Tour of Walla Walla

[Eden]

Wow - this weekend I survived my first stage race! and I did pretty well too. I went to the tour of Walla Walla (yup the town where they grow those onions - for you tri-gals they host The Onionman )
It was 3 stages of racing in 2 days, and my first multiple event race. Actually it was a lot of firsts for me. First TT and first race using aerobars, and first real crit as well.
The first stage was the TT. The only TT I've ever done was an hillclimb so I don't really count it. My own aerobars aren't in yet, so I had to borrow some from a team mate. I got to practice a little bit the day before the race, but I've never raced with them before so I was pretty nervous. I'm also quite little so being out on my own in the wind is hard for me - even more nervous!! My start was very near to the end of the cat so I wasn't passed at all - only 2 people started behind me. I passed my 30 sec gal and almost caught my minute one too! I think my 30 sec gal made up a lot of time on me on the way back. It was up on the way out - about a 3% grade and down on the way back. So my advantage out, but not back. I placed 19th for that stage out of 48. My conclusion - I need to try to improve my TT. I don't expect to ever get super good at it, but I definitely want to get better. I think it is a good place for me to try improve my overall placing.

A little unusual the Road Race was next. We had about 3 hours to rest, eat, hydrate and get ready for the road race. It wasn't as hectic as I expected it to be, but I did not know what to expect. I really thought I had destroyed myself for the TT (got the hacking coughs afterwards), but the RR felt *great*. Wow - I mean I feel like maybe I should go out and kill myself on a TT before every road race as a warm up - well maybe not.... but it did feel really good. One of my team mates was a contender for overall, so my job was to stay with her and if any of the leaders from the morning attacked we were both supposed to go so that she wouldn't be isolated (as long as I could go without dragging the pack along too of course!). That job suits me just fine. In the end no one tried a break, mainly because on the second half of the course we were neutralized several times - it seemed like the organizers really needed to rethink the order they sent the road races out in. It was difficult to be neutralized, I think, 3 or 4 times and once we even overtook a group that had passed us. It was a bunch of guys off the back of their own race and they were real jerks about it. They refused to be neurtralized themselves and mixed it up in our pack down a hill. We thought they all should have been DQ'd for that. The finish was up a 3k climb and I was dropped by the leaders about 1/4 of the way up. My team mate took 3rd!!! and moved up from 6th to 4th overall. I fnished about 1min 40 sec behind the leaders in 11th place and coincidentally moved up in the overall to 11th place as well.

The crit was the next day. I was definitely kind of nervous about this one. It was the first real crit I've done and probably the first crit for a lot of the 4's so I did not really know what to expect. I just wanted to finish with the group and hold on to my 11th place really. In the end it was not bad at all. There was one crash - I think she solo'd it fortunately. I don't know exactly what happened, but I glanced over my left shoulder and saw someone going over their handlbars. I think she may have panicked or overbaked the corner and hit the front brake way to hard. All I could think of was first, get out of here, and second oh sh*t where's my team mate (who at this time was racing for 3rd - she was behind in 4th by just a second in the GC at the start of the crit!), but she came through it OK, whew! She was behind it and said she ran something over - maybe the girl who went down's arm? - but she stayed up and was OK. Another first for me - I got my first flat. I'm sure its because I ran over this stupid freaking manhole cover that was on one of the corners (it was a 6 corner course) almost every lap. I was so paranoid about not making any sudden moves and causing a crash that I just sucked it up and ran the darn thing over every time. I ran about 1/4 of the way around the course to the pit tent and got a wheel change, the next lap they pushed me back out into the pack. It worked out great! I got back into the race and finished with the pack and kept my 11th GC. Wow, I was literally shaking when it was all over.
I'm really happy that I went and did it. Over all it was a real learning experience and a great confidence booster. Today - slow and easy recover ride ahhh.
Cheers
Eden

[CR400]

You rock girl!!!! Way to go in your first stage race. Now keep up the good work this season.

[Pink Kona]

Nice job Eden! Sounds like you had a good experience. Mine was a little different - but most importantly I was sooo happy it was sunny this weekend! Beats the snow from the previous week. And last year at Walla Walla they cancelled the RR because of a thunder storm! Here's a recap from my experience in the 1/2/3 field....

It started with a 5 mile TT - uphill for 3/4 of the course and somewhat windy. I did alright - placing 10th in the TT. My original start time was bumped from the beginning of the course to the very last position for some reason. I caught some poor woman who was 3 minutes in front of me. She was somewhat devastated. My advice to her - learn to LOVE time trials. That's the only way to do better in them. If you tell yourself you don't like something then chances are you'll have a disappointing performance. But if you embrace them and learn to like them - well then anything's possible.

We were able to relax between stages - lounging in the warm sun on a nice green lawn. Amara took the team switch news pretty well. She and I were one of two women on Gregg's team and I was recently invited to ride with Tamarack - a pro womens team based out of Idaho. I'll probably still be sporting Gregg's on the track and Tamarack on the road. I was more afraid of the Boursaw's reaction than anything. But they were very understanding and encouraging.

The 60 mile road race started out well. I felt super strong but as usual once I got up front it was a detrimental mistake. Instead of saving all of my energy for the 3km climb - I got up front and stayed there like a rookie. We completed the first small loop and came back around to do the climb and I was immediately dropped. I couldn't catch back on for the life of me. I just don't think I was prepared to deal with the pain nor in my head did I make the decision to go for it. I ended up catching up with Melinda, Jaimie and this other local woman. We did a rotating paceline through to the final climb - of which I was immediately dumped off. Needless to say I finished the RR and was looking more forward to the crit the following morning. I was the victim of what I told the woman I caught earlier in the TT - I need to learn to LOVE climbs. Biggest lesson learnt - get comfortable being uncomfortable and start hammering out the wattage. Bike racing isn't easy - so get on that pony and ride!

The crit was an opportunity to see how we as a team work together and hang in there. We communicated throughout the race - but Kele ended up pulling an amazing move and lapping our field. The course is super fun - lots of corners and my goal was not to break at all. Once Kele made her break and it was obvious that she was not going to be caught it was a matter of making sure Jana was locked into 3rd place in the GC - which she easily did. I really enjoyed working with the ladies and contributing. There were three of us in the field and we were able to chase down any attacks and win some premes. It's so nice to be on a team where I can actually do something! And although I didn't place well in the final sprint, I still feel like I accomplished a lot in the grand scheme of things. First of all - I can play ball. It's only my second year and I'm proving I have the fitness and ability to hang in there. Now I just have to want it. And I have to also be able to deal with pain. Cycling pushes you to the limits - and the only way to advance in the advanced field is to push outside of your comfort zone and become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Speaking of which - it's time for me to get outside and work my weaknesses!

[DirtDiva]

Well done to you both.

[Eden]

Good luck with the new team -Sounds like a really great opportunity. I think I saw quite a few Tamarack team members out there last weekend.
We hung around and watched the W1-2-3 crit. Kele was quite amazing. I get the feeling she may have started it with the goal of lapping the field in mind. She went out hard and fast right from the start. No fair wearing the Starbucks jersey in the local races - but maybe everyone in the field knew she was a pro to begin with? I was hanging around the first corner taking photographs for a while (If I find any of you or you team mates I can send them to you, but I was concentrating on my team mates ). About 1/2 way through I went down to the finish line. I heard them call your name for one of the primes -congrats for that!
My husband may do some announcing over at the velodrome on Wednesdays - if he does I'll probably ride over with my camera - maybe I'll see you race there some time.

[CR400]

Thanks Pink Kona, for reminding me that I'm supposed to suffer to get better and to place well. I often see people who are going faster then me and it looks like they are hardly trying. If I went that speed my heart would be doing about 204 with lungs and legs protesting.

[BikeMomma]

Way to go, gals! Sweet!! Sounds like you guys had fun...

[Nanci]

Racing sounds so fun! Do you (most people) do all three things, time trial, road race and crit, or is it more usual to have a specialty?

Nanci

[Pink Kona]

Racing sounds so fun! Do you (most people) do all three things, time trial, road race and crit, or is it more usual to have a specialty?

Nanci

Racing is fun. I highly recommend it to those adrenaline junkies out there.

Most people do all three types of races - although it seems these days some specialize in one area vs. another. This is where the team work enters the equation. Say you are a super good climber but have a terrible sprint and okay time trial. Then say someone else on your team is an okay climber, good sprinter and good at the time trial. At this race, the time trial was first which determines where people start in the general classfication. It usually shakes down who's in good form at that particular race and then team strategy is based off that. So for instance, the next stage is a hilly road race. Well instead of the really good climber doing their thing and beating every one up the climb, they shepard the person who placed well in the GC and fight off any threatening attacks. It's just like the Tour de France - except not as epic with 3000+ km over three weeks.

The people who do well in the GC are those who are a jack of all trades. But they rely on the strengths of their teammates to help them through the toughest climbs and the fastest sprints. Does that make sense?

[Quillfred]

Hey, good for you locals!

Still learning the difference between the different race types. I believe TT is all out speed with special HB, wheels and frames and more of a solo affair?

RR is more of a team event and longer? Still not sure what a brevet is either. I'll do a search and see what turns up.

Carole

[Eden]

Hey, good for you locals!

Still learning the difference between the different race types. I believe TT is all out speed with special HB, wheels and frames and more of a solo affair?

RR is more of a team event and longer? Still not sure what a brevet is either. I'll do a search and see what turns up.

Carole

Indeed a TT is all about you against the clock and going as fast as you can. For us at the lower levels a lot of special equipment doesn't have to be used. Some even do TT's without aerobars, but at the beginner level that is the one piece of techonology that will make the most difference. At higher levels they use not only special bikes with aerodynamic frames and solid rear wheels, but also special clothing and helmets all designed to make a single rider slice through the air more cleanly. Those things can shave seconds or 10ths of seconds off for a really good rider and at higher levels that can make the difference, but for us beginners just getting stronger is more important. TT's around here run about 5 to 25 miles in distance for us newbies -25 is more rare and pretty darn long.

Road Racing is a team sport. You can race without a team and if you are very strong even be sucessful at the low levels where the distances are fairly short, but it is a lot more fun to do with a team if you ask me. I'm thinking that the really really strong riders who can solo victory any cat4 race they enter get mandatory upgrades fairly quickly unless they intentionally hold back, so team work will get more and more important as the season goes on and the field evens out a bit more. Cat 4 road races usually run from about 24 to 50 miles.