog training. (See any newspaper from Monday to know what vog is- an AP wire article talks about it extensively).
Weather is 85, humidity out of control, winds pretty crazy, and scattered rain and sun.
Day before I got here I was looking for a triathlon to enter and instead found the Big Island Stage Race. Looks like I'll get some fun riding in this weekend.
With much aloha, Neva

Reunited

SBW Pro Women are finally reunited and will be heading into June as a full team. Becky, Christen, and Neva came off of track season in March and took some down time to R&R and build their road legs. That placed all of the racing pressures on Jennifer Reither, Morgan Kapp, and Jennifer Wilson over February, March, and April. The three winter road riders raced strong and placed well and their success attributed to Jennifer Wilson being asked to ride for the NRC Vanderkitten team after a strong showing at Redlands. Just as the rumor of the loss was heard, another rider Kelli Jones decided to come back into racing and was immediately rostered to fill the Jennifer Wilson position. The track riders and Kelli all agreed that the end of May would be the "be back strong and fit" date to go into a challenging June, July, and August schedule.

Working hard to meet that deadline, Christen King used Chuck Pontius as a prep race with Morgan Kapp. Christen working the peleton hard finally secured a break with two other riders and with a lap to go decided to try a solo break and was successful as she crossed the line solo for the win. Morgan's help working the field also allowed the win.

Following up with that podium was a 2nd place finish at Barrio Logan. The team minus JennX was in a field of 48 and Morgan worked the front the entire race with some strong attempts of launching some attacks but to no avail. Neva attempted a break with Helen's but missing her top end put her back into the field. With about 20 minutes to go Quinny repositioned herself to the front with Morgan and just started working it and even secured a prime. Helen's launched with 1 to go and Quinny was in chase and a perfect move by Morgan gave Quiny a leadout on the backside for the sprint and 2nd place finish.

The Cinco De Mayo weekend ended with the San Luis Rey Road Race with a 5th and 6th place by Morgan and JennX. The team minus Quinny raced the 5 lap 58 mile 4000' course. With 15 minutes to race start Neva's derailleur had a snaf-u with a wheel change and in 6 minutes she changed pedals, frames, wheels, cassettes, and bottles just to make the start with a completely different set-up then she had prepared- good work! The race started slow and Kelli and Christen decided they would work the front and give JennX and Morgan a reprieve since they would be needed at the end. Neva joined them at the end of the first lap and she and Christen took over the 2nd lap. The field was very content with SBW doing all of the work. Christen attacked on the back side and Morgan countered and then JennX. SBW working and attacking went on for the five laps and eventually it went down to a field sprint where due to positioning Morgan and X had to really scrap out the spring and placed an excellent 5th and 6th. Also a shout out to Julia Cross and her family, Terry King, Dicky, and Morgan's family for feed at SLR!

Having the team come back together is great and in two weeks of being re-united we have a 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th and June is still 4 weeks away when we said we would be in full force. Next up is State Road Race Championships in Bakersfield Christen, JennX, Kelli, and Morgan are prepping for the weekend.

Along came on Otter.....

photo: Jen Wilson and JennX at the top of Priest's Valley

Wilson, Kapp and I (JennX) headed out to Sea Otter (Monterey, CA) this past weekend to wrap the month up with the last NRC of the Spring. Altough Sea Otter was a month later, the weather was still the usual....UNPREDICATBLE. Wilson and I headed out on Friday night to guarantee a good nights sleep in the care of our wonderful host family. Morgan would join us later.

We woke up Saturday morning to mid 30 degree temps and high winds. Vowing to myself, that I would no longer race NRC's with arm warmers and knee warmers I bundled up in my best spring digs and headed for the start line. From the gun the peloton raced up the "wall" starting of the 22 laps of hell early. Just when we thought the pace couldn't get harder, the first QOM came up and destroyed the pack, all SBW girls stayed with the main peloton. Colovita initiated a break that launched from the windward side of the peloton, trapping, all the SBW girls on the wayward side. A break of 10 escaped from us consiting of Colovita, Cheerwine, Tibco and Proman, every big team there. I launched a few attacks up the "wall" trying to get a small group off the front to form and possbily get another break off the front and gain time on the main break, but the big teams reeled me back. Finally the three of us had to give up our aggressive race plans. Without the numbers, we couldn't do anything. With all most of the sprinters will the main peloton, I set a hard tempo the final lap of the climb hoping to drop a few of the big guns, but when Cheerwine saw their teammate with a group of four at the top of the "wall" (4 had fallen off the initial break of 10, making the break now at 6 riders) Cheerwine launched an attack so hard, all the SBW girls could do was hang on for dear life as what was left of the peloton stung out for a 1/2 mile.

Top finisher was JennX in 27th, Morgan 28th, Jenn Wilson 32nd. The three of us raced strong and put in a good show.

On side note, This was our last race with Jenn Wilson, our sprinter extrodinare. As she has moved on the the big pond and will continue her racing career with Vanderkitten Racing.

Ladies wearing CROCS!

I've had a few weeks to regroup and start training for the 2008 road season. I raced in Ojai to support my teammates, but was really under trained for the extreme heat and pace of the race. My teammates raced well as usual. Wheels placed 5th with an amazing sprint out of the final corner (Left: Wheels with her Seigler). JennX did a lot of work at the front and still placed 14th in a very strong field.

Morgan raced really aggressive and managed to get into a break off the front for a good portion of the race (Right: Morgan getting interviewed by VeloNews).

Morgan and I also raced at the Torrance criterium this past weekend. Morgan showed a lot of dominance at the front of the pack as usual. She was in a break away early in the race which stayed off the front for a good portion of the race. I attempted some hard attacks to get off the front and see how the legs are feeling. I'm hoping that in the next few weeks of training, I will get my fitness back in time for the TTT and NVGP.

Daily Peleton RE: GLMGP

In the Women's race Colavita/Sutter Home/Cooking Light's Tiffany Cromwell and Iona Parks Winter managed to double on the front of the field sprint taking the podium top spots with Rachel Tzinberg taking the final step. Anna Lang of Aaron's Corporate Furnishings finished for 4th with Jennifer Wilson of the strong South Bay Wheelmen elite contingent in for fifth.

Kapp Dominates Garrett Lemire and Wilson Takes 5th!!

From Velo News Article:
Women
In the women’s race, with a field of about 50, Team Tibco and South Bay Wheelmen started firing attacks by the third lap. By lap six, though, Colavita-Sutter Home took over, and Cromwell and Jamaican national road champion Wynter Parks broke away with Morgan Kapp (South Bay Wheelmen).
In the field, Tibco and ValueAct Capital pushed the pace, but the break gained as much as a 90-second gap.
Having two riders in a break was obviously a good situation for Colavita-Sutter Home, but team director Jack Seehafer said that the presence of Kapp in the break added an important unknown.
“I didn’t know her, so that was a little stressful. As always, with an unknown racer, you just never know, so you’ve gotta give her credit,” he said. “I had to be wary of it, and tried to use her the best we could.”
Cromwell said she and Wynter Parks worked well with Kapp. “We were happy to have her there because we both felt strong, and we were happy we had two in the break. We just tried to work together and get time on the bunch behind us.”
Wynter Parks concurred. “I didn’t know exactly how strong she is, but I have heard her name in a few of the races because we’ve been in California for a while now … she was pedaling well, so she was just being smart,” she said.
“I just worked with them,” said Kapp, who is a second-grade teacher and a category-2 racer. “They’re really strong riders … it was tough. They were great to work with, and then they did what they had to do at the end.”
By lap 17, it became apparent that Cromwell was still fresh and strong enough to ride a faster pace than the three could ride together. “I sort of rode away on a hill, and Jack said to keep going, so I did … I just decided to keep on going as hard as I could,” she said.
When Cromwell rode away from Wynter Parks and Kapp, the two continued to work together, but then Wynter Parks knew she had to make a break.
“It’s just that Tiffany was very strong on the hills,” she explained. “It just got to the point where she was just that much stronger, and she was causing a gap because Morgan was the one that was on her, and I was just sitting on Morgan when we were on the backside of the course, so I just let her roll. Morgan couldn’t react [when Cromwell attacked] and then I sat with her.”
With just a few laps to go, Wynter Parks got word over her radio that the pack was bearing down, and so she attacked and left Kapp behind to be absorbed by the field.
“It wasn’t so much that I wanted to attack Morgan, because I was quite happy to go with her and sprint her, but I just knew in the radio that the pack was coming. So I had to go. As it was, I had to work hard to stay ahead of the pack … [Morgan] did well, and she raced fair … she obviously is strong, so kudos to her.”
With Kapp back in the field, there was a bunch sprint for third, and Rachel Tzinberg, racing alone for Bicycle John’s, made the most of the situation.
“I just had to sit in and wait and see,” she said of the majority of the race. With the three women out front, she said, “I knew I didn’t have the leg power to bridge … [but] I was feeling pretty good on the climbs, so I waited to see what I could come up with in the finish … I knew I wanted to jump before the final corner … and it paid off.”

JennX racing weekend report

While, Neva is off recovering, Morgan and Kristen training, Jen Wilson in Redlands and Becky on here way home from her success at track worlds, I opted to enjoy race training for the weekend.

Saturday morning I got up early and headed out to Piru for Uncle Tren's 40K TT. The turn out was great and I got to test out my bike, legs and position in my first 40K of the season. I managed a 1:03:45 or so. Official results are still not posted, but I am happy with my time. After a 10 minute warm down, I race home, showered, changed, went out for a mani & pedi then returned home for a quick nap, before heading out to Encino for a bit of track racing. It was a great turn out at the velodeome and many of you were there. I was happy to see all the South Bay support considering this was my first track race in a year. The women's field was about 10 big and included Julia Cross, whom I was honored to race with. I was savvy enough to place 2nd in the scratch race, 1st in the miss-n-out and 2nd in the unknown distance for 2nd in the omnium overall. Thanks for all of you who came out and supported the Encino Velodrome. It's home court for my track training and they take as good of care of me as all of you do in Carson. Next up OJAI!!!!!

Kelli Jones Joins SBW Pro Women

Kelli Jones (center) is hard to miss with her 5'10"

Kelli Jones is a good friend to many in the So Cal peleton and will be joining the SBW Pro women for the 2008 season. Kelli's strength on the bike, goals of riding at the national level, and her team dynamics made a perfect fit with the pro women's team.



Kelli is an accomplished person all around. Kelli swam in college, started riding in 2006 as a Cat 4, and won a National Championship jersey for the 30-34 time trial in 2007. Kelli rides full time while being a full-time Paralegal in the District Attorney's Office in San Diego. Kelli is currently a Cat 2 on the road and track and in 2007 won (3) SCNCA Championship titles in 2007 including the state crit title, (2) CBR State titles, and the U.S National Master TT Championship (30-34).



Neva Day recounted her most memorable Kelli Jones moment: "Kelli and I started together as Cat 4's in 2006. She rode for Paramount and I was SBW. I had a slow leak in my rear tire and bad legs at San Marcos and was OTB. It looked pretty dismal until I heard a voice behind me say "get on" and literally a freight train of Kelli Jones was motoring up behind me. She dragged me around that course for at least 3 laps so I could finish and said it was payback for the work I had done all season. I knew from that race that Kelli was not only a powerhouse but a person that you could count on. " Day added, "Her win at National's last year was really incredible, she just keeps getting faster and faster in her TT."

Arizona Camp

I just got back from a long weekend in Arizona. I am still considered to be in my "off" season which will last through most of May. Dicky and I made a deal that this is "his" time with me and he gets to pick how we spend it together. Last week he picked Arizona. He picked Arizona because Amanda's (his daughter and Cal's head women's tennis coach) Cal team was playing both Arizona State and University of Arizona for Pac 10 rankings. He also knew I had plenty of training friends in the AZ area to keep me on the bike. The last objective was to find the "rig" we have been looking for. So Wednesday we set out for AZ.

I am exactly (1) month into my road training; having to start from near scratch on my base. Last week started "lite" hills. The bike objective of the trip was keeping me in the hills. My friends in AZ all are training for Ironman AZ in a few weeks so training with them was not an option- they were doing 115 miles of flat TT'ing. A friend told me there was a stage race in Tucson and maybe I could use that as training. I laughed because I am nowhere near ready for a stage race but I checked into it. The TT was 3 miles, the road race was 60 miles, and the circuit race 40 miles- all doable and as a bonus the stages were at 6:45 AM which meant that I could race and see Cal beat the AZ teams. Most importantly the climbing was ditto to my training goals. Registration had closed so I decided I would ask the race director if I could still enter. The RD called me as we were on the road and said I would be #520. "Oh Crap" I will be in a stage race this weekend.

Racing a stage race without racing is interesting. It is not that I would not give 200%, but what was very important was knowing what my limits were and making sure I had clear goals that I could meet. So the goals were simple: 1) finish each stage 2) try to get top 10 in each stage. (Only 20 riders were in the Tucson Bicycle Classic field so top 10 was doable).

Stage 1 3 mile TT: Short TT with (2) 150' climbs in the last 1.5 miles- I knew my limits and knew I had to take the first climb aggressively conservative and then empty the tank the final climb. I rode it perfectly to my fitness and placed 6th- 3 seconds out of 3rd place.

Stage 2 60 mile RR: 20 loop road race 950' climbing per loop and awesome headwinds. My pink power Seigler derailleur broke so I was on the ARKO- first time since SuperWeek- great hill training bike but not stiff like the Pink Power and twitchy - cornering and descents very rough- oh well. Goal was to finish and try for top 10. Sprint bonus was in the first 4 miles of the first loop on the ascent into the headwind- Cari Higgins lead out the sprint and I was in tow but placed 4th I think. I survived the first stairstep ascents and we rounded into lap 2 almost with all 20. (A few had fallen off). Then as I was being careful in a turn an attack went off and I was literally at the end of the peleton- I scrambled to just get on a wheel. 4 riders off- (2) Dairyland who then broke a rider off again. We were left with a group of 8ish. The chase was pathetic because out of 6 non-Dairyland riders only 3 of us were willing to work. I worked it hard and we caught a Colavita rider. At this point the fighting started between the workers and the non-workers and I knew I needed to just stick to my training plan. I did some great tempo work and placed 9th overall. Both goals met and I was alive and also holding 6th in the GC.

Stage 3 40 Mile Circuit: 5.5 mile loop times 7 laps 300' climbing per lap, massive head winds again. 6:41 AM start and I felt like crap. My legs were yearning for a nice 2 hour spin- not a brutal 2 hour sufferfest. Time bonus was 3rd lap so I knew I was in for a doozy. Dairyland set the tempo and were doing a lead-out for the bonus- all obvious...what I had not counted on was we passed a men's field just before the turn and the men did not move over- I decided to be safe and as I was being cautious Dairyland started the attack- I was stuck behind the men with another rider- by the time I got out of the mess the field was splintered and I was in a massive headwind solo. I passed a few dropped riders and found Dairyland's "spent" leadout Katherine Ross who I met at SuperWeek last year- I told her to "get on" and we started a VERY gruelling chase. 3 miles into it we caught the field!! The problem was the field was chasing the break and the field had the 2nd place rider in it who attacked just as Katherine caught the tail of the field- we were cooked, the field went full out on the 300' climb and Katherine and I were spit out the back- you gotta be kidding me. We were cooked. I again said "come on" and we pulled it together and chased down a group of 5. Ironically most of the women in the 5 were the "workers" the day before and they were cooked. I was cooked. Although a group of 3 were in view nobody had legs to chase so my wish came true and we had a lovely 3 lap chat. I did give everything I had for the sprint which was not a lot and got nipped at the line finishing 11th and 10th GC.

I finished. I placed 10th. I was properly cooked. Cal beat both Arizona teams. We did not find a rig. A great week was had by all. TBC is also a terrific race and really well run- thanx Alicia for letting me ride!