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.
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.
