Thursday, September 10, 2009

GMSR Stage Race Report from the Pro-1-2-3 Feild. Another Great Race

Ashley's Race Report

Day 1: TT Friday
I rode the TT perfectly, having learned from my trial run on Thursday.  I figured out what worked and what didn’t. I figured I finished mid pack and I did finishing 15th. Not to worry as I usually feel better with every day- Sunday is what counts!

Day 2: Circuit Race Saturday
We were back on the old circuit race course after a change last year. On this course the race usually stays together- my goal was to finish in the front with the same time- Maria wanted to try for some sprints and the finish. On the climb I was super happy- I had my climbing legs back! I could dig in and find myself easily at the front with no signs of dying or holding on by a thread. Over the climb there would be a selection ( I made the selections) but by the end of the downhill we were back together and girls slowed way down until the sprint. Coming into the finish Maria got on my wheel letting me know she was there- the road opened up on the left for the last km- we were on the right I thought we would have some space but the right side got jammed up Maria then jumped off my wheel to sprint finishing 10th- that jam up didn't help! But we finished with the same time.

Day 3: Road Race Sunday
The RR was going to be 75 miles this year going over Brandon Gap- just like last year. Brandon gap is a steady stepped climb but it can be made hard with the right effort- and chasing after a world class pro moutain. biker from VT was hard!! I managed to stay with the front group-
3 of us started to come off the back of the front group over the top of the
climb- I was seeing stars but was close enough to tack on to the back for the selection- fantastic! But unfortunately we all got stopped on the decent because of a bad crash for about 10 minutes
Our race was all together now and we were just taking it easy up the valley when we got a warning that were going to be passed by the 3/4s in 2 min. We all decided that was not going to happen and we pace lined- (all 30 of us!!!!) for the next 20 miles- so much fun- and beautiful!
The race got spicy on the second KOM ( the kicker of a hill just before the dirt road section) I popped from the front group- and had to chase hard down the dirt road with 3 riders. We kept out efforts up- more girls tacked onto the chase group- we didn't give up- and caught the front by the top of baby gap! Yeah!!!!! Then at Ap gap.... we were all strung out again. I ended up finishing 10th. I felt good all day- so I was happy and looking forward to next year already.

Day 4: CRIT Monday
I was in 11th overall according to the posted results- sad I was not going to get a call up- but then they announced "from Brooklyn NY in 10th place!”
That was a good start to a very hard crit. The race was totally strung out for the first 15 laps. I kept getting gapped off by girls which meant I had to jump around to close a gap. A gap in that race can turn into a break in no time! We had one good attack from Silke that took 3 up the road- but we chased them down and the race came back together again- I maintained my position pretty well in the top 10 during the race- the pace was high for the whole race.
I was happy, I got 10th for the race.

GMSR Stage Race Sept. 4-7 , 2009 Raddies Do it Again!


Donna's 3/4 Report

Friday: Stage 1: Prologue
I was looking forward to the Prologue but I was uncertain how the knee and elbow would feel due to the recent crash. Glad the discomfort was not bad. I was pleasantly surprised to find out I got 1st and was so psyched that we all did so well and got 1st, 2nd, and 6th!

Saturday: Stage 2 Circuit Race:
The race was not as hilly as I expected but it was a good course..... I was a bit nervous in the pack because of the recent crash and did spend a little more time than ideal on the front. I tried not to push hard when at the front most of the time but there was some wind. I knew if I finished with the pack, we'd maintain the yellow Jersey. The woman who won that race got a 15 second time bonus and ended up being only 2 seconds behind me in the GC after this Stage!!!! This made me a bit nervous because she looked like a good climber. I was so happy to have the Yellow Jersey again but nervous about the hilly 75 miler for Stage 3!

Sunday: Road Race Stage 3
After the first QOM point, there was a small breakaway but it quickly came back together when the whole field was stopped for minutes due to a crash in one of the fields that started earlier than our field. The pace most of the time was pretty comfortable. With about 3K to go, I pushed the pace a little to try to get some distance! When I saw the '500 meters to go' sign, I was so happy...I knew I won and was almost there!....and then it got REALLY STEEP! At the end of the race I could hardly breathe....it was GREAT!
Dara got 3rd in the race and was 2nd in the GC again!!!!!

Monday: Criterium Stage 4
The last day of racing was the Criterium. I have only done a few. I figured as along as I stayed with the pack, I am safe and will maintain the Yellow Jersey! At the start of the Crit, we were told we would be neutralized for the first 1/2 lap; The pack did start hard right at the start; I didn't click in correctly (totally my fault) and was already in about 20th place before the first turn....I still thought as long as I stayed with the field, I'd be fine....but there was a breakaway of 4 from the start that I didn't even see. I learned about it from the announcer. At first I was thinking "OMG, I can't lose this for the Team"....but then I heard from the announcer there were no GC threats in that breakaway other than Dara. I was relieved that I knew we had secured 1st and 2nd because the woman who was third in the overall GC was with my pack.

I am so happy that we got 1st, 2nd, and 6th overall and that Radical Media was the only team the whole race with the Yellow Jersey! It was amazing to wear it for three days! Dara and Erica raced outstanding races and we rocked the field!!!!! Go Raddies!