Well, are you ready to do the boring work?
Ride drills. Ride intervals. Go on the cement and pedal squares 'till your butt aches (rest the next day! And eat lots of protein, you need it to make hamstrings)). Remember the last four Tours de Lance when he went up the Pyrynees on an elevator by spinning in a high cadence? It's not about the bike, it's all about the spin technique.
What happened to him this year? He climbed like a fagged out dog. No dance. He was SO lucky Ulrich ate the asphalt.
Guys will muscle up things because they can. Women have to finesse things, and we tend to be good about training, so it's perfectly possible to blow the fellows away in your dust. I've done it, and the satisfaction is indescribable. Some of those guys wrench at my shop, and boy do I get good service!
My god, they're playing Marvin Gaye's 12 inch live version of "We're Having A Party" on the radio! Wonders never cease. I thought I had the last copy of it in the world, on vinyl.
Anyway, I fenced for years, and kicked a lot of men (and women) up and down the gym. Technique, form, conditioning is everything. Gender becomes less of an issue every year in a lot of sports. Women are smaller, lighter, good for the climbs, and we can go get the muscle to do the job.
Go girl!

missliz